Holiday exhibition highlights local artists
Dec 4, 2020
Dartmouth artist Cate Becker points out some of her paintings on display at the Dartmouth Cultural Center. Photos by: Christopher Shea
Resident Joanne Doherty checks out some paintings.
The Becker twins look at some of the works on display.
Some animal paintings.
A farm fresh chicken painted to life.
A small Christmas reveler.
To celebrate the end of the year, more than 100 different works of art from local artists are up at the Dartmouth Cultural Center as part of the South Coast Artists third annual Holiday Exhibit.
An event that typically draws in nearly a thousand people over the course of only two days, this year’s was greatly limited due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Instead of the usual gathering, the Cultural Center hosted a small opening for those in the area on Dec. 4 along with a virtual tour via the South Coast Artists website.
“We were not going to do a website up until around ten days ago,” DCC president Jill Law said. “But the website is absolutely beautiful and filled with art.”
This year’s exhibition boasts 116 pieces from 41 different artists — with three extra works available online. The pieces on display include ceramics, landscapes, prints, and jewelry.
“It’s the most participants we’ve had for a group show in 17 years,” Law said. “We’ve had some big exhibitions in the past few years, but this is easily the biggest.”
A big factor in the increase of art entries, Law said, is the lack of art shows due to the pandemic.
“You can’t have an open studio with Covid,” she added. “Now you have this opportunity that gets promoted by South Coast Artists — and people definitely took advantage.”
Dartmouth resident Cate Becker displayed three of her acrylic and charcoal paintings that were part of her “Yoga Series" featuring her twin sister Anne.
“Most of the things I do have been landscapes or still-lifes, but I felt like I wanted to do something that would pop,” Becker said. “Plus, my twin was an excellent model.”
Watercolorist Genevieve Hunt had a few of her seascapes scattered around the large display. According to the Dartmouth artist, her passion for painting the sea is simply because she loves the ocean.
“That’s why we live here,” she laughed. “I never get tired of looking at it — it’s different every single day.”
The exhibition will run through Dec. 20 by appointment only. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
No more than six people will be allowed inside the center at a time, and masks will be required for entry.
