We are sad to report that Davis John Caroll Jr., a native New England contemporary artist, passed away on February 22, 2011. The artist had recently been accepted as a new member at the Copley Society of Art, with his work Cook Street, Provincetown included in the New Members’ Show: 2011. Yet this was not the first time Carroll had submitted his work to the gallery, for he had been an artist at Copley 40 years prior. After graduating from the Massachusetts College of Art, Carroll developed his style through his work with advertising firms in the Boston and Cambridge area.  By 1969, the artist resigned from the art directorial position he had held to pursue his personal artistic interests. In addition to the Copley Society of Art, Carroll was also a member of the New England Watercolor Society, the American Watercolor Society, and the Boston Watercolor Society. 

Cook Street, Provincetown , acrylic, 27 x 37

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Carroll experimented with materials to perfect his personal innovative techniques, which included painting in watercolor on rice paper, and in oil on silk. In addition to painting, Carroll created lithographs, silk screens, and often employed the flourishes of calligraphy. At times, his serigraph and silkscreen styles made the paintings appear to be three dimensional. Common themes running  through his work are flowers, clipper ships, local neighborhoods, antiques, and other representations of regional New England culture.  Carroll was held in high esteem by his peers and his works were warmly received throughout the New England area, as well as in exhibitions in Florida. 

Commissions from the Strathmore Paper Company, the Hutschenreuther China Company, Germany, the American Horticultural Society, The Franklin Mont and multiple galleries speak to Carroll’s achievements as an artist. Carroll also worked as a teacher in Natick, and after moving to Boston, became a member of St. Ceceilia’s Church and an advocate for the Campaign for Human Rights and the AIDS Action Committee.  Carroll's son, John Davis Carroll, has also chosen an artistic career path. You can see his work at http://johndaviscarroll.com

A memorial service for Davis Carroll will be held in June. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to:

 The AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts

75 Amory Street,

Boston MA, 02119

The Co|So Circle

For many young professionals, the world of fine arts has been intimidating, even unapproachable, and the process of understanding, assessing, and collecting fine art has proved elusive. Yet, many of these individuals are intrigued by the art world and want to learn more - from gaining knowledge regarding the formal aspects of a work of art, to interacting and engaging with the artists themselves through exhibitions and events, to beginning to understand the process of becoming young collectors themselves.

In 2005, Danielle Boudreau founded the Co|So Circle, a collection of young professionals dedicated to promoting the understanding of fine art and art collecting in the Boston area. Boudreau graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Art History from Providence College, went on to earn her MBA degree in 2005 from Babson College, and later became a member of the Young Women’s Advisory Board, attending events such as the Massachusetts Conference for Women. Her work with New Profit Inc., a Boston based venture philanthropy firm, gave her further experience in understanding how to create and sustain a vibrant, community-oriented organization.

The Circle is composed of young professionals in their mid twenties to late thirties, burgeoning in their personal careers, seeking to be involved in the local art world through affiliation with Copley Society of Art. The Copley Society of Art acts as a mentor and cornerstone for the Circle, providing support and a framework for the Circle’s activities. Not coincidentally, many members of the Circle Board of Advisors are also patrons of the Copley Society of Art.

 CoSo Circle members at 2008 Art Tasting

In 2006, the Circle established a scholarship to be awarded to promising young Copley artists, further encouraging the strength of relationships between local artists and their surrounding community. The Circle also works in conjunction with Fresh Paint, Copley's annual springtime fund raising event. During the event, Copley artists set up their easels in various locations around the city – from the Back Bay, to the Fens, to Jamaica Pond, to the Boston Public Library - to capture moments and scenes of Boston. These paintings are then immediately framed and displayed in a week long show, culminating in an auction of those works. The Circle also hosts numerous other events throughout the year, such as Art Tastings, tours of Boston-area collections, workshops, and more.

Most recently, the Circle hosted a special event for its members at the Museum of Fine Arts - a tour in which the participants were led around the new Art of the America's Wing by two of the museum’s leading docents. The recently opened wing showcases more than 5,000 works of art produced in North, Central, and South America over the course of three millennium.

Next up for the Circle is the annual "So You Think You Can Paint!" event, in which Circle members convene at the Copley gallery for cocktails and a painting lesson by a Copley artists member. This year, Mary Hughes will lead the lesson. (March 23rd)

Interested in becoming a Co|So Circle member? Learn more about the Co|So Circle at the Copley Society of Art website.