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Date: 9/1/2021
WESTHAMPTON – The Westhampton Public Library is hosting a show of paintings from local artist CE Whiting during the month of September.
The show, titled “Thankful,” features acrylic paintings from 2020-2021 of landscapes and scenes from Western Massachusetts. According to Whiting, the intention of the paintings is to bring some solace and healing to people’s hearts in the ongoing ordeal over the last year and a half. “We live in a beautiful place, and I want to celebrate that in my paintings,” she said.
Whiting told Reminder Publishing that these specific paintings were created through organic experience during the COVID-19 crisis. “One of the ways that I get grounded is to find ways to really be where I am,” said Whiting, regarding her newest paintings.
The artist was supposed to have a show of paintings in April 2020 at the Westhampton Public Library titled “For the Love of Dogs,” but it ended up being canceled due to the pandemic. The Westhampton Public Library reached out to her earlier this year about possibly showing her dog portraiture in the library, but at that point, Whiting was already working on the Western Massachusetts paintings.
Whiting said that she will be installing her paintings at the library on Sep. 2, and people will be able to visit the show any day that the library is open throughout that month. “I’m calling this show ‘Thankful’ because I feel like that’s a beneficial perspective and that’s what got me through,” said Whiting. “We’ve had so much negativity and demoralization during this experience, and I wanted to do something uplifting.”
For this show, Whiting included a mixture of panoramic views and closer perspectives on landscapes within Western Massachusetts. An artist reception will occur on Sept. 11 from 2 to 4 p.m. According to Whiting, this will essentially be an open house for people to come in and see the paintings, and possibly purchase any. A certain percentage of the proceeds from painting sales will go toward the Westhampton Public Library. More details on that will be out soon.
“I’m just excited that this will be an opportunity for people to be reminded of what is wonderful about living in Western Mass.,” said Whiting. “We’re really blessed that way, and I want to share that.”
According to her website, Whiting’s work focuses on fine art acrylic paintings and animal portraiture. She focuses on the natural world as “created and sustained by the ineffable.”
The Westhampton Public Library is once again requiring masks while inside. The library is open 2 to 8 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.