January's 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.

A great way to receive feedback from your artists friends. Come and bring up to 3 pieces of your artwork to share with the group.

Janet Dupuis will help guide us during our get together. Mark your calendar!

Email Janet to let her know that you will be joining us at [email protected].

Take the Challenge! We are adding something new and exciting to our regular critiques. At the next critique we will be handing out Mystery Briefcases. Inside, are miscellaneous items that you must use to create a piece of art, with brief instructions for you to follow. Choose your briefcase. Do not open your briefcase until you get home. Bring your finished art piece to the next critique to share with the group. Eventually, we would like to collect everyone's finished challenges and have an Art Challenge Show.

If you would like to take this art challenge, email Deb so she will know how many briefcases to prepare and bring to the January critique. [email protected].

You may also just stop by and pick up your briefcase for next month's critique.

There will be a $5 materials fee to help support each briefcase.

If everyone enjoys these art challenges, we will continue to have new challenges at our future critiques. We are excited to see what you will create with your mystery briefcase.

Janet Dupuis will help guide us during our get together.

Mark your calendar!

Email Janet at [email protected] to let her know that you will be joining us.

Register now to receive your map locations and ID Card

You must register for this Plein Air. Everyone is invited to participate

Register here and get access to all the instructions and maps

All art works must be For Sale. Property owners will be hosting artists around the pond from August to June. Artists will be able to come visit the pond during all 4 Seasons. Areas indicated will be available to the artists throughout the year so that the various seasons are represented. Artists will be visiting the pond to find perfect venues or scenes to capture in their chosen medium. There will be over 20 locations for view.

An art show will be held at the next KPBA's Fireworks celebration in June on the Pond. This Art Show is a Fundraiser that will help with the cost of treating the pond for milfoil and other invasive plants. A map will be available to all artists for all access points. There is a public boat launch for kayaks.

The Kendall Pond Betterment Association, (KPBA) is dedicated in keeping the pond a natural resource for future generations.

At Kendall Pond's fireworks celebration on June 24th, 2023, GALA will hold an Art Show displaying all of the artists' work for judging.

Cash prizes and ribbons will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd,1st Honorable, 2nd Honorable places. The 1st Place art piece will be donated & raffled off to the public with the proceeds of the raffle split between the Artist and KPBA.

Artists will also have the opportunity to display their work for sale in GALA's show during the afternoon hours of the fireworks celebration.

Several residents have expressed an interest in working with the artist to purchase their painting prior to the event. This is allowed but you must have to make arrangements with the GALA president.

The Peterborough Town Library is pleased to announce a solo exhibition by Fitzwilliam oil painter Scott Niemi. Opening on First Friday, January 6th, 2023 from 5-7pm, Niemi’s exhibit of landscapes will also be available to view during regular library hours. In addition, Niemi will be offering an Artist Talk on Saturday, January 21st at 2pm.

Coffee and Critiques sessions are held once monthly on the THIRD THURSDAY from 10-11:30AM, weather permitting. These gatherings will be held at the Keene Senior Center, 70 Court St., Keene, NH. Host is Alicia Drakiotes for the KSC. Bring your in progress work or come for inspiration!

For further information email: [email protected]

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.

Public reception: Friday, January 13, 2023,

6:00-9:00 PM (snow date: January 20)

It's time to strut your stuff! Wearable or frameable, Strut will feature artworks engaging with fashion, textiles, and style. Prizes for this members' exhibition will be awarded by theo tyson, Penny Vinik Curator of Fashion Arts at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts at the opening reception. Strut will also showcase five new pieces by Worcester designers acquired by the Worcester Historical Museum for its Costume Collection.

On view January 13 through February 12, 2023.

44 Portland Street

Worcester, MA 01608

508.755.5142

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. Please follow all current COVID guidelines. Visit Mass.gov/COVID for more guidance. For more information call 413-863-3221 or visit our website; or email [email protected]. The Great Falls Discovery Center is located at 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA 01376.

Visitor Center Hours: Open 6 Days a Week

Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m.

Wednesdays—Sundays, 10:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m.

Open Monday, January 2nd, 10:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m.

Open Monday, January 16th, 10:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m.

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.

Get the New Year started off on the right foot! Enjoy a leisurely staff-guided three-mile stroll on the Canalside Rail Trail. This family-friendly hike follows a gentle, level route. Discover the abundant natural, historical, and cultural features that make the Discovery Center and rail trail such an amazing state park! Be prepared for cold weather: dress in layers and wear comfortable winter walking boots. Dogs are welcome on leash. Meet at 1:00 p.m. in the Great Hall. Hike begins at 1:15 p.m.

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 local history and natural scenes along the way. Be prepared for the weather. Wear appropriate clothing and sturdy boots. Bring water. FREE. In case of inclement weather, come on inside for the interpretive topic of the day. Meet at the main entrance to the center.

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.

Between 1870 and 1915, millions of logs were driven down the Connecticut River from the North Woods to Holyoke. Let’s explore the log drives and the brazen men who made it happen. Meet in the Great Hall.

Ever wonder what people used before refrigerators? Ice boxes! Let’s learn about ice harvesting on the Connecticut River which provided ice for food storage and winter jobs. See tools used in ice harvesting and what it took to be an ice harvester. Meet in the Great Hall.

Let’s go outside and see who’s been here in the snow. Investigate the mysterious signs that wildlife leave behind. Program includes an indoor story, scavenger hunts, and crafts. Bundle up! For ages 3 – 8 with a parent or guardian. Siblings and friends welcome. Meet inside the main entrance.

Meet Joe Parzych and enjoy light refreshments. His exhibit, Photo Beat, Past and Present— Moving Forward in Time, Capturing of the Moment, captures changes in local rural life.

Joe R. Parzych has been a freelance photojournalist for 24 years. His photographic storytelling provides an Autistic perspective to everyday objects and is fueled by his passion for local history and community. Publications include: The Montague Reporter and Country Folks, a national trade farming magazine. This exhibit begins our series of programming and exhibits related to the Smithsonian’s exhibit – Crossroads: Change in Rural America.

1/6—1/13: Under the Snow, by Melissa Stewart

1/14—1/20: Rabbit’s Snow Dance, by James and Joseph Bruchac

1/21—1/29: Tracks in the Snow, by Wong Herbert Yee

Explore the lives of active and resting winter wildlife. For ages 3 and up, accompanied by an adult. Meet at the welcome desk. *The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Story Walk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson. This StoryWalk® is provided by Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Interpretive Services.

Visit the Smithsonian’s Museum on Mainstreet exhibit, Crossroads: Change in Rural America, here from 2/5 to 3/18. For related programming listings: greatfallsdiscoverycenter.org. The exhibition is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and State Humanities Councils nationwide. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress. Crossroads: Change in Rural America has been made possible in Turners Falls, MA at the Great Falls Discovery Center by Mass Humanities. Local sponsors include the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center, DCR, Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, RiverCulture, and New England Public Media.

Join us in welcoming David to Shirley, for an art opening featuring his comic art!

NEW WORK

We are excited to see what Dug has created over the last year.

Join us for one or both exhibits which are free and open to the public. Light refreshments and entertainment will be provided.

2 Shaker Rd., D101

Shirley, MA 01464

Gallery Sitka

978-425-6290

All materials included

Class size limited 4-6

$50.00 per person

Learn & create: Owls

Bluebirds

Snowmen/women

Santa heads

Hearts

And more

Contact for available times and dates: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

The Jaffrey Civic Center is thrilled to announce that it is seeking artworks for an upcoming exhibition. The show titled “Inspired by Jaffrey: A Town of History, Natural Beauty, and Culture” is planned in collaboration with the Jaffrey 250th Committee in honor of the town’s 250th celebration. All works included in the show will be inspired by or include Jaffrey in some way. The exhibit is open to all interested artists and works in both 2 and 3 dimensions will be accepted.

Rebecca Fredrickson, Executive Director of the Jaffrey Civic Center is organizing the exhibit. Fredrickson is excited to contribute to this important and historic Jaffrey.

“I am thrilled to be able to be a part of this year long celebration of the town and its history! What better way to honor the beauty of this community than through the arts? I am looking forward to see the works of art that are inspired by this amazing town.”

Steve Pelkey of the Jaffrey 250th Organizing Committee shares his thoughts on the show:

“The Jaffrey 250th celebration would not be complete without the artistic vision that is reflective in our historic Jaffrey Civic Center. We are thrilled the Civic Center is hosting an art exhibit to feature our towns 250th anniversary and look forward to viewing all the amazing artwork.”

The exhibit will be on display at the Jaffrey Civic Center January 28-February 25. There will be a special preview reception, which is open to the public on January 27, from 6-7:30. Light refreshments will be served. In the event of inclement weather, please check the Jaffrey Civic Center website for potential cancellation and/or rescheduling of reception.

Artists interested in participating in this exhibit need to fill out the online form.

For more information about this event and others that are planned to celebrate the Jaffrey 250th anniversary, go to jaffrey250.com.

The Jaffrey Civic Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit cultural facility founded in 1966. The mission of the Jaffrey Civic Center is to provide and sustain a public venue where citizens, residents, and visitors of the Monadnock region can pursue artistic, educational, and civic activities. The Center’s goal is to contribute to the cultural enrichment and enlightenment of the community. There is no admission fee to the Civic Center 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 to the Jaffrey Historical Society. For more information about the Jaffrey Civic Center: www.jaffreyciviccenter.com

For our eleventh annual Call and Response exhibition, all artist members are invited to consider humanity’s complex relationship with our environment, along with one (or more) of ten artworks on loan from the Fitchburg Art Museum. These ten artworks explore a range of impacts on the natural world in their themes, subject matter, and materials. View the loan here.

FAM’s curatorial staff will select ten works from Impact to be exhibited at FAM later in 2023.

We thank our friends and partners at the Fitchburg Art Museum for sharing their collection so generously with our artists.

Material Needs Grants, funded by an anonymous donor, support the expenses of supplies and materials for the creation of new art in Worcester County. With this gift, ArtsWorcester is able to distribute grants to local artists between $500 and $1,500. Artists who receive the Material Needs Grant in 2023 will exhibit their work in a group show at ArtsWorcester in 2024.

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  [email protected]  or 978-630-2340

The Townsend Meeting Hall Art Gallery Townsend, MA

Contact Alice Struthers at [email protected] 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 [email protected].

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 [email protected]

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 [email protected] to express your interest in helping out with our organization.

Please send your news "publication ready" to [email protected]. 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 [email protected].