This is a sneak preview for the 2022 BVAA Anything Goes photography show! Some of the labels weren’t fully updated yet – I corrected everything I found manually in the video. I wanted to make sure I got this up before our reception on Sunday January 16th at 2pm, when the winners are announced.
Some of the photo glass (mine included!!) showed very glare-ey in the video. If your photo has glare on it, you can send me (Lisa) a JPG of the photo and I’ll put it here on our BVAA website. That way people can see the image without glare. I tried my best with different angles, but as you can see from my two photos, sometimes it’s an enormous challenge, especially with darker image areas.
Ask with any questions!
Here are the photos I’ve been sent, so you can see them more clearly. Click on one to see it at a larger size.
“Fall in New England” – Cindy Wilder THIRD PLACE
“Carolina Wren” – Lucia Hackett FIRST PLACE
“Bodie CA” – Mike Blake HONORABLE MENTION
“Tufted Titmouse” – Richard Allain HONORABLE MENTION
“Lea” – Lisa Shea & Bob See
“Ilara” – Lisa Shea & Bob See SECOND PLACE
“Caught!” – Mike Zeis
“Just Another Day At The Office” – Tami Reichel HONORABLE MENTION
If you’ve wanted to try pastels or improve your pastel skills, mark your calendars! On Saturday, February 5th, 2022, talented artist Jeff Ventola will lead a workshop on pastels.
Where: Singh Performance Center at the Alternatives Whitin Mill 50 Douglas Road Whitinsville Massachusetts
When: Saturday, February 5th, 2022 9am – 3pm
Cost: $30 for residents of Northbridge, $45 for non-residents Supported in part by the Northbridge Cultural Council
Attendees will be provided with a list of supplies they should bring.
Here is Jeff’s description of this workshop:
Please join me for this fun, one-day workshop as we thoroughly explore and examine the pastel process from early concept to finished painting, where you will learn firsthand how to execute simple practices and push the limits with advanced techniques.
Focus will be on the dynamic landscape and how to express yourself through your work by ‘thinking’ and creating dramatic compositions, adding intense value and lighting techniques and utilizing head turning color palettes. Leave your comfort zone and learn how to begin with an effective underpainting and layer building for finishing touches. We will even review framing and supplies, and current marketing practices to give you and your work the love it
To RSVP for this fun, entertaining event, please contact Carol Frieswick at csf@meganet.net
It’s our fourth annual Carbon Copies show! The Blackstone Valley Art Association is sponsoring a delightfully fun art show all about fakes, forgeries, and parodies!
Carbon Copies – Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
This Carbon Copies show is for all BVAA members to participate in. The idea is to find a famous painting and then duplicate it! You can duplicate it exactly or you can add your own fun twist to it. You can paint a version of a Roger Fenton photo. You can stage a photo which resembles a Vermeer painting. Maybe you paint Mona Lisa as a cat.
The sky’s the limit!
It doesn’t have to be a painting. You can imitate a famous photo. Play with a historical sculpture. It’s up to you.
Note that the source art needs to be in the public domain. In general that means it needs to have been created before 1923. Art which is under copyright, after 1923, has its rights controlled by that artist. You would need to ask that artist for permission to use their work in any exhibit.
When: March 5th to March 26th 2022
Where: BVAA Alternatives Uxbridge Community Gallery 5 South Main Street Uxbridge, MA 01569
There is a TON of free parking immediately next to this building. It is fully and easily handicapped accessible.
Each BVAA member may exhibit up to three artworks. These will be judged for cash prizes.
Entering the Show The entry fee for this show is $8/piece for up to three pieces.
Artwork can be any size. That being said, please contact us first if you plan on bringing anything over 20″ x 30″ in size. We need to arrange for space for those separately.
All art must be family friendly and properly wired for hanging. Our hanging system does not work with saw-tooth or triangle hangers. If you are new to preparing art for shows, read our page on How to Mat and Frame a Photo. Please also check out our Show Terms and Conditions. This includes all details including the 25% commission for any sales of exhibit artwork in the gallery. You may also choose to have your artwork listed as not for sale.
All art items which are entered are hung. There is no “pre-selection” process where some are accepted and others are rejected. If you submit artwork, and it is family-friendly and wired properly, it will be part of our show.
Submissions To submit your entries use our BVAA Online Submission Form. The deadline to submit is midnight on Saturday, March 5th, 2022. To submit your entries use our BVAA Online Submission Form. Work must be dropped off by Saturday, March 5th, 2022 at 3pm. All work which is brought in will be hung (as long as it is properly wired and is family-friendly). If you have one, please bring along a photo of each of your source artwork items, so we can hang those alongside your artwork. That way visitors can see what you were working with. If you don’t have printouts, let us know the artist & work title and we’ll track down and print those out for you.
Judging Judge to be announced
Opening Reception The virtual opening reception for the show is Friday, March 11th – we’ll run a slideshow / virtual walkthrough as a premiere!
To see what the Carbon Copies vibe is about, check out these previous shows!
Ask with any questions! We look forward to seeing your entries!
This Uxbridge gallery is supported in part by BVAA member dues, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and by ValleyCAST. The space use is kindly donated to us by ValleyCAST, the community outreach department of Open Sky Community Services. Open Sky uses this space for special-needs client activities during daytime weekdays. They allow the BVAA use of the space – and its gallery walls – on evenings and weekends. We actively support their inclusive mission. All are welcome to all of our events and activities!
The Blackstone Valley Art Association is sponsoring the 10th Annual Anything Goes Photography Show – this show is open to the public! All styles of cameras and cellphone images are warmly welcome!
When: January 8 to March 5, 2022
Where: BVAA Open Sky Uxbridge Community Gallery 5 South Main Street Uxbridge, MA 01569
There is a TON of free parking immediately next to this building. It is fully and easily handicapped accessible.
Participation is open to the public. Each participant may exhibit up to two photos. These will be judged for cash prizes.
Entering the Show The entry fee for the main show, open to all styles of photography, is $15/2 pieces for BVAA members and $20/2 pieces for non-members. The theme is wide open. You can submit a portrait, landscape, still life, abstract, seascape, you name it. Your imagination is the limit.
Photos can be any size. That being said, please contact us first if you plan on bringing anything over 20″ x 30″ in size. We need to arrange for space for those separately.
All photography must be family friendly and properly wired for hanging. Our hanging system does not work with saw-tooth or triangle hangers. 3M stick-on hangers are notorious for falling off – please don’t use those. If you are new to preparing photography for shows, read our page on How to Mat and Frame a Photo. Please also check out our Show Terms and Conditions
All photos which are entered are hung. There is no “pre-selection” process where some are accepted and others are rejected. If you submit artwork, and it is family-friendly and wired properly, it will be part of our show. You can have your photo listed with a price for sale, or you can have it Not For Sale if you wish.
Submissions To submit your entries use our BVAA Online Submission Form. The deadline to submit is midnight on Saturday, January 8th, 2022. Work must be dropped off by Saturday, January 8th, 2022 at 3pm. All work which is brought in will be hung (as long as it is properly wired and is family-friendly).
In the past we had a separate section for film images. This year, we will have them included in the main show judging. If you do something unusual by using film cameras or unusual techniques, please let us know in the submission form. Members love to learn about those things.
We will hang the show on Wednesday January 12th.
Judging The judge for this show is Paul M. Murray. Here is his artist statement.
My photography remains a work in progress. I am very much a visual traveler who interacts with people, places, objects, and ideas on a variety of levels through several planes of vision that intersect with time and space. At those intersections, I may capture a moment and portray it with my implied perspective. The journeys to those intersections afford the opportunity to see, and perhaps become intrigued by what I am experiencing.
Often the story telling aspects of the photographic art form capture my attention and motivate a series of related images. Although my perspective is predominantly reality-based, I acknowledge not only the subjective nature of what I portray in my images, but an interest in pursuing at times more abstract images.
To the extent that my images enrich the experience and vision of others, I feel that I have achieved a way of communicating that is unique to me as a photographer.
This Uxbridge gallery is supported in part by BVAA member dues, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and by ValleyCAST. The space use is kindly donated to us by ValleyCast, the community outreach department of Open Sky Community Services. Open Sky uses this space for special-needs client activities during daytime weekdays. They allow the BVAA use of the space – and its gallery walls – on evenings and weekends. We actively support their inclusive mission. All are welcome to all of our events and activities!
If you’re interested in painting, drawing, and illustrating, we have the perfect Saturday lined up! It’ll be a great time with laughter, conversation, creativity, and the space to stretch out! It’s all FREE!
This is also Uxbridge First Night celebrations! At 4:30pm the parade starts and it goes right past our gallery. There is music, food, crafts, and much, much more. There’s even fireworks at 6pm! Come out and enjoy the day!
Open Paint 10am-6:30pm For the entire day, it’s an open paint! All are welcome, including the public, family, and friends! It’s free! We have watercolors and acrylics on hand, or bring your own if you wish.
If the weather is nice out, visitors can also embark on an Uxbridge sketch walk. We have the maps all ready.
When: Saturday, December 4, 2021 10am – 6:30pm
Where: BVAA Open Sky Uxbridge Community Art Gallery 5 South Main Street Uxbridge, MA 01569
Our Saturdays at the gallery include an open paint session where all styles of art are warmly welcome. Whether you’re 12 or 102, whether you’re a new beginner or a seasoned artist, we would love to have you. It’s completely free to participate in the open paint. You can bring your own paints or we’ll have watercolors and brushes to share.
There is a TON of free parking immediately next to this building. It is fully and easily handicapped accessible.
Feel free to show up for some or all of the day to paint. Some come for just the morning, some for the afternoon, and some for the entire time. There are several options on the same block to grab lunch if you’d like. We also bring in a pizza and those who want slices chip in a few dollars.
Our Saturday events are free, casual, relaxed, and fun! All levels are welcome.
Ask with any questions – we’d love to have you join us!
This Uxbridge gallery is supported in part by BVAA member dues, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and by ValleyCAST. The space use is kindly donated to us by Open Sky Community Services. Open Sky uses this space for client activities during weekdays. They allow the BVAA use of the space – and its gallery walls – on evenings and weekends.
All are warmly welcomed! FREE! Come join us on Wednesday November 10th 2021 at 1pm as talented local artist Verne Thayer showcases how to paint the Little Red Shop Museum in Hopedale, Massachusetts!
A local historian will be present to talk with us about the background of the Little Red Shop.
This event is FREE and open for all level of painters, photographers, etc. It is supported by the Hopedale Local Cultural Council. Thank you to the Hopedale LCC!
Verne will be painting with oil paints. You’re welcome to hang out and watch as he paints, or if you want to, you can paint along! You can also simply paint anything in the area that intrigues you. You can take photos!
It’ll be a creative, relaxing celebration of the beauty and architecture of Hopedale.
The location is right on the water, so you can paint the foliage over the water, the nearby buildings, or anything else that catches your fancy.
Try something new! Think outside the box! Our October 2021 monthly BVAA meeting will be a hands-on workshop on creating 3D sculptures with black foam core! All are welcome. It’s free to participate! We will also stream this LIVE on Zoom so people can play along and chat from home.
Where: BVAA Uxbridge Community Art Gallery 5 South Main Street Uxbridge, MA 01569
This meeting and workshop is free and open to the public. No experience is necessary. The fun of our workshops is that we all try new things we’ve never done before.
Our meetings cover BVAA organization business from 6:30-7:00pm and then go into the workshop part of the evening.
Ask with any questions!
Our meetings are supported in part by grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and Uxbridge Cultural Council.
Just what might a foam core sculpture look like? This image is from an exhibit Bob Collins held at the Post Road Art Center.
Here’s one done by Danielle Redden:
A 3D foam core sculpture by Lisa Shea, then spray painted:
You can see a full 3D video of Danielle and Lisa’s sculptures in this video of the BVAA 2018 Spring Show. The sculptures are shown at 5:26 into the video:
We have the black foam core and pencils. So that part is set. I’ll bring some spray paints in case anyone wants to try that. That will be done OUTSIDE :).
What we NEED for you guys to bring if you have them, are:
cutting boards
exacto knives / box cutters
hot glue guns
Let me know if you have any of those things to bring along with you.
We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday! If you try this at home, send photos in of your results!
The Blackstone Valley Art Association is sponsoring a Books and More drive! It’s more than just a book drive. We are building a Resource Library for Open Sky and are seeking books, CDs, DVDs, games, cameras, binoculars, telescopes, and other lendable items!
The BVAA works closely with the Open Sky organization, which provides wonderful services to individuals with challenges. The Uxbridge Art Gallery space is used during weekdays by Open Sky for career services. Open Sky kindly allows the BVAA to use the space on evenings and weekends.
The BVAA is hosting this drive to benefit the individuals served by Open Sky!
When: Saturdays from 10am to 3pm (i.e. standard BVAA gallery hours)
Where: BVAA Open Sky Uxbridge Community Gallery 5 South Main Street Uxbridge, MA 01569
There is a TON of free parking immediately next to this building. It is fully and easily handicapped accessible.
What Types of Books? Open Sky is assembling a lending library for their individuals served and staff members. They are looking for ALL types of fiction books – mystery, romance, science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, you name it. The books should be in good condition, so that they can be enjoyed by the readers.
Please contact us first for non-fiction book topics. We are interested in books on cooking, birdwatching, hiking trails, biking trails, and types of plants. We’re also interested in books in French or Creole.
What Else Can Be Donated? We are building a resources library. So in addition to books, we are looking for CDs, DVDs, games, binoculars, telescopes, cameras, and any fun things which could be lent out. We currently do NOT want puzzles because it would be onerous to make sure all the pieces are there.
Masks Please Because this facility works with individuals who might have medical conditions, please wear a mask when you bring in your books and other items.
BVAA Is a Non-Profit You should be able to list your donations on your taxes as a donation to a non-profit, as the BVAA is a registered non-profit organization.
