Consisting of some of the area’s premiere painters, ceramic artists, photographers, jewelers, woodworkers and others, the Art drive uniquely puts emphasis on a consistent and high level of professionalism and quality in some very unusual and dramatic studio settings. Several of the Art Drive venues will have a guest artists exhibit also.
According to Beverly Carter, the Art drive’s spokesperson, “Two new programs that we inaugurated last year will be returning.” They are:
Fabulous Fins – Last year this public art exhibit featured Striped Bass. This summer, participating artists are applying their own unique creativity and styles to create large, colorful depictions of Yellow Fin Tuna, another favorite of the South Coast and a species known to the area.
Stationed outdoors along the Art drive routes--in public spaces and in front of stores, shops, businesses and other sites in Dartmouth and Westport--will be 42 four-foot-long Yellow Fin Tuna. While the “Fins” will be on display Saturday, July 30 through Friday, August, August 12, 2011 they will be viewed at the artists’ studios over the Art drive weekend. The general public will be able to bid for them on e-bay by going to www.the-Art-Drive.com
Westport Rivers Vineyard will again host a display of all the fish, Friday , July 6 afternoon and in the evening in conjunction with its Summer Sunset Music concert featuring McCarthy, Richards & Legge.
Then on Sunday, July 8th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, join the Fabulous Fins and artists for an entertaining selection of sea stories by Norah Dooley (NorahDooley.com) at the Dedee Shattuck Gallery in Westport.
Rising Stars – Students from Dartmouth, Westport and Bishop Stang high schools’ art departments will again exhibit outstanding student work at Cape Yachts’ South Wharf in Padanaram during the Art drive weekend. The location will also provide information about the tour and artists.
The 2012 ART Drive Artists: Gary Adriance, Maddy Bragar, Beverly Carter, Peg CaloConely, Sarah Daughn, Janet Egan, Deborah Ehrens, Deborah Quinn-Munson, Brenda Figuerido, Ray Genereux, Wendy Goldsmith, Sandra Hall, Mary Harman, Tracey Mahaffey, Michael Hubert, Donna Huse, Marty Keating, Roger Kizik, Frank McCoy, Barbara McDowell, Dora Atwater Millikin, Sarah Morse, Seth Rainville, Sabrina Satkin, Jim Sears, Karen Minati Snyder, Susan Strauss, Janie Owen, and 26 Rising Stars.
Lovers of the arts will enjoy a great weekend escape while touring these historic Massachusetts Southcoast towns. With only 15 miles separating the thirty studios, visitors will enjoy a casual drive through this picturesque area with ample time for a picnic lunch or to dine at area restaurants. The Art drive artists will individually donate a percentage of their sales to The Lloyd Center for the Environment.
Dartmouth resident artists Beverly Carter, Sandra Hall and Deborah Quinn- Munson founded the Art drive in 2008 to give visitors an opportunity to sample the concentration of creative talent in Dartmouth and Westport. “We believe the Art drive studios will provide the many visitors who want to learn about the art and the artists a great weekend event while visiting our area. We’ll encourage visitors to take the time to drive through the lovely farm lands, seacoast, and enjoy a picnic at the Lloyd Center, Westport Winery and dine at area restaurants.”
Along with the participating artists, The Art drive is sponsored by many local businesses including Community Sponsor: Hawthorn Medical Associates; Founding Sponsors: Anne Whiting Real Estate, The Sylvia Group of Insurance Agencies, FLORA and Flora & Foglia. Inc., Partner’s Village Store, and Friends Academy; and supporters Dedee Shattuck Gallery, Dartmouth Dermatology, Details and Design, Folia, Karyne and Company Day Spa, Milbury and Company, Norton Gallery, Osprey Sea Kayak Adventures, The Ries Family, The Law Offices of Rusitzky and Russell, Salt Marsh Pottery, and Westport Lobster.
Information on the artists, locations and a map are listed on www.the-art-drive.com.
June 27, 2012