Category: BVAA Shows and Events

On November 11, 2017, talented photographer Al Weems ran a workshop on “Making Better Photos” at the First Congregational Church in Sutton. A small, focused group of photographers attended and got three hours of hands-on advice, suggestions, and workshop experience with Al.

Details of Making Better Photos Workshop

The workshop activities included a number of specific tasks to help photographers expand their creative thought processes.

Here are just a few of the results. We’ll be holding another photography workshop soon, so watch for the announcement!

artwork by Carol Frieswick

The Blackstone Valley Art Association is sponsoring the “Watercolors Then and Now” show to celebrate all past and present BVAA members and their watercolors. We are in our 60th year!

When:
May 11 to June 16, 2018

Where:
BVAA Alternatives Uxbridge Community Gallery
5 South Main Street
Uxbridge, MA

There is a TON of free parking immediately next to this building. It is fully and easily handicapped accessible.

BVAA Alternatives Uxbridge Community Art Gallery Information

Participation is open to all past and present BVAA members. Each current BVAA member may exhibit two watercolors. Each past member may exhibit one watercolor. A portion of all sales goes to support the work of Alternatives in the community.

Entering the Show
There is no entry fee for this show. The theme is wide open. You can submit a portrait, landscape, still life, abstract, seascape, you name it. Your imagination is the limit.

Paintings 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 paintings 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 artwork for shows, read our page on How to Mat and Frame a Photo. Please also check out our Show Terms and Conditions

Submissions
To submit your entries use our BVAA Online Submission Form. The deadline to submit is 3pm on Saturday, May 5th, 2018. Work must be dropped off either on Saturday, April 28th or Saturday, May 5th between 10am and 3pm. All work which is brought in will be hung (as long as it is properly wired and is family-friendly).

Opening Reception
The opening reception will be Friday, May 11th, 2018 from 5-7. Invite family and friends – all are welcome!

Pick Up
Saturday, June 16th, 2018, from 10am to 3pm. If you aren’t able to make that, contact us for other arrangements.

Address any questions via our BVAA Contact Information

Ask with any questions! We look forward to seeing your entries!

Image by John Randell

Our September 2018 Sunflower Show celebrates the sunny beautiful flower! The art show is in conjunction with a stunning lush garden of sunflowers out front of the Booklovers’ Gourmet.

Where?
The sunflower art show is held at the:
Booklovers’ Gourmet
55 E Main St
Webster, MA 01570

About the Show
If there ever was a flower which symbolized glorious summertime, the sunflower is the one. Did you know that nearly all of the 70 species of sunflowers are native to North America? They can grow to be up to six feet tall and they even tilt as the sun moves so they always face it!

The Blackstone Valley Art Association is celebrating this sun-shaped delight with a sunflower show throughout the month of September at the Booklovers’ Gourmet in Webster. Our show complements the massive garden of live sunflowers which the bookstore is famous for. Come on out to admire the live flowers, appreciate the artistic versions, and explore the shop’s offerings!

Submissions
The submission deadline for the sunflower show is Monday, August 20th, 2018. We have limited wall space here for 16-20 items so what we’ll do is have each member submit an image or two via email to Lisa Shea they’d like to include. Depending on how many entries we get, we’ll see how many items we can hang per person. If we get too many we’ll do a Facebook vote. This show is open to all BVAA members and is free to participate in. This is not a judged show – it is primarily a visibility and sales opportunity. Any sales will include a 25% commission taken by the shop. The BVAA takes no commission on this show. Full BVAA terms: BVAA Show Terms and Conditions

Selection of 2018 Sunflower Images

Drop-Off
The drop-off for the Sunflower Show is either Friday, August 31st, 10-6:30 or Saturday September 1st, 10-5. The shop will take care of hanging the items.

Public Reception
The reception will be 2-4pm on Saturday, September 8th.

Pick-Up
Pick-up for the show is Saturday, September 29th, any time before 6pm (during their open hours of course 🙂 ).

Theme
This show is all about sunflowers! The Booklovers’ Gourmet is well known for their beautiful sunflower garden, which will be in full bloom during the show’s run.

Volunteers Needed
The BVAA is run by volunteers – please lend a hand! We need volunteers for the following activities:
* Participating in the reception
Let us know on your submission form how you’re able to help out.

Photos from 2017 Sunflower Show

Video of the 2017 Sunflower Show:

How would you like a hand painted pet portrait? Would it make the perfect Christmas gift for you or someone you love?

As a special THANK YOU! for anyone coming to the Grafton Art Gallery on Saturday, December 9th from 3-6pm, talented artist Janet Aleid will hand paint a portrait for you *while you wait* of a pet. Her portrait will be 5×7 in size, ideal for framing. You just bring in a clear photo of your pet for her to work from. It’ll be just $10.

It’s well worth a visit!

 

Where?
Grafton Common Art Gallery
One Grafton Common
Suite 123
Grafton, MA

It’s the building with the AppleTree Arts in it!

When?
Wednesday, December 13th, 2017
3pm – 8pm

Share the news with all your pet-loving friends!

Note that the gallery is SHUTTING DOWN as of Friday, December 15th, 2017 – be sure to come visit before then!

For more about the Grafton Common Art Gallery, visit:

Grafton Common Art Gallery

The Grafton Common Art Gallery is about to close on December 15th! As a warm thank-you to all our visitors, every person who comes into the gallery on Thursday, December 14th will get a free origami ornament! Lisa Shea will be there from 3-6pm so if you come during those hours she can custom create one for you. If you come earlier 12-3 you can choose from the selection in the gallery.

It’s the perfect time for that last minute holiday shopping!

 

Where?
Grafton Common Art Gallery
One Grafton Common
Suite 123
Grafton, MA

It’s the building with the AppleTree Arts in it!

When?
Thursday, December 14th, 2017
noon – 6pm

Share the news!

Note that the gallery is SHUTTING DOWN as of Friday, December 15th, 2017 – be sure to come visit before then!

For more about the Grafton Common Art Gallery, visit:

Grafton Common Art Gallery

The 32nd Annual Art Festival of the Blackstone Valley Art Association was held in April 1990 at the Blackstone-Millville Regional Junior – Senior High School in Blackstone. The jurist was Lou Bonamarte.

This show featured a number of named awards rather than first / second / third. Also, I’ll note that there were NO PHOTOGRAPHS in these winners, meaning that there might have been no photographs at all in the show. The first time I’m finding any record of photography in a BVAA show is in 1992.

Arnold Banning Best of Show Award:
“Wild Flowers”, oil, Michael Graves

Alfred Demars Special Award:
“Trees”, oil, Bill Gustafson

William Boyd Special Award:
“Springtime”, oil, Inez Gornall Cloward

Bernard Corey Special Award:
“Untitled”, watercolor, Carole Rafferty

Raymond Sullivan Special Award:
“Purple Irish”, watercolor, Janice E. Moore

Doris Daniels Cox Special Award:
“Loon Sunset”, quilt, Millie Griffith

G. Arthur and Violet Small Special Award:
“Summer Field”, oil, William Heffernan

Let us know if you have any photos or notes from this event!

How would you like a hand painted pet portrait? Would it make the perfect Christmas gift for you or someone you love?

As a special THANK YOU! for anyone coming to the Grafton Art Gallery on Saturday, December 9th from 3-6pm, talented artist Betty Havens will hand paint a portrait for you *while you wait* of a pet. Her portrait will be 5×7 in size, ideal for framing. You just bring in a clear photo of your pet for her to work from. It’ll be just $10.

It’s well worth a visit!

 

Where?
Grafton Common Art Gallery
One Grafton Common
Suite 123
Grafton, MA

It’s the building with the AppleTree Arts in it!

When?
Saturday, December 9th, 2017
3pm – 6pm

Share the news with all your pet-loving friends!

Note that the gallery is SHUTTING DOWN as of Friday, December 15th – be sure to come visit before then!

For more about the Grafton Common Art Gallery, visit:

Grafton Common Art Gallery

Here are photos from the 2017 edition of the Claflin Hill Holiday Pops art show in Milford! The concert is SOLD OUT and is on Saturday, December 9th. Here’s the full details:

Claflin Hill Holiday Pops

A video too!

This is the two-fold brochure from the Blackstone Valley Art Association 34th Annual Art Festival, held on May 7 to May 21, 1992. It was held at the Bellingham Public Library in Bellingham, Massachusetts.

We had 5 photos in this show, so sometime between 1990 and 1992 we began having photographers in the group. For all I know we had photographers before 1990 and they went away again, but so far every show I’m finding before 1992 was photo-free.

The winners for this show were:

OILS
1st – Afternoon Light, Michael Graves
2nd – Boyhood Memories, Raymond Andreotti
3rd – Fog at Pigeon Cove – Beverly Clark
Hon Mention – Flower Pots – Nancy Nogueira

WATERCOLOR
1st – Boothbay Harbor, Maine – Carole Rafferty
2nd – ?? – Janice M.
3rd – Rainy Day Reds – Joanne Jozefowski
Hon Mention – untitled – Lissa Story
Hon Mention – The Road Home – Susan Whiterell

OTHER (I’m guessing, based on the prize listings)
1st – L’Imprimeuse lithograph – Muriel Locklin
2nd – From Here to Eternity photography – Ann Wiersma
3rd – Wine Country Oak photography – Steven Collins
Hon Mention – Zermatt, Switzerland Monotype and Etching – Muriel Locklin

Here are the images. Let me know if anybody else interprets these differently!

Other well-known names featured in this show include Inez Gornall and Linda Sinacola. Who else do you recognize here?

This Saturday 12/9 from 10am-noon, bring the family to make your own Christmas ornaments with talented artist Janet Aleid – all are welcome!

It’ll be at the Grafton Common Art Gallery in the Apple Tree Arts building.

Make your Own Ornament – Workshop Details

The gallery closes for good on Friday, December 15th so be sure to stop by this weekend and get your cards, prints, and artwork items now!