“Nantucket blues” will take on a new meaning when Artists Association of Nantucket (AAN) opens their Blue Skylines exhibition on Friday, July 12 in the Big Gallery, upstairs at 12 Straight Wharf. A festive opening reception for the show will be held on Friday, July 19, from 5-7 pm.
“Blue Skylines focuses on large works by a bevy of premier Nantucket artists, from abstract pieces to island images.” said AAN artistic director and curator Robert Frazier. The Big Gallery lends itself beautifully to showcasing larger artworks, with its lofty ceilings and extra long windows that allow light to pour into the upstairs space. Located on the second floor of the Thomas Macy Warehouse at 12 Straight Wharf, the building was home to AAN’s Kenneth Taylor Galleries from 1945 to 1988.
Blue Skylines will be on display from Friday, July 12 to Monday, July 29. The Big Gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 12 noon to 4 pm.
AAN’s annual summer gala sold out quickly again this year, but those who missed out on tickets to the in-person event can still enjoy fabulous art and great prices by participating in a companion online auction to the live Gala auction.
The online auction will feature 75 separate works from those in the live auction. Online bidding began Wednesday, July 10, and will continue until 4 pm on Monday, July 15. To participate, visit 32auctions.com/AANGalaOnline2024 where you can view works and place bids. The art selections include works in oil, acrylic, watercolor, mixed media, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, and photography. As part of online auction, there is also a buy-it-now component that enables participants to purchase artwork immediately, without having to place competing bids.
The Artists Association’s mission is to foster the visual arts on Nantucket by offering year-round educational opportunities, preserving the rich legacy of the island’s art colony, and supporting more than 300 artist members at the Cecelia Joyce & Seward Johnson Gallery, Big Gallery, and Champion Gallery at the Visual Arts Center.
To learn more about the AAN, visit nantucketarts.org. For details about the organization’s carefully crafted 2024 programs and events, call 508-228-0722.