News

Sunday, December 3, 2006

"Falconry and Art" Special Event

The Westboro Gallery is sponsoring a special event at its satellite exhibition space inside Tatnuck Bookseller & Café, 19 Lyman Street, abutting the Westboro Shopping Center.

"Falconry and Art," to be presented from 2 to 3 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 3, will consist in part of a lecture by Julie Collier, a licensed raptor rehabilitator and educator, who will bring live raptors to illustrate her discussion of birds and the medieval sport of falconry (hunting with raptors). Among them will be the kestrel, the smallest falcon used in hunts; the merlin, traditionally a popular falcon of the lower classes; and an incredible golden eagle, a bird used historically only by kings and emperors.

The event will co-feature Andy Volpe, an artist with The Westboro Gallery, who will relate aspects of medieval and renaissance drawing techniques. Together, Collier and Volpe will discuss falconry, its role in medieval culture, and the artwork that helped illustrate the sport.

Julie Collier is a cofounder of Wingmasters (www.wingmasters.net), a state and federally licensed organization which provides educational presentations using real raptors to dozens of schools, museums, and libraries every year throughout New England. Ms. Collier, an experienced pen-and-ink artist, also will bring some of her own work to show.

As a member of The Westboro Gallery, Andy Volpe exhibits works in graphite and in various printmaking techniques ranging from etchings to wood engravings.. “My interest in birds of prey began in childhood while growing up in Sturbridge, but it developed heavily during college,” Volpe says. One of the few non-biology majors at Westfield State College to take a course on ornithology, he graduated cum laude in 2000 with a degree in fine arts, and volunteered at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine’s Wildlife Clinic for a number of years.

The award-winning artist’s work has been featured in a number of exhibitions and the Grafton resident has given workshops on wildlife art in various educational settings. He has also done a workshop at Higgins Armory Museum, where he is employed part-time as a re-enactor. Volpe does public demonstrations on historical themes at the museum and is currently researching medieval and renaissance drawing and printing techniques.

June 4 & 5, 2005

Special Gallery Event - "Summer Sparkle"
Artisans' weekend jewelry trunk show. Saturday & Sunday, June 4 & 5, 2005, 11am - 5pm.

June 2, 2005

The Westboro Gallery is observing its seventh year as a cooperative. In celebration, the new summer show will present members’ work throughout the entire space. An opening reception for the exhibit, titled "The Seventh Anniversary Members’ Show," will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 2, 2005, at the gallery, 8 West Main St., just off the rotary in downtown Westboro.

Artworks on display will include a variety of media, among them oil paintings, acrylics, watercolors, monotypes, multimedia pieces, woodcarvings and marble sculpture. Artisan works will include ceramics, jewelry, weavings, decorative tiles, and more.

This community of artists was founded in May 1998 by Therese Marino Bacharz in order to foster exhibition and sales opportunities, as well as fellowship. It comprises a blend of talented emerging and professional artists and fine craftspeople from throughout Central New England. A core group of longtime members ensures that the not-for-profit gallery’s mission continues to be achieved, and Mrs. Bacharz currently serves as managing director.

The gallery’s board of directors looks monthly at the works and portfolios of those who would like to be considered for membership. Some slots are now available.

In addition to quarterly opening receptions, The Westboro Gallery hosts related events throughout the year, all of which are open to the public. The next event is a weekend jewelry trunk show titled "Summer Sparkle,’’ scheduled for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 4 and 5, 2005, and presented by the gallery’s two artisan jewelers.

The anniversary show will remain through Aug. 28, 2005, and the viewing space is handicapped-accessible.

March 5, 2005

"Mary’s Contrary Garden," an exhibition of computer-enhanced photographs by Mary Harrington, will be the new featured show at The Westboro Gallery March 5 through May 22. An opening reception will be held at the gallery on March 5 at 4:00 – 7:30 p.m, with a snow date of March 12, 2005.

This exhibit, a gentle breath of spring air during a snowy winter, features evocative works created from photo images of flowers growing in the artist’s own garden, as well as that of her mother, an avid gardener. "The New England growing season is just too short, and I love capturing flowers at their peak bloom," she says.

The artistic process begins with a 35 mm Nikon camera fitted with a macro lens. "The macro lens is perfect for photographing flowers. It allows me to get in close, and renders beautiful detail," Ms. Harrington explains. "But I don’t want my artwork to look like a seed catalog," she adds, pointedly. "Using Adobe Photoshop I am able to use the vivid colors and textures of the blooms to create images that can be enjoyed all winter long."

She achieves engagingly unique effects by scanning her images into the computer program, manipulating and enhancing them, and finally, printing the works on art paper. Some pieces are created using both original photos and scans from old periodicals, post cards, vintage portraits, junkyard finds and attic treasures. She often uses Celtic knot designs as a framework for backgrounds created from her photographs. Her work is in a number of private collections.

Mary Harrington earned a B.S. cum laude in Media Communications from Framingham State College and has completed courses in art and design at the Worcester Art Museum. The former copy/photo editor, free-lance writer and magazine photographer was recipient, as a newspaper photographer, of a Massachusetts Press Association Best Spot News Photo award, as well as a Harte Hanks Honorable Mention for best feature photo in the children’s category.

Represented by The Westboro Gallery for the past year and a half, and also a member of Craftworks in Northboro, Ms. Harrington works full time as a communications director for a trade association, has two grown children, and lives in Westboro.

Sunday, November 28, 2004 - The Second Annual Westboro Village Stroll
The Westboro Downtown Business Association is sponsoring their second annual Village Stroll on Sunday, November 28, 2004 from 12 noon to 7 PM. The WDBA invites townspeople and residents of neighboring towns to stroll downtown and explore the shops of Westboro. Many downtown businesses will decorate, offer refreshments, demonstrations, discounts, coupons, and lots of holiday spirit. The event takes place the Sunday after Thanksgiving, the same day as the Lighting of the Trees Ceremony, which will be from 5 PM to 7 PM. Last year, the first annual Village Stroll was a great success with at least 2000 people visiting the participating stores and enjoying the Lighting of the Trees.

The WDBA would like people to explore and rediscover the uniqueness of our downtown. Some of the events that day are:

• Nor’East Antiques and Vintage Collectibles, two antique dealers, will set up lovely arrangements of antiques and collectibles in the store next to the Westboro Suites building.
• The Westboro Package Store will have a wine tasting event the entire day.
• The Westboro Gallery will have an opening reception for artist Gloria Carter and her new show called “Explorations” from 3 PM – 6:30 PM that day. Free and refreshments will be served.
• Children of The World will have an authentic African Drumming performance from 4 PM – 4:30 PM. Free with refreshments.
• Margaret Yan, owner of the new Leon Collectibles store, will offer a free gift with any purchase.
• On the same day, The Congregational Church, West Main Street, will have the dedication of the Faith Newark Memorial Organ at 2 PM. Felix Hell, concert artist, will perform. Refreshments will be served, free will offering.

At this time WDBA consists of thirty sponsoring merchants, most of whom will be open on November 28, 2004. Look for posters in shop windows and flyers, with maps and discounts, will be in the downtown stores and distributed at the two Stop and Shops on Sun., Nov. 21, 2004.

Special thanks to The Westboro Savings bank for their generous sponsorship. Look for the red balloons on November 28, come on down, and enjoy the second annual Village Stroll!

November 28, 2004 - February 20, 2004
"Explorations," an exhibit of oil paintings by Gloria Carter, will be featured at The Westboro Gallery Nov. 28 through Feb. 20, 2004. An opening reception with the artist will be held at the gallery, 8 W. Main St., 3:00 - 6:30 p.m. Sunday Nov. 28 to coincide with the second annual Village Stroll, sponsored by The Westboro Downtown Business Association. A snow date for the reception is 4:00 - 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, 2004.

Sunday, Oct. 24, 2004, 2 p.m.
A concert by Trio Cantabile is planned in the intimate setting of the gallery. The trio comprises oboist Hope Havens of Shrewsbury and flutists Cam Sowa and Pamela Kapitz, both of Westboro. All have performed professionally at various events as well as with instrumental ensembles and regional symphonies. The program will include pieces from the Baroque and Classical periods, as well as haunting Hungarian and familiar 15th-to-16th-century rounds. This event is also free and open to the public.

Friday, Oct. 15, 2004, 6 p.m.
Andy Volpe will give a talk and demonstration of his printmaking techniques and the technical aspects of his drawing Mr. Volpe is currently the gallery’s featured artist whose body of works entitled "Visions" are on exhibit through Nov. 14, 2004. The artist, of Grafton, has been a volunteer at Tufts Veterinary School for three years. Because much of his subject matter deals with birds of prey, joining him will be a few live raptors, along with their handler, Julie Collier, a licensed raptor rehabilitator and educator, who co-runs Wingmasters (www.wingmasters.net). This event is free and open to adults and children.

Previous Exhibitions