By Madison Butkus
Hometown Weekly Reporter
The first weekend in May was quite a busy one for Needham as Needham Open Studios (NOS) held an all-day, two-day event highlighting over 40 artists at 13 different locations around town. Residents were able to take a behind-the-scenes tour of their community’s award-winning artists, some of which even welcomed everyone into their own homes!
Throughout each day, and found at multiple locations, special live demonstrations and hands-on activities were conducted by the artists. The artists included within this weekend were Paula Pitman Brown, Stephen Brown, Gail Fischer, Plugged in Band, Gail Hansen, Naomi Wilsey Art, Donna DeMaria, Alan Blair, Amy Cicala, Christine Moynihan, Mark J. Richards, Needham Furniture Makers, Jay Cohen Photography, Svetlana Grinshpan, Irina Moroz, Michael Bogdanow, Steven Branfman, Hilary Hanson Bruel, Audrey Markoff Dunn, John Lechner, Local Color Jewelry, Liz Bailey Nania, The Potters Shop and School, Tova Speter, Sarah Whitlock, David Berman, Berline Chao, Lyuba Fitatova, Sally Goldfarb, Ilene Hoffman, Anne E.G. Nydam, Rob Ondo, Corinne Rhode Photography, Gail Silman, Judy Silverstein, Judith Stein, North Hill Gallery, and Wellspring Galleries.
One local artist, Naomi Wilsey, welcomed Needhamites into her home and displayed her stunning works of art. She interprets nature and real life aspects through watercolors, Japanese brush painting, acrylics, and mixed mediums. According to her website, “Naomi, a working artist and art teacher for over 30 years, paints primarily in watercolors. Her subject matter from nature includes traditional landscape, still life, and florals. She also uses watercolors and inks in the manner of Japanese brush painting called ‘sumi-e.’ She is a resident of Needham where she paints and teaches art in her home studio. Her award-winning work has been shown in community, gallery and national exhibits.”
Her home was filled to the brim with all kinds of her beautiful artwork, including bookmarks, paintings, postcards, greeting cards, oyster ornaments, sketchbooks, and more. For any kiddos who came through her showing, she had a craft set up where she would help them create Japanese paper lanterns. These would be put together using craft paper, tissue paper, ribbon, chopsticks, and glue.
Also within her home was local artist Gail Hansen who creates graphic silkscreens and handmade books from printed and marbled paper. She produces all of her work out of Shepherd & Maudsleigh Studio in West Newton, MA. Hansen and Wilsey have been friends for many years and each shared stories about one another. Hansen stated that one of her favorite stories about Wilsey is that she has an on-the-go watercolor set in which she will paint while in the passenger seat of a car.
Over at North Hill, two distinct galleries were set up for Needhamites to come and enjoy. One included a Mixit Print Studio Group Show that highlighted professional printmaking artwork done by Helen Meyerowitz. The second gallery was that of Wellspring that showcased work that was done by those living within North Hill as well as Needham High School Students.
Charie Clinton, Artist-in-Residence, was on site to engage with visitors and residents with weaving and printmaking demos, as well as hands-on purposeful play opportunities.
Not only was there artwork seen within the building, but also all around the campus. Director of PurposeFULL Living, Jessie Rodrique, stated that this artwork seen outside has been a global community art-in-action project going back for over 15 years now. It is known as The Yarn Storm or “yarnbombing,” in which over 450 pieces of yarn were woven, knitted, and crocheted by Crescent Hights, Vista Terrace, Pines Edge residents and North Hill Staff. All of these individual elements were then pieced together by residents to form “tree sweaters” that were installed just in time to welcome visitors for NOS weekend. These sweaters mark a true celebration of color, texture, and joy of creativity available to all, and they will be on display through the first week of June.
This NOS weekend was another major success in which artists were able to share their work, and their love of art, with the residents of Needham. For more information about NOS and the artists included within this group, please visit their website at www.needhamopenstudios.com.
