The heat wave didn’t stop locals from traveling around Marblehead to see the Arts Festival’s exhibits Thursday, July 2.
The 60th Marblehead Arts Festival exhibits featured about 500 artworks from local artists, categorized into drawings, photography, printmaking and more.
“It’s a big showcase opportunity for budding artists to come and show their art,” said Maggie Smist, festival co-chair. Smist added that this year saw a 10% increase in submissions over last year.
Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St.
At Abbot Hall, galleries of crafts, paintings and printmaking surrounded the hall. The cod and whales from the previous month’s First-Look party were also on display.
Tracy Finn, a Marblehead resident, has been involved with the festival since she was a kid. She said she won her first award in middle school. This year, her painting “Golden Hour” won Honorable Mention.
“We’re lucky to have this festival,” Finn said. “It draws so many people, and it’s a great opportunity for artists to show their work.”
The festival indeed brought in several visitors, like Carling Farley, originally from London, who was introduced to the festival last year by her boyfriend, Evan Thorne, a Marblehead resident.
Farley said she was transfixed by Amy Hourihan’s printmaking project, “Early Morning Rowers,” which won Best of Show.
“I have had experience rowing,” she said. “The different textures transported me back to that feeling.”
St Michael’s Episcopal Church, 26 Pleasant St
The St. Michael’s Episcopal Church had digital art, mixed media and sculptures.
Marblehead resident Erik Smith was having a fantastic time with Best of Show winner Ed Lewis’ “Time Mirror,” a digital artwork on a TV. With the press of a button, the screen changed to several different styles, from rainbows, black & white, and slow-motion capture.
“There’s something new every year, like this,” Smith said, adding that he is a fan of art.
Old Town House, One Market Square
A photography gallery was set up in the Old Town House.
“Photography has been here and evolved with tech,” said Mary Alice Alexander, a co-chair of the festival.
Alexander explained that the photography exhibit traditionally has two categories: black & white and color. This year featured a new category, the Joseph Dixon Award — Alternative Methods.
Patricia Scialo won “Best in Show” for this category with her photograph of “Bonsai Roots.”
Marblehead resident Doug Moon is a festival volunteer.
“A lot of people come in, and I hear them talking and get inspired by all the artwork,” Moon said. “The festival is a gateway to explore your own creativity.”
Unitarian Universalist Church, 28 Mugford St.
The UU Church features drawings and senior art from artists 65 and older.
David Barber’s “Happy Trout” drawing won honorable mention. He used only red markers as his medium.
Barbara Nasser, from Marblehead, was volunteering for her 12th year. Her painting “The Blue Cache” won Honorable Mention.
“So many of us here are artists. This event brings all artists together,” Nasser said.
Old North Church, 35 Washington St.
Seven-year-old Izzy Brown, from Swampscott, was so happy to have one of her oil paintings, “Mateh,” exhibited in the festival this year.
She created the oil painting, inspired by a green woodpecker she saw outside one day.
The Old North Church had several works of art of children from various schools around the North Shore.
“It shows our community youth arts program,” said 14-year-old London Perlow, who is volunteering this year.
Robert “King” Hooper Mansion, 8 Hooper St.
The Hooper Mansion features paintings from “Paint the Town,” the town’s outdoor painting event co-chaired by Eugenia Guastaferri and Carol McLaughlin.
“You can judge the health of a community by their embrace of the arts,” said volunteer Eric Knight. “It’s important for the community to support their artists.”
Marblehead resident Andrea Bunde returned to buy Sheila Farren Billings’ acrylic painting, “Fishy Shanty Stroll.”
The painting was dedicated to Margaret “Peggy” Farrell, a dedicated member of the Marblehead Arts Association, who died earlier this year.
“We all need art in this world. It gives us good feelings,” Bunde said.
Exhibit schedule
The Festival of Arts exhibits are open to the public through July 5. Exhibit hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the exhibits closing earlier at 3 p.m. on the final day. Vote for your favorite pieces to win while you are there.
Best in Show
Here is a list of all Best in Show winners. To find the list of other honorees, click HERE.
CRAFTS: Nora Falk, “Nordic Summer Cardigan, Size Xl”
DIGITAL ART: Ed Lewis, “Time Mirror”
DRAWING: Todd Zelewski, “Craggy Rocks of Chandler Hovey Park, Marblehead Lighthouse”
MIXED MEDIA: Yelena Kalevski, “Ikebana”
PAINTING: Todd Zelewski, “Because Tomorrow the Sun Will Rise and Who Knows What the Tide Will Bring”
PAINTING THE TOWN: Leon Drachman, “Morning Calm”
PHOTOGRAPHY: Ulrike Welsch Photography, “Peekaboo” and Glenn Engman, “Puma”
PRINTMAKING: Amy Hourihan, “Early Morning Rowers”
SCULPTURE: QuitsaKiki Designs, “Ancient Ruins of Atlantis”
SENIOR ART: Instagram Bedazzled Fish by Dawn, “Tinkerbell”
