MARBLEHEAD — The Marblehead Arts Association’s annual exhibit, Variations, is now open, showing pieces by artists around the country.
While the six-year-running exhibit has always been open to both MAA members and non-members, this year is the first time that the organization has opened the exhibit to applicants outside of New England.
“We spoke about it last year and thought we would try and expand our footprint,” said MAA Executive Director Patti Baker. “We had a much larger group of people that had applied than we had expected.”
Baker said the association received 580 submissions and was able to select 174 to showcase in its six galleries at King Hooper Mansion. Pieces were selected by three judges: Cara Wolahan, curator of the Art of Europe department at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts; Francine Weiss, curator at Newport Art Museum; and Beth McLaughlin, chief curator of exhibitions and collections at Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton.
Awards will be presented to the best artists in the best of three categories: Fine Arts, Photography and 3D Work. The winners, who will receive a prize of $1,000, will be announced on the MAA website on February 7.
While there will not be an opening reception due to COVID-19, all pieces in the exhibition can be seen both in-person at the gallery and on the organization’s website, something the association began doing more during the pandemic.
“COVID helped us get it online,” Baker said.
Missy Fisher, co-president of MAA, said the newly national exhibition was very exciting for the organization.
“We are honored to be displaying the artwork of our talented members alongside the works of accomplished artists from across the country,” Fisher said.
Variations is open for viewing during the gallery’s expanded hours of 12-5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, or by appointment by emailing [email protected]. The exhibition can also be seen online at marbleheadarts.org.
