Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Welcome to The Riverside...

Set along the banks of the Pawcatuck River which divides the towns of Westerly, Rhode Island and Pawcatuck, Connecticut is a little studio on the first floor of the old McCormick Building where 5 very different artists decided to work in a shared space. There is an unconventional landscape artist who chooses to use her talent to depict scenery that evokes an emotional connection with the viewer. A portrait artist that seeks inspiration from the raw images seen in everyday life to those that capture worldwide headlines. A fiber artist that goes beyond quilting and uses needle and thread as swiftly as brush and paint. A watercolorist who captures the beauty of the Rhode Island and Connecticut seashore with delicate and precise brushwork. An experimental artist working primarily with abstract images and whose goal is to "not tell the whole story" in order to open a discussion with the viewer. All of them come from very different walks of life and work. Some are mothers and grandmothers. Some are fathers and husbands. There are teachers, designers, an ex-postal worker, a stay-at-home-mom, and a grandmother helping to raise her twin grand-daughters. Some are just starting out while others have had years in the business. All are together in one space in hopes of creating a work environment that gains its strength through community. Please help welcome the Riverside Artists: Fran Knapp- landscape painter, Marie Laudini- portrait artist, Barbara Plummer- fiber artist, Ian Newbury, watercolorist and Millie Donovan- experimental painting, to their new Studio & Gallery located on the first floor of the old McCormick Building (12 Broad Street in Westerly, RI). Stop by on the off chance that you might find one of the artists working or come and enjoy Westerly's monthly Art Stroll held every first Wednesday of the month.