During May, the DubHub/Dublin Community Center, 1123 Main St. will feature the works of artists Kate O’Dell, Joan Barrows, Kate Corr Frame and Ann Sawyer, each of whom was selected for their portrayals of various four-legged creatures of the animal kingdom. All are invited to come meet the artists at a public reception on Friday, May 10, from 5 to 7 p.m.
O’Dell, a primarily self-taught artist living in Litchfield, studied with watercolorist Beth Patterson for more than four years. Past and current self-study has been in the form of books, videos and trips to museums and galleries. She paints in watercolor on aquabord – a natural clay surface. The clay mimics paper, but unlike paper, the paintings are varnished, eliminating the need for glass in the frame. O’Dell’s work has been shown in galleries across New England.
Barrows, a Peterborough resident, studied at the University of Hartford Art School. Her interest over this past year has been in illustrating the native species of New Hampshire. Porcupines, coyotes, ravens, turkeys and others are some of the creatures she has represented in acrylic paint on stretched drop cloth. All are black and white, minimal compositions, often life-sized. Barrows’ work has been shown on the Monadnock Art Tour, at Oh! Gallery and at Bowerbird in Peterborough.
Frame attended the Rhode Island School of Design, Parsons School of Design and taught at the School of Visual Arts. She pursued a career in advertising in New York City as an art director, producing work for clients such as Coke, Sony, Mars and the United Way, for which she won a Clio. Upon retiring four years ago to Hancock, she returned to her passion for painting and finding the beauty in what’s often overlooked or abandoned. Her work has been shown in galleries across New England.
Sawyer attended Simmons College, majoring in library science. In 1960, she came to Jaffrey and her husband’s dairy farm, in the family since 1858. The dairy herd eventually numbered 225 head, and on the farm was her subject matter. For more than 60 years, she has created paintings of farm life and domestic animals. She has studied art at the Sharon Arts Center with artists Nora Unwin, Giffin Russell and Mary Iselin. She has also been on the faculty at Sharon Arts Center, teaching beginning watercolor, and has taught summer classes at East Hill Farm in Troy. She has taken workshops with artists such as Judi Betts, Christopher Shink, Al Broulette and Ruth Wynn.
Sawyer’s work has received multiple awards and been featured on brochure covers. She has exhibited in juried shows both locally and internationally. Her book, “Inside The Artist’s Barn,” contains 80 paintings of her animals.
This show may be viewed throughout May during open hours or by appointment.
