LYNN – Galleries At Lynn Arts (GALA) is the city’s first active arts association in more than 30 years, said president Annette Sykes, and its members get a chance to shine in the organization’s final show of 2019. An opening reception for the Member Show takes place on Friday, 5:30–8 p.m., in the LynnArts building, 25 Exchange St. The exhibit runs through Dec. 5.
GALA has also grown by leaps and bounds since a small group of artists met at the end of 2018 to form an arts collective. Today, it has close to 100 members and about half of those will be represented in this show. Some are professional artists, others are hobbyists, and a few are just starting out. Nearly 150 North Shore artists displayed and sold their work at GALA events this year.
“We are immensely proud to have shown this many artists’ work in our first year. This member show is a testament to a lot of people’s hard work, dedication, and love of Lynn and the North Shore, the arts, and our mission” said gallery director Sykes.
Participating artists are Alerth Samson, Annette Sykes, Anselmo Vasquez Paez, Caitlyn Yvonne, David LaChapelle, Dawn Jenkins, Ebee Estrich, Elizabeth Hall, Emmanuelle le Gal, Erik Warn, Heather Goodwin, Jack Holmes, Jacqueline Harrington, Janice Koskey, Jeanne Carey, Jessica Jordan, Joe Skahan, Karen Hosking, Karen Matthews, Larry Dunn, Leslie Fahn Rosenberg, Loreen Mondello, Michelle Brown, Michelle Shortsleeves, Ms. Lu, Nathan Hammerschmitt, Nicole Werth, Olga Gernovski, Patty Klibansky, Phyllis Poor, Rickey Schwed, Sally Jacobson, Sheila Farren Billings, Sheila Golden, Stephen Levin, Susan Schrader, and Tony Staffier.
A spoken word poet, a didgeridoo player and Lynn’s Cultura Latina Dance Academy will also perform at Friday’s opening.
GALA treasurer Nicole Werth said the show is presented as a retrospective of this year’s gallery shows: “Contrast and Seeing Red,” “Body Art and Through Different Lenses,” “Imaginary Spaces,” “Higher Purpose,” and “Plein Air.” All submissions are new, no repeats from earlier exhibits said board member Emmanuelle le Gal. There will also be a preview of 2020’s first show: a collaboration with Rubbish to Runway and a fiber arts/reused materials exhibit.
The art on display is diverse. Jacqueline Harrington creates “eco prints” by treating plant materials with a process that includes water and chemicals. Jeanne Carey presents bold, colorful, smaller acrylic paintings. Nathan Hammerschmitt, a 14-year-old Lynn artist, offers a pen-and-ink drawing of days-gone-by Central Square. Loreen Mondello wows with “Wowie-Barbie,” a wild avant-garde dress. Werth presents a watercolor of a NYC street scene.
Coming up: LynnArts Open Studios Nov. 23, coinciding with Lydia Pinkham Open Studios on Western Avenue; Winter Holiday Art Sale Dec. 14-15. For details, www.galleriesatlynnarts.org.
