Westwood Gallery Opens 'Road to Dublin' Exhibit Sunday

Residents can take a trip through Dublin without going overseas by visiting an art exhibit at that includes paintings and writings from three generations of one family.

"The Road to Dublin" exhibit opens Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. at the gallery and features paintings by Helen Frank of Springfield while she was in Dublin last winter with her family.

Most of Frank's work depicts everyday scenes, mainly of people. She said she waits for a scene to strike her before going to work.

"You never know what it's going to be," she said. "I think that's the exciting thing about art."

In addition to the visual artwork on display, "The Road to Dublin" also includes writings from Frank's daughter Holly and granddaughter Ruby Scalera. Holly and Ruby were also on the trip and kept notebooks. Frank said she would spend nights working on sketches while they wrote in their notebooks, never discussing what they were working on. The pairing of the writings with the pieces of art came later.

"It's three generations experiencing the same place at the same time. It was never planned. It kind of evolved," Frank said. "I think because we didn't plan it it has a spontaneity or freshness that maybe it wouldn't have."

Because the pairing wasn't discussed ahead of time, Frank said the paintings and writings don't directly match up, but the atmosphere comes across similarly. She said the writings stand on their own just as her work stands on its own.

Frank has traveled extensively for many years, creating etchings or drawings from many sketches. She doesn't remember a time before being an artist.

"I've been an artist my whole life. I don't remember a time when I wasn't," Frank said. "I'm waiting to get bored but I don't think it's going to happen."

Westwood Gallery owner Michael Fitzsimmons wouldn't want Frank to stop her artistic work. He said Frank offers a great deal of work to the gallery and that he hasn't had as large a show since 2007.

"Helen has a way of striking a chord whether it's a very universal chord or a personal connection. Usually it's the personal connection people see in her artwork that makes it sell," Fitzsimmons said. "She has a knack for getting these scenes people relate to."

To celebrate the show's theme, Fitzsimmons said the gallery will offer corned beef sandwiches, Guinness, Irish coffee and scones Sunday rather than the traditional wine and cheese.

Frank said the show is fun, pretty and feel-good. She said her work highlights the beauty of the lands, the humor of the people and the warmth of the pubs she encountered in Dublin.

Visit Westwood Gallery at 10 Westwood Ave., Westwood Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. for the show opening. "The Road to Dublin" will be on display at Westwood Gallery through Dec. 30. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.