Local Artist and Veteran to Design Old Colony Elder Services' Lobster for the Plymouth Lobster Crawl

Shown: Nicole Long, Assistant Executive Director at OCES and local artist Samantha Shields were on hand to watch the lobsters as they were "released" from their trailer on the Plymouth Waterfront on July 15th

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the non-profit agency serving older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout greater Plymouth County and surrounding communities, is a proud sponsor of one of the 29 lobsters that will be showcased in Plymouth's Lobster Crawl, the major public arts event that will be on display throughout the waterfront, downtown and Plymouth community.

OCES' lobster will greet visitors at Nelson Park on the Plymouth waterfront and will be custom designed and hand painted by local artist and Plymouth resident, Samantha Shields.

With a passion for art, Ms. Shields is a student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she studies architecture and painting. She is also a Veteran of the United States Air Force, having served for four years as an Arabic Linguist.

The Lobster Crawl was an enticing opportunity for Ms. Shields to get her work out in public for the first time. She has already completed the design on OCES' five-foot tall fiberglass structure and will be painting it using acrylic paints. According to Ms. Shields, she hopes to one day have paintings in galleries and no matter where her architecture and design career takes her, will always make her artwork a priority.

“Samantha's illustrations on our delightful and whimsical OCES lobster beautifully reflect our vision and mission,” said Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director. “We are excited to be working with such a talented artist.”

Stay Tuned
OCES is currently holding a lobster-naming contest with their staff and will soon reveal the winning entry. More information about the celebration and unveiling of OCES' lobster will be announced on their website at www.ocesma.org.

About Plymouth Lobster Crawl

The Plymouth Lobster Crawl is a major public arts event that will be on display throughout the waterfront, downtown and Plymouth Community. The Lobster Crawl will feature 29 unique structures measuring five feet tall. The fiberglass structures are sponsored by local businesses and organizations; each is custom designed and hand painted by local artists. When visiting each Lobster you are encouraged to post your photos on your social media channels using #PlymouthLobsterCrawl. This FREE art exhibit is presented by the Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce. Visit www.plymouthchamber.com/lobster for more information.