Oak Bluffs bursts with creativity, especially in the summer. Strolling among the galleries, within easy walking distance of each other, is a glorious way to spend a few hours.
“It’s more than a gallery” is Zita Cousens’ motto for her Cousen Rose Gallery (71 Upper Circuit Ave.). Founded in 1980, Cousen Rose showcases many artists associated with the Vineyard. Meg Black paints with abacá, a fiber from the inner bark of the banana tree. “Abacá creates the textural surface in my work, which mimics the feel and wonder of the natural world,” says the artist. Photographer Deb Loeb Bohren employs her camera as a paintbrush to create luscious abstractions. “Intentional camera movement and multiple exposures, layering up to nine exposures into a single image in-camera, are the primary tools of my alchemy,” she writes.
Robert Fitzgerald combines beeswax, pigment, and tree sap to create encaustic images of the island. Bricque Garber fashions abstract assemblages by incorporating bits of paper and textured objects along with paint. Magi Leland states, “I am a scavenger on the hunt for inspiring subjects to paint,” referring to her Vineyard oil paintings. Steve London animates his catch of the day using the ancient Japanese print technique Gyotaku, traditionally employed by Japanese fishermen to make prints of their catches. Robin Gottesman’s drone photographs of the Vineyard capture the solitude of nature from various heights. Mountains, sky, buttes, adobe architecture, gardens, and fields inspire Pat Littlefield’s collages. Rayhart’s vibrant acrylics balance abstraction and realism. Cousens’ gallery will be open on Saturdays in June and will commence her renowned weekly artist and author receptions with live music from 6 to 8 pm in July and August.
Alison Shaw’s evocatively alluring photographs of the sea and land celebrate the Island’s unique beauty. Sue Dawson, co-owner of Alison Shaw Photography (88 Dukes County Ave.), remarks, “We just realized that this is the 20th summer at the gallery. It’s also the 50th anniversary of Alison’s shooting on Martha’s Vineyard.” As such, visitors will find many of Shaw’s legacy works and some of her latest photographs, reflecting her ever-evolving vision from black-and-white editorial shots for the Vineyard Gazette to her current focus on color and abstract compositions. Shaw never tires of the Vineyard as a subject. “Living and working on such a small island forces me to go deeper … [H]ere, surrounded by water, my territory is defined. This translates to almost a physical need to keep evolving, to grow as an artist, and to see ever deeper and wider. If I didn’t evolve as an artist, I’d get bored, and the creative spark would disappear. On the Island, it’s not about finding a new environment, as fun and adventurous as that can be. It’s about finding something within myself.”
Michael Blanchard opened the Crossroads Gallery (93 Dukes County Ave.) in 2017. Photography and the Vineyard are intimately intertwined with the artist’s well-being. “Photography, for me, is therapeutic. I focus on Martha’s Vineyard, which I consider my home in addition to a place of residence. The first day I set foot on the Island, I felt a spiritual connection and didn’t understand why — but later would learn. After a catastrophic collapse in 2010, my family, the Island, and photography have been the keys to my recovery and sobriety of over eight years.” Blanchard practices a meditative form of contemplative photography known as Miksang, which means “good eye” in Tibetan. “When I make it to a Vineyard location at four in the morning to catch the sunrise, I use the camera and the moment to clear all problems of daily life and experience each sense to the fullest. Capturing the images of those moments becomes an expression of the happiness and serenity I feel in the absence of alcohol.” The sense of joy and wonder at nature’s bounty permeates Blanchard’s glorious images of the land, sea, and wildlife.
Valerie Francis, founding director, and Ralph Groce, co-founder and CEO, have two exciting exhibitions. At the Knowhere Art Gallery (91 Dukes County Ave.) is “Women Rising … Where Women Gather, Power IS!” The show highlights the transformative strength of women when they unite in support and solidarity. Their art explores the profound power that emerges when women share space, stories, and creative energy. It also celebrates the diversity of these experiences, showcasing both the personal and political aspects of the journey toward gender equity and liberation. “Living Off the Wall” at the Center of Knowhere (73 Circuit Ave.) celebrates murals’ transformative power, featuring outstanding muralists who translate their large-scale public art into gallery settings with compelling narratives and artistic expressions.
A season highlight is the cherished annual Oak Bluffs Art Stroll: On July 12 from 4 to 7 pm, Island artists, vendors, and musicians bring together multiple facets of the arts. But any time during the summer is truly perfect for soaking in the plethora of artistic visual abundance.
For more information, visit galaxygallerymv.org/art-strolls.
