To celebrate Spring, Westfield on Weekends (WOW) latest exhibit “In Full Flower” spotlights the work of more than 15 professional artists and floral designers from May 1 through May 31 at the WOW Center, 105 Elm Street in the heart of Westfield’s new Cultural District.
Planning for the show began, when watercolorist Cathy Guidetti, who teaches classes at the Center approached gallery co-curators James Johnson-Corwin and Bob Plasse with an idea for a group show.
Working with Westfield artist Marie Crane-Yvon who is a member of WOW’s gallery committee, they have mounted a show that features the work of regional representational artists, complemented by the abstract art of Crane-Yvon, the fiber artistry of EdJohnetta Miller and the work of Westfield floral designers.
“In Full Flower” demonstrates how nature can inspire creativity from different mediums,” Kathi Bradford, WOW Center director said. “With Spring as its inspiration, this exhibit is the perfect antidote for all of us, who want to celebrate the season.”
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 12pm-3pm
Thursday & Friday Evenings 6pm-9pm
Saturday 12pm-4pm
We may be open additional hours as gallery staff are available.
Participating representational artists include Guidetti, who hails from West Springfield; Westfield residents Marie Flahive, Deborah Hess and Shanchitha Vishwanath; Donna Carmel and Susan Buffum; Judy Bayliss and Gretchen Shepard of Southwick; Susan Racine and Jeri Hamel of Blandford and InSun Russell of Russell. The exhibit also includes the work of internationally known fiber artist, Edjohnetta Miller, who has begun a creative association with WOW after her widely popular recent quilt exhibit earlier this year.
Floral designers include WOW board member Colleen Bresnahan of Colleen Bresnahan Florals. Tammy Saloomey of Flowers by Webster; Tina D’Agostino of Blooms Truck and Studio; Katie Panasyuk of Katts Kreations and Vicki-Lynn Toro and Nate Sperry and their students from Westfield Technical Academy’s Horticultural Department.
“It is wonderful to have these generous Westfield business owners aboard for our first collaboration, as well as the students and instructors of our Technical Academy,” Bradford explained. “Each will refresh their live offerings, as needed throughout the month-long exhibit.”
To complement the exhibit, WOW will host special Mother’s Day programming with an artists’ reception Saturday, May 10 from 1 pm to 3 pm with light refreshments and music provided by pianist Brian Brophy on the Center’s Steinway and a Mother’s Day Open House Sunday, May 11 from 12pm to 3 pm. Admission is free.
Most of the artwork on display is for sale with a portion of the sales benefiting the community programming of Westfield on Weekends, including Center events and this fall’s PumpkinFest and DecemberFest activities.
To complement the exhibit, WOW has also scheduled a special “Community Talk-about program, entitled “The Art of Arranging Art: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Hanging Art (and Why It Matters),” for Wednesday, May 21 at 12 noon.
According to Marie Crane-Yvon, who will facilitate the event with Bob Plasse, this “easy-going, interactive behind-the-scenes walkthrough will focus on what to put on one’s walls, how to display it and why it matters,
“This workshop is designed for artists, art lovers and anyone who has ever looked at a blank wall and wondered where to begin,” Crane-Yvon explained.
A workshop about flower arranging is also being planned with dates and details to be announced.
WOW’s Spring Raffle is also being held throughout the exhibit with proceeds benefiting its slate of activities. First prize is a one-of-a-kind quilted hoop, created by internationally known fiber artist Edjohnetta Miller, valued at $350. Second prize is a bouquet of lottery tickets valued at $200 and third prize is a $100 credit for any WOW event, class or course at the Center.
Tickets may be purchased at WOW or online here.
It is funded in part with grants from the Westfield Cultural Council and the Massachusetts Cultural Council with in-kind support from Reminder Publications.
Westfield on Weekends, a 501 (c)(3) volunteer non-profit which seeks to enhance community life through accessible and affordable programming that celebrates the diversity of life in Westfield.
