We had a wonderful August Art Critique. Here are a few photos of the critique and our Art Briefcase Challenge.

The August briefcase challenge was “White/Black/Red. You could only use what is in your briefcase. Everyone’s challenge had the same items in the briefcase. They all came out amazing and everyone did an outstanding job on their challenge. The next challenge will be available in October. There will not be a critique in September. We will be moving to our new home in Gardner.

Art Critique will be held at the Ashburnham Stevens Memorial Library, 20 Memorial Drive, Ashburnham, MA. We will be in the Community Room, Take the elevator to the 2nd floor. Come and join us!

Coffee and tea are provided—bring a snack if you wish.

Free to all GALA Members. New artists—first class is free.

Bring up to 3 pieces of your artwork (finished or unfinished) to share with the group. A great way to receive feedback from your artists friends.

Gardner's Open Spaces

A Juried Art Exhibit

Submission deadline: Sunday, May 19th, 2024

Gardner's Open Spaces is a juried exhibition organized by Gardner Area League of Artists. The exhibition will be held at the Gardner Museum at 28 Pearl St, Gardner, June 7 - August 25, 2024

Judging & special ribbon awards will be given.

All visual artists are invited to submit their best artworks on the theme for inclusion in the exhibition. All types of art styles may be submitted, including both 2D and 3D works, painting, sculpture, digital, printmaking, fiber, photography, graphic, mixed media.

Maximum size for 2D is 20"x 30" includes the Frame. For 3D, contact us.

The theme, "Gardner's OPEN SPACES" The visual representation of Open Spaces, in Gardner, in any of its myriad forms, is acceptable for this exhibit. Only in the town of Gardner. Artists are free to apply their own interpretation in representing the overall theme. Representational and abstract ideas based broadly on this theme, in any media, will be considered.

There are many open spaces in Gardner Massachusetts. Feel free to choose any of the four seasons. Help showcase the beauty of what Gardner has to offer. We have provided a map to help show where all the Gardner green spaces are located. Bring your camera and easel and start exploring these areas. Or you may explore and find a gem of your own somewhere in Gardner. We are announcing this now while Summer and Fall is still upon us.

C. M. Judge’s paintings from her new Triune series will be featured in Dublin, NH’s Contemporary Art Invitational Show at the DubHub during the month of September.

Reception: Friday, September 8th, from

5 - 7 pm.

1123 Main St., Dublin, NH

(603) 563-8080

Artist William Fournier and a GALA member, will have his first solo exhibit at the Levi Heywood Memorial Library. William is a Gardner Veteran who loves wildlife, photography and loves to paint from his heart. The exhibit will be up until the end of September. William’s artwork is beautifully done specializing in woodlands, landscapes and wildlife. William enjoys to paint large and his subjects are moose, bear, deer, pheasants, and more. William has spent many years in the mountains exploring nature. He paints from his imagination. An exhibit you should come see and enjoy. This photo shows a mural William had created and is currently displayed in the Winchendon Grout Park along the bike path.

Check Levi Heywood Library’s website for open hours.

As a service to the patients of the Center for Wound Care at Heywood Hospital, GALA has been displaying member art in the waiting room for more than 15 years. We will be contacting artists for the following schedule: September-October and November-December. Three to 12 pieces can be accommodated in this space. Multiple artists may join together to create a theme or display at the same time. Please contact Vicki at Surroundings Gallery & Custom Framing, 978-630-2340.

The Jaffrey Civic Center has long been known as a cultural hub, fostering creativity, and promoting local artists. With the Botanical Beauty Exhibition, the center aims to showcase the intrinsic link between art and nature, highlighting the significance of botanical elements as artistic subjects. Botanical Beauty, a juried exhibition will take place at the Jaffrey Civic Center, through September 16. The artists included in the show are Phil Bean, Bruce Boyer, Brenda Ferro, Jill C Fischman, Julie Gargan, Alberta Geyer, Betty Glass, Linda Greenwood, Holly Harmon-morse, Martha Hess, Sue Ann Hum, Jane Kronheim, Ann-Marie LaBollita, Susanne Larkham, Michael Lichter, Jay Mercado, Diane Orzel, Lorna Perkins, Susan Peterson, Jan Reiss, Joe Smith, Brandie Sweetland, F. Brackley Tolman, William Turner, Edith Tuttle, Judy Unger-Clark, Martine Villalard-Bohnsack, Leslie Voiers, Suzanne Goguen Will & Ed Wojtaszek.

For art lovers, nature enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a moment of respite in the lap of beauty, the Jaffrey Civic Center's Botanical Beauty Exhibition is an event not to be missed. Whether you seek inspiration, a renewed connection with nature, or simply a delightful experience, this exhibition has something to offer everyone. Come by the Civic Center during open hours, Wednesday- Friday noon- 5pm or Saturday 10-2, to see this fantastic show!

603-532-6527

The Jaffrey Civic Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit cultural facility founded in 1966. The Center’s mission is to provide and sustain a public venue where citizens and residents of the Monadnock region, as well as visitors to the area, can pursue artistic, educational, and civic activities. The Center’s goal is to contribute to the cultural enrichment and enlightenment of the community. The Center does not charge an admission fee, and all art shows and receptions are free and open to the public. The Center also hosts fee-based educational and other programs, as well as serving as the home of the Jaffrey Historical Society. For more information about the Jaffrey Civic Center, please visit the Center’s website.

We are pleased to announce the first exhibition, for this academic year, in the East Wing Gallery. Come enjoy the beautiful work of two landscape painters. All are welcome. Gallery exhibitions and events are free and open to the public.

Joyce Miller

Gallery Director, East Wing Gallery

Mount Wachusett Community College, 444 Green Street, Gardner, MA 01440 

978.630.9221   j_miller@mwcc.mass.edu

Instagram: mwccartdepartment

All programs are free and open to the public. An adult must accompany children. Inclement weather cancels outdoor programs. Reasonable accommodations available upon request. Wheelchair accessible. For more information call 413-863-3221 or visit: https://www.mass.gov/locations/great-falls-discovery-center; or email janel.nockleby@mass.gov. The Great Falls Discovery Center is located at 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA 01376.

Visitor Center Hours: Open 6 Days a Week

Come explore the natural, cultural, and industrial history of the Connecticut River Watershed in our dynamic exhibit dioramas. Adjacent to the Canalside Rail Trail, the center also includes the Great Hall exhibit gallery, restrooms, and drinking water.

Karen Axtell presents, Intervals, mixed-media prints about time on handmade paper, layered with oil and water-based materials. The prints reference the rings of trees, the depth of rivers, the shape of leaves, ebb of tides, phases of the moon, and more.

Enjoy a story, fresh air, and exercise! Join us on the center’s grounds for a free self-guided StoryWalk® featuring a children’s bilingual picture book, Agua, Agüita / Water, Little Water by Jorge Argueta, for readers ages 4 and up. Follow the path to book pages posted along the route. The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson. This StoryWalk® is provided by Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Interpretive Services.

An easy-paced, 1 to 2-mile guided walk, along the Canalside Rail Trail or downtown Turners Falls, geared for seniors, but open to all ages. Join others seeking fresh air and exercise. A DCR Park Interpreter highlights natural and local history along the way. Wear appropriate clothing for the weather and sturdy footwear and bring water. Meet outside the main entrance.

For ages 3-6, accompanied by an adult. Learn more about our wildlife neighbors who share our home. Program includes a story, activities, and a craft. Activities are indoors and outdoors, weather permitting. Siblings and friends welcome. Meet in the Great Hall.

Join us for the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center’s concert series featuring local talent. Enjoy a mix of folk and folk blues with finger-style guitar from Jim Eagan and Anand Nayak. Refreshments available. Sliding scale suggested donations, all in support of educational programming at the Center. Meet in the Great Hall.

Check out the annual draining of the Turners Falls canal, take a stroll along the Canalside Rail Trail, and absorb local history with Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center staff, historian Ed Gregory, and DCR staff. Meet at the entrance of the Center for this free two mile walk on flat terrain. Meet outside the main entrance.

Discover nature through story, poetry, and art in our series of free Art Naturally programs. Using words and images, instruction, and techniques you create an art piece inspired by the natural world to take home. For adults, teens, and children ages 6 and up (accompanied by an adult). All art materials provided. Meet in the Great Hall.

Learn how to use an origami microscope! Join ornithologist Ezekiel “Zeke” Jakub, co-founder of the non-profit Conservacion Panama, for “adventures in the microcosmos,” an opportunity to observe tiny parts of our world up close and get an introduction to scientific methods and conservation—all while using a Foldscope. Free. Registration required. Please call 413-863-3221 to sign-up. For children and families ages 9 and up. Meet in the Great Hall.

Join Karen Axtell for a reception celebrating her work, Intervals, a series of mixed-media prints about time. Meet in the Great Hall.

Hard work, real fun, true impact: the annual fall trash cleanup of the Connecticut River and its tributaries. Join DCR staff to clean-up the Canalside Rail Trail. To register, visit bit.ly/canalside2023 or contact DCR staff at 413-863-3221 for more information. Meet at the main entrance.

Public historian Tom Goldscheider discusses Franklin County precision steel tool manufacturing, where it was a world leader for generations. Workers organized with a democratic trade union that was targeted in a national political campaign aimed against it. This led to a peaceful confrontation in Greenfield and surrounding towns that surprised onlookers near and far. Meet in the Great Hall.

Did you or someone you know work in the local machine tool industry? Your stories can help enrich this research. If you are interested in sharing your memories, please introduce yourself at the At Sword’s Point event or contact the presenter at tom.goldscheider@gmail.com.

Great Falls Discovery Center

Department of Conservation & Recreation

2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA 01376

janel.nockleby@mass.gov  (413) 863-3221  she/her/hers

Open Hours: Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wednesdays through Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Office Hours: Wednesdays through Sundays

Saturday 9th: Joe Jencks - award-winning songwriter & internationally touring folk artist presents a unique merging of musical beauty, social consciousness, and spiritual exploration

Friday 15th: David Wilcox - quintessential folk singer, telling stories full of heart, humor, and hope

Sunday 17th: Elan Sicroff - classical piano interpretations of composer Thomas de Hartmann

Friday 22nd: The Green Sisters – old-time, eclectic folk, great harmonies and fun!

Saturday 23rd: Keith Murphy & Becky Tracy - traditional music from Canada, Ireland and more

26 South Main St

New Salem, MA 01355

Pamela Means presents The Power of The Protest Song: Our Shared History & Present Day. Part performance and mini-presentation, this family-friendly public event will explore the origin stories and lineages of protest songs, how their meanings and effects continue to transform through time and space, and how they have inspired--and continue to inspire--movements and cultural shifts within the realms of racial and social justice. In addition, Pamela will also share her own experiences with becoming an artist and using her voice. A curated assortment of original songs and select, recognizable covers will be integrated into the presentation as a powerful demonstration of how grounding, unifying, and mobilizing protest songs can be.

Free! All ages welcome. BYO chairs, blankets. Thank you to River Culture for presenting this event.

This performance happens in tandem with the Great Falls Farmers Market.

Jamaican Jewelz Food Truck will also be on site offering traditional favorites like jerk chicken and meat patties until 2pm.

This program is supported in part by a grant from Montague Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Free! All ages welcome. BYO chairs, blankets. Thank you to Wilbraham library for presenting this event.

This program is supported in part by a grant from Wilbraham Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Free! All ages welcome. BYO chairs, blankets, snacks, beverages. Thank you to Dickinson Memorial Library for presenting this event.

This program is supported in part by a grant from Northfield Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Free! All ages welcome. BYO chairs, blankets. Thank you to Holyoke Heritage State Park for presenting this event.

Free onsite parking! Visitor Center parking lot

This program is supported in part by a grant from Holyoke Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Do you get inspired by fellow artists? Would the company of other creatives motivate you to work on an idea or abandoned project?

Come to Main Street Studios on Tuesday evenings. We have plenty of work space for you to set up with your writing, painting, knitting, etc.

We will socialize for a half hour-ish and then have a quiet hour or two to do the work. If you are inclined to share at the end of the evening - or the end of the summer, you are welcome to do so. But that is not required.

Main Street Studios has coffee/tea/water and maybe a few snacks. There are also options for delivery if you want to order dinner.

The point of this evening is to have fun and employ a little gentle peer pressure to kick aside those creative blocks. If you have any questions, send us a message or leave a comment in the event. You can also email studios@fitchburgculturalalliance.org.

FAM at Home art activities and tips for creating art with children. Create with us from home!

Explore the artistic techniques, concepts, and themes behind Fitchburg Art Museum’s permanent collection artworks through these fun creative projects. Explore the full list of tutorials below. Click here for information on how to best use these resources.

Worcester Art Museum offers online, in-person, and off-site programs that cover a variety of subjects and media. In-person classes are held either in the galleries or WAM’s studios, and have reduced class sizes. WAM is following current CDC guidelines. Online classes are taught through Zoom and are encrypted and secure.

Call or email with questions, to register over the phone, or to request a print brochure!

Phone: 508.793.4333

Email: classes@worcesterart.org

Arts Alive would like to work with YOU!

We are seeking ideas and facilitators for an arts engagement activity or demonstration. We're going to be getting out there to a bunch of community events this summer and whether it's a drawing workshop, a painting demo, or a sculpture activity, we would love to hear your thoughts on how we can engage attendees in the creative process.

We will provide you with a table and chairs, we will purchase or reimburse you for materials, and we will offer compensation for your time. We will also promote your activity or demo on our event website and social media pages to ensure that attendees are aware of your participation.

Deadline: Rolling

Artists are welcome to submit ideas all this month. We will review all submissions and notify selected artists as needed.

Westminster now has a public art gallery open for showings by Westminster artists. "The Little Gallery at Town Hall" is now accepting applications from artists or artist groups who would like to exhibit 2-D work for a month-long show. For more information, visit the Town of Westminster website.

Art Support is a website dedicated to providing support and resources for artists of all types.

The following is just a small list of support provided to artists: Organizations Helping Visual Artists, US Government Art Organizations, State Agencies and Art Commissions, Non Governmental Art Organizations, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, Laws Regarding Visual Arts, Artist Consultants, Grants for Artists & Grant Assistance, Artist Health Insurance, and many other legal support and resources for Massachusetts artists.

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Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) and check out the MCC blog ArtSake

The Painter's Keys where you can subscribe to twice weekly letters from artist Robert Genn.

Visit the Arts Marketing Project website for info, ideas, tools and training on marketing art.

Mini Grants for Professional Development are available through NewVue Communities. More information.

Heywood Hospital Wound Care Center  Gardner, MA  (GALA Sponsored Venue)

Contact Vicki Heidorn at  surroundingsgallery@gmail.com  or 978-630-2340

The Townsend Meeting Hall Art Gallery Townsend, MA

Contact Alice Struthers at astruthers1@comcast.net or 978-597-2057

River's Edge Arts Alliance Hudson, MA

The Arts Alliance has quarterly exhibits at the Hudson Town Hall, so if you are interested in a solo exhibit of your work, contact Danielle Moskowitz at (978) 562-1646 or dmoskowitz@upwitharts.org.

Falmouth Artists Guild Falmouth, MA

Post Road Art Center  Marlborough, MA

Levi Heywood Memorial Library Gardner, MA

The Library is always looking for exhibitors to show their work in the Art Gallery. If you are interested in exhibiting as an individual or a group, please contact the Library Director, Kathleen D. Leslie at 978-632-5298 or kleslie@cwmars.org

Workers' Credit Union  Gardner, MA

The West Boylston Arts Foundation (WBAF) is always looking for artists, crafters, or musicians that would like to offer workshops or classes.

There are many ways to volunteer! Please email info@galagardner.org to express your interest in helping out with our organization.

Please send your news "publication ready" to news@galagardner.org. See previous newsletters for example formats and the type of info to provide. We strongly recommend that you include a digital image related to the news as well as your website address & links to any venues. Image filenames should include the name of the artist and the work. Please post your press releases online whenever possible and submit a link.

If you would like your business logo inserted into our monthly newsletter for only $50 per year, contact us at info@galagardner.org.