Mother's Day tomorrow marks the opening of the North Shore Arts Association for its 86th year.
"This year is exclusively for our members, including having individual members hang shows," said Andrea Van Gestel, president of the arts association. Although the association is known to host large shows of visiting works, this year the focus will be local, including four individual solo shows.
Association artist Suzanne Brailey of Gloucester is the first artist to hold a solo show, which opens tomorrow in the Gordon Grant Room. A reception will be held from 2 to 4 p.m.
"Her work is so fresh and transparent," Van Gestel said. "She has a background in fashion and graphic design. She tends to do vignettes of everyday life with people in the settings. She has a skilled knowledge of the body and clothing. She is extraordinary."
Brailey, who paints mainly in watercolors and pastels, also is a member of the New England Watercolor Society, Rockport Art Association, the Copley Society and Academic Artists. She has won numerous awards, including a month's residence to paint in Dinan, Brittany, France, from L'Association des Amis de la Grande Vigne.
Also tomorrow, more than 175 local, regional and national artists will exhibit their work in the first exhibition of the season featuring paintings and sculpture. The show will run through June 15, with an awards ceremony on May 18. The creator of the winning work, which will be chosen by a panel of judges, will receive a $500 Gloucester Cooperative Bank and Trust Award.
Barbara Donnelly, a member of the arts association board of trustees, said the bank's sponsorship has helped the group attract the participation of even more artists.
"The North Shore Arts Association has grown from a local arts association to a nationally recognized one with membership open to artists around the country," she said.
The arts association this year will introduce several new events, including a monthly critique session for artists and workshops for children and teens. Workshops are scheduled with artists Dennis Poirier, Susan Daly, Ellen Rolli, Tom Sutherland, Charles Gruppe, Anne Demeter, Line Tuteiler, Judy and Larry Pumfrey, Andrew Anderson-Bell, Judythe Evans Meagher, Bruce Bachman Turner, Charlotte Wharton, Frank Federico, Peter Spataro, Carleen Muniz, Susan Dorazio and Caleb Stone.
Gestel said she is excited about the coming season, which runs through late fall, and encourages the public to attend the association's special events or drop in at any time.
More information on the arts association at 11 Pirates Lane in East Gloucester, is available on its Web site, www.northshoreartsassoc.org.
Gail McCarthy may be contacted at gmccarthy@gloucestertimes.com.
