by Sarah Teach
Summer may be coming to a close, but the Artists Association of Nantucket is still in full bloom. This coming Friday, August 24, the AAN will kick off its annual Artist Patron Exhibition, which has been an AAN tradition since 1947. The juried show will begin with an opening reception on Friday from 6-8 p.m. and will close on Monday, September 10. The Solo Show Spotlight Artist during this exhibition is Julija Mostykanova, who will present a short “conversation with the artist” on Tuesday, August 28 at 2 p.m. in the Joyce & Seward Johnson Gallery at 19 Washington Street.
The next day, Saturday August 25, get ready for another exciting AAN Sidewalk Show in the Atheneum Garden. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., stop by the Garden for this fun, all-day outdoor fine art show and a wonderful opportunity to meet and chat with more than twenty of Nantucket’s finest artists. This is your chance to scoop up a variety of new pieces bearing prices that span all budgets. If the weather is bad, the Sidewalk Art Show will be August 26. Originally founded in 1930 by artist Maud Stumm, the Sidewalk Art Show has a long and colorful past. Historically, the Sidewalk Art Show was held in August over the period of a few days, open to both professionals and amateurs.
AAN took the reins of the event in 1960, featuring work by the likes of Robert Perrin, Colonel Julian Yates, and countless others. Of Yates, longtime AAN artist member George Thomas recalls, “People lined up waiting for him to arrive with his canvases, which were usually wet. They were snatched up
immediately…”
In addition to the display and sale of art, the Sidewalk Art Show will feature a children’s craft table, music, and other amusements. Sponsors are the Frame Center, Nantucket Sewing Center, and Patina.
What do carved birds, a bowl of sun-ripened peaches, flowing curtains, sailboats, fresh flowers, the full moon, Nantucket Harbor, the moors, pottery plates, and watercolor, oil, classics, abstracts, and woodcuts have in common? They are all items that you can win in the AAN’s exciting new raffle, The
Collection: Ten Works of Art, One Winner. Well-known and longtime AAN artists Alison Hall Cooley, Sandra Flavin, Robert Frazier, Whitney Kreb, John Lochtefeld, Katie Trinkle Legge, Bobby Reeve, Edwin Rudd, Barbara Toole, and Deborah Vanderwolk have all graciously donated work to this raffle. Just as the title states: one winner will win all ten works of art—a prize valued at more than $5,000.
“We are just thrilled with our artist’s enthusiasm to participate in this very special raffle and are so delighted with the wide selection of work we’re offering,” said Cecil Barron Jensen, AAN executive director. “This is truly a grand opportunity to own some superb work by very accomplished local artists, whom we are proud to include in our AAN membership.”
Raffle tickets are available for $25 each or 5 for $100. Buy a chance to jumpstart your Nantucket art collection or rework your existing one at the AAN table on Main Street in front of the Looms on August 25 and 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and daily throughout the season at the Joyce and Seward Johnson Gallery. The drawing will be held December 3, 2012. No need to be present to win; the Artists Association will contact the winner with the happy news. For details, contact the AAN Gallery, 508-228-0294.