From Japanese Ink to Australian Deserts, Westerly Invitational Spans the World

A haven for local artists, the Portsmouth Arts Guild strives to create a nurturing environment where individuals share their art, interact with artists and other members of the community, and inspire one another.

Since its inception in 2003, the guild has welcomed an eclectic variety of artists from the Portsmouth area and surrounding towns including painters, jewelers, photographers and sculptors. The current exhibit, the Artists Cooperative Gallery of Westerly Invitational, is running through Aug. 15.

The gallery space is accessed by a long ramp, which leads up to the doors of a building that doubles as a meeting space for the Episcopal Church to which it adjoins.  

Upon entering, visitors are greeting by one of the guild members, all of whom volunteer their time operating the gallery.  On this particular day, guild member Sheila Clark Lundy was greeting visitors with a broad smile; her enthusiasm for the guild was obvious and she was more than happy to share information.

Lundy, whose artwork is currently featured at a show at Providence City Hall, directed me to the pieces that are part of the current exhibit. 

Displayed along the walls of the gallery, the Artists Cooperative Gallery of Westerly Invitational, features a diverse assortment of artists, all of whom bring a mixture of styles and mediums to the show. 

Perhaps the most unique pieces in the exhibit include the Kecheneny fish prints by artist Jack Brown. 

Brown catches fish, prepares them, and creates his fish rubbings using Japanese rice paper and "Sumi-e" ink.  The result is an extremely detailed impression of the fish.

Displayed beside one of Brown prints are more traditional pieces by artist Carey Williams, whose oil paintings depicting beachside houses at sunset glow with incredibly beautiful lighting effects. 

Artist Joyita Neerkaje's mixed media pieces, some reminiscent of ancient cave art, draw viewers in with dazzling colors. Her bright pieces are set off by photographer David Culton's black and white photos, one of which depicts a surreal desert landscape in Australia.

The Portsmouth Arts Guild encourages members of the community to take advantage of their gallery hours Thursday through Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. 

The current exhibit will be available through Aug. 15, while works by guild members are always on display. 

Please visit www.portsmouthartsguild.org for more information.