Exeter Gallery announces April Theme Show awards

Portsmouth Herald
·2 min read
"En Plein Air" by Christine Blomquist. This work was needle felted with dyed wool onto linen.
"En Plein Air" by Christine Blomquist. This work was needle felted with dyed wool onto linen.

EXETER — "My inspiration for this piece was from some of my own photos taken by the Potomac River in Washington DC," says Seacoast Artist Association gallery member Christine Blomquist of Brentwood about her work "En Plein Air" which won Best in Show at their "Pure Poetry" theme show. "The cherry blossoms that day were in full bloom and the memory of their beauty has stayed with me. The connection between the photographer (myself) and painter in the picture (and subsequent painting) is that we are both, by definition, creating en plein air." This work was needle felted with dyed wool onto linen. Acrylic paint, watercolor pens, and embroidery threads were used to create more dimension and complete the image. In honor of National Poetry Month, the SAA asked artists to illustrate a poem and Christine composed her own, entitled "En Plein Air":

Always a brief transitionThe cherry will do as it pleasesBut when the time arrivesThese ornamental beauties with a soft palletteWarm our senses and signal spring is here.

"Potted Cat" an oil by Debra Woodward
"Potted Cat" an oil by Debra Woodward

Debra Woodward's oil painting "Potted Cat" was chosen for the People's Choice Award by the attendees at the SAA's monthly Second Friday reception. "He's quite a ham," the SAA gallery member said of her husband's cat. "Yes, he is very much my husband's cat. He was just waiting for me to photograph him in this flower pot. He loves to misbehave, but he is a great model. This is the second painting I have done of him." Her inspiration for this one was a poem by William Carlos Williams, "Poem: As the cat":

As the cat

climbed over

the top of

the jam closet

first the right

forefoot

carefully

then the hind

stepped down

into the pit of

the empty

flowerpot

See these and other "Pure Poetry" pieces along with their respective poems through April 30. All paintings are for sale. The next theme is "In Full Bloom" and drop off is April 29, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All artists are welcome. Details at seacoastartist.org.

There will also be an SAA members spring show "Primavera: The Art of Spring" to be held at the Exeter Town Hall May 6-21.  Drop off for this show is at the Town Hall on May 3 and May 4, from 4 to 7 p.m., and all artists must be members. Joining is easy on the website.

Receptions for both shows will be on Friday, May 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. Music will be provided at the Town Hall by violinist Dacha Thurber and at the gallery by Cheryl Sager and Neal Zweig. See more at on their website and on Facebook. Call 603-778-8856 during open hours Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. with any questions.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Exeter Gallery announces April Theme Show awards