Art Exhibit Highlights Wakefield Talent

A number of Wakefield artists were featured in a juried art show at the Americal Civic Center.

The show, part of an ongoing celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Civic Center building, came together in the space of only about three months, organizer Cheryl Webb Scott told Wakefield Patch on Thursday.

Scott recalled how earlier this spring, a lecture at the civic center highlighted prominent past local artists such as Franklin Poole, a 19th Century Wakefield painter. From there, the idea for a show featuring the town's current artistic talent emerged.

"The idea was to show the very best that was available from Wakefield artists," said Scott, adding that she had been excited to see artists submitting other media as well, including photographs. "I'm so proud of everything that's being shown."

Scott also noted that three of the paintings were from the late Richard Hartshorne, who painted for much of his life but apparently never exhibited his work during his lifetime.

Turnout was reportedly huge to the opening night event on Wednesday, where many of the attendees had the chance to meet the artists whose work was on display.

Looking ahead, it remains to be seen if an art show will be held next year the Civic Center. Despite the success of this one, it was still just one part of the ongoing 100-year anniversary celebration for the civic center, which started off as a National Guard Armory at the dawn of the World War I era.