Island seascapes, mixed material collages and seaweed art covered the outsides of the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs as artists all across the Island came together Monday for the annual All Island Art Show.
Island seascapes, mixed material collages and seaweed art covered the outsides of the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs as artists all across the Island came together Monday for the annual All Island Art Show.
Susan Garrett won Best in Show, Saundra LaBell won for Best Vineyard Scene, and Warren Gains won the Savor the Moment prize.
Other awards were given out for oil and acrylic paintings, watercolors, photography and pastels, to name a few. But the true winner each year is the community the event creates.
Artwork surround the Tabernacle.
Artwork surround the Tabernacle.
Diane Laffey was attending for her seventh year in a row. On Monday, she hung her colored pencil and ink drawings on the wire lining the tabernacle.
“I love this show, I meet a lot of really nice people, I learn a lot, we can exchange different ideas and thoughts and perceptions on our work, it’s just really fun,” she said.
Kathy Poehler was taking part in the show for her 13th year, showcasing her seaweed collages, featuring images of mermaids, waterlilies and the ocean.
“I’ve been working with seaweed for about 40 years and it’s just my favorite thing to do because it’s the perfect amalgam of art and science,” she said. “I come from a science background, and this gives me a way to express my connections to the Island.”
Musician Jon Batiste enjoys the event.
Musician Jon Batiste enjoys the event.
Ms. Poehler said she admires the community aspect of the show.
“We have our little spots and you just share your work and then you get to see what other people are working on,” she said.
Sharon Kelly said she began doing her artwork after retiring seven years ago.
“You don’t have to be a person of any kind of great talent to screw up your courage and get out here and show what you’re doing, and everybody is just so wonderful to work with,” she said.
Artist Suesan Stovall is all smiles.
Artist Suesan Stovall is all smiles.
Ms. Kelly was showing her oil pastels of Vineyard landscapes, reflective of her love for the Island’s beauty.
“This is higher elevation over the cliffs,” she said pointing to one image. “And I’m a bike rider, so this is Sengekontacket from the bike path, this is State Beach with the beach roses, and this one is from my imagination of some of the tremendous thunderstorms we have here,” she continued.
Michele Beasley Maloney was taking part in the event for the first time, displaying her mixed media art, acrylic paintings and photography. She said she was in awe of how helpful and support everyone was.
“The staff is so lovely, they have done this for so long, they have all the materials, and they helped me hang up my work,” she said.
According to Beth Smith, a love of the Vineyard radiates throughout the All Island Art Show.
“It’s a beautiful setting, the Island embraces art, and this is another event on the Vineyard that brings all the artists together to celebrate each other,” Ms. Smith said.
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