Co|So Exhibitions :: Martha’s Vineyard Artists of the Copley Society

The Copley Society’s newest offsite collaboration brings the works of prominent Co|So artists to the beautiful island of Martha’s Vineyard. Martha’s Vineyard Artists of the Copley Society opens Sunday, July 1^st at the Featherstone Center for the Arts and features 12 esteemed Copley Artists influenced by the island. While each artist is linked to the beautiful Massachusetts landmark, the individual inspirations are evidenced through a variety of subjects and mediums. From seascapes to cupcakes, visitors will have the unique opportunity to view a diverse display of works that capture the range of artists represented by the Copley Society. 

Jessica Pisano, Sea Green no. 12, 14, 15,18 x 6 acrylic, oil and gold leaf on wood panel

Artist Jessica Pisano grew up on Martha’s Vineyard and has always been captivated by the breath-taking landscapes that surrounded her. This idyllic scenery can be found at the heart of many of her paintings, such as Sea Green no. 12, 14, 15 (Triptych). In this work, Pisano uses a stippling technique to portray an ocean view in shades of bright blue, aqua, and white. Her incorporation of gold leaf allows light to shimmer and reflect off the canvas in a way that echoes how light interacts with water in nature. Her dynamic triptych transforms with the light, and is certain transport the viewer to his/her preferred seaside escape. 

Ovid Ward, Into the Fog, 43 x 35, acrylic on board

The work of Martha Vineyard resident Ovid Ward is also featured in this exhibition. Living on the water has enhanced his love for all things nautical, which is reflected in his work. Both Into the Fog and Dawn on South Beach explore the subject of the ocean in an exacting, hyper-realist style. Ward utilizes the “clear light” of the island to capture the atmosphere of the Atlantic, and explores the effect of the sun at different times of day.  Into the Fog allows the viewer a glimpse of the sea-faring life of the Vineyard as only a native would experience.

Laurie Brown, Peep Hole Slant, 12.5 x 22 x 1.5, gouache on cut paper

 With a style completely her own, children’s author turned artist Laurie K. Brown creates fine art out of paper. Brown collages together colorful pieces of paper that are manipulated to achieve various textures and shapes, and formed into relief sculptures. Peep Hole Slant features a series of white squares punctuated by colorful circles and crescents. The clear geometric shapes allow the colors to become the focal point of the work. Her intricate pieces are playful, intriguing, and her innovative use of paper to articulate color and shape invites the viewer to look closer and explore each work.

If you find yourself on the Vineyard this July, stop by the Featherstone Center for the Arts to see the range of artists featured at the Copley Society who are influenced by the wonderful Island of Martha’s Vineyard. Martha’s Vineyard Artists of the Copley Society continues through July 18^th and is sure to be a great success.

Co|So Exhibitions :: Nancy Colella's "Beach Peeks"

To help put you in a summertime frame of mind, Copley artist Nancy Colella is exhibiting her atmospheric images that depict the effect sunlight has on sea side architecture. “Beach Peeks” is her first solo show at Co|So, and brightly fills the Red Room with the feeling of being on a summer vacation. Each painting uniquely captures the essence of light and air that she experiences in her coastal neighborhood.  Colella describes her work as, “immediate and spontaneous impressions of my reactions to everyday life.” Colella reduces her work down to its primary elements by limiting brush strokes, and approaching each subject abstractly while working gradually to add details.  Her strong contrast between light and dark colors helps unify the composition, achieving an organized rhythm and balance of brush stroke, color and texture.  

Nancy Colella, Outdoor Shower, 8 x 10, oil on canvas

In “Outdoor Shower,” Colella captures one of the most recognizable features of a beach house:  the outdoor shower. The shower, while situated in the center of the work, is integrated into the side of the house and almost lost in the overall compositional focus on the contrast of light and shadow. Colella achieves varying textures via thick application of paint, which increases the sense of depth in the image.  The shrubbery and the landscape are defined by painterly brush strokes, and balance the flattened lines used to identify the prominent architectural features. The cast shadows and quality of light place the viewer in mid-afternoon on a summer’s day.   

Nancy Colella, Private Road, 16 x 20, oil on canvas

Like “Outdoor Shower,” on the surface “Private Road” features the typical South Shore beach house, but in essence portrays the atmosphere and feeling of the summer light and air. The dramatic shadows delineated by sharp tonal contrasts in the house in the foreground are clearly distinguished from the sunlight-steeped yellow house in the background. This delineation in tonality allows a greater sense of depth and atmosphere. Similarly, the bright blue sky, which sits almost flat on the canvas, reinforces the pure air quality that the viewer can almost feel. 

Nancy Colella’s “Beach Peeks” will be on display at the Copley Society of Art until August 21.  The artist will speak about her work in the gallery on Saturday, June 30 from 1:00 to 3:00pm.  We look forward to seeing you in the gallery during these upcoming warmer months!