Pumpkin Art Festival has a Beautiful Showing

Artists had to hang onto their pieces on Saturday afternoon as the wind blew through the grass at the Tewksbury Methodist Church in Tewksbury during the Tewksbury Community of Artists Pumpkin Arts Festival. The chairwoman of the Community of Artists, Marvis Willegal, wasn't complaining though, she was enjoying the day and had even sold a few pieces of her work.

"I think we are doing very good today, the weather is beautiful and people have been in and out all day," she said.

Willegal, who has chaired the Community of Artists for the past eight years, also teaches painting classes afterschool at the Dewing Elementary School and paints murals professionally. She paints using watercolor, oils and acrylic, but says her favorite medium is acrylic. Her paintings are so meaningful to her she can't always bear to part with the originals, so she sells prints of her work.

Another member of the Community of Artists, and a staple at the arts show around the area, was Peter Foy. Foy creates hand carved cats and dogs out of wood, but is most sought after for his beautiful creations he carves out of bowling balls. The vibrant colors from the balls create beautiful sleek and colorful pieces, which he carves into crosses, angels, cats, shamrocks and much more.

Foy uses a diamond cutter to cut through the bowling balls and carve out his shapes. Most of his work is done under water, which helps to keep a shine on the objects as he carves them. Foy's mother, Pat Reynolds, explained how Peter began through his love for carving wood. She said he went to school for gem and jewelry cutting, where he was able to obtain his equipment after the place burned down. As an avid bowler he had the idea to carve bowling balls.

"He asked people for old bowling balls and began cutting them up," she said. "He started showing them at fairs with his wood carving and it ballooned from there."

Foy has been doing woodcarving for 15-years, he has been carving bowling balls for the past nine. He has many people who come out to see him just to add to their bowling ball art collection.

Valerie Jeanne Borgal credits the Community of Artists, formally the artist guild when she joined, for getting her back into her art roots. Borgal had studied art in school and been an active artist, after she married she chose to say home and raise her children. When her children were a little older she decided to take part in all day art workshop on watercolor sponsored by the guild. The class awakened the artist inside and she began painting again.

"My children were big enough I made the decision to get back into art and take the class," Borgal said. "It was an all day Saturday watercolor class on Livingston Street it got me back into painting again.

The Pumpkin Art Festival was the first of two fall art festivals the Community of Artists is holding, the second, the annual Art Festival will be held on October 22 and 23. Participants include, members and non-members as well as students from all the Tewksbury schools. This event is a great cultural event showcasing artistic talent, both young and veteran, and makes it a day for the family offering refreshments and chances to meet and speak with the artists.

Established in 1993, the Tewksbury Community of Artists is a group of artists varying in age and art medium with one common passion, art. Through their eighteen years the group has blossomed to more than 40 people, representing a myriad of art forms, enriching the community with annual arts festivals, workshops and lessons.

The Annual Arts Festival

Friday, Oct. 22, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Wynn Middle School. This event for artists and their guests only.

Saturday, Oct. 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Wynn Middle School. Open to the public.