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Date: 4/18/2022
MONSON – For three weekends – April 23 to May 8 – the Monson Arts Council (MAC) will have their 28th annual Juried Spring Art Exhibition and Sale at the House of Art, located at 200 Main St. Exhibit hours are 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission is free and everyone is welcome to attend the show, which includes 81 artists. Approximately 110 works of art including oil, acrylic, watercolor paintings, sculpture of all kinds, photographs, quilted art, drawings and prints will be shown in the nine rooms of the building.
David Dupuis, co-chair of the Art Show Committee explained, “In this show, we have some beautiful pieces of art. Each time the quality of the art just gets better and better.” He continued, “Art makes a community a richer and better place. Culture is a wonderful thing and art speaks to everyone. You have to appreciate the time, process and all the work that artists put into it.”
The Monson Arts Council is a nonprofit organization of volunteers promoting art in the community including visual arts, craft fairs, theater, art camp, concerts and performing arts like bands, choirs and more. The council was established 42 years ago by Secretary of MAC Board & Art Show Committee Maureen Solomon, Vice President Reed Coles, Phyllis Hull, the late Grace Makepeace, and several others. The idea of the art show was developed by Makepeace, Coles, Solomon, and a couple of others who have since moved away.
“The art show has been organized every spring for the past 29 years,” said Solomon. “We’re calling this one our 28th because we had to cancel a year due to COVID[-19]. As always, our hope is to offer art to our community and to provide exciting venue for our artists.”
Every year the Arts Council picks a theme, and “shapes and colors” was chosen for this year.
“We picked shapes and colors because we try to give something that any piece of art will fit into,” Dupuis responded. “We usually pick a piece of art that we’ve had in the previous show, so the art that’s depicted is Richard Swiatlowski’s ‘Ship of Fools’ and we just thought it was a great image.”
There will be four different categories: painting, photography, multi-dimensional art including sculpture, fiber art and ceramics, and graphic arts including printmaking, drawing, and more. There are over $5,000 in prizes across the board, with $500 going directly to first prize and $100 for second prize. The artwork will be displayed on the web after the prize winners are announced.
Additional awards, other than first and second place, include:
President’s Choice – $300 – Selected by the President, Dan Moriarty. Sponsored by Monson Savings Bank – a major sponsor of the exhibition.
Sylvia Pyzocha Award for Photography – $500 – Selected by the jurors and sponsored by the Leo S. Walsh Foundation and the Pyzocha family.
Outstanding Monson Artist – $300 – Selected by the jurors and sponsored by Moulton Insurance Agency, Inc., and others.
Committee Choice – $200 – Selected by committee ballot.
The Edward and Shirley Lastoff Memorial Prize – $250 – Sponsored and selected by Linda Lastoff.
Emerging Artist Award – $75 Gift Certificate – Giclée of New England, Inc. Prize for artist who has not previously exhibited in a juried show, and is selected by the jurors.
People’s Choice – Voted by ballot by visitors to the show which will be a handmade ceramic mug sponsored by Juliet Rose Gallery
Other sponsors for the exhibit include J Stolar Insurance Agency Inc., Karen King of Remax Real Estate, Hearing Life, Valley Advocate, Roberts & Ludlow Printing and WARE 97.7.
“We look forward to the customary good attendance as we experience with all our shows,” Vice President Reed Coles said. “The House of Art is now sporting a newly renovated Gallery Store with many beautiful art pieces for sale all affordably priced. We’re excited.”
For more information on the Monson Arts Council and their upcoming show, visit their website at monsonartscouncil.org.