While it’s easy to admire the finished products of what artists produce, there is so much to be gleaned from process. We spent some time with artist and beloved art donor Marian Dioguardi to get a behind the scenes look at elements that inform her art practice.
Thanks to Brandeis University, we had the pleasure of hosting Segal Fellow, Imani Islam as an intern for the summer. With the next semester around the corner, she opted to share her reflections on her time with us below as a parting gift.
Poignant. Powerful. Full of life. All these words fit the bill to describe the work of African American photographer Jourdan Christopher. Although born in Detroit and raised in Memphis, his time in New England has been filled with a rollercoaster of experiences that have sharpened his creative eye.
One of the benefits of partnering with artists to carry out our mission is getting to know more about their work and their art practice. We recently got a chance to catch up with mixed media artist Robert Rovenolt in his studio at the Boston Center for the Arts.
While Janel Houton has been an art donor since 2015, her artwork has been an extremely popular choice recently. Since the beginning of 2018, she’s had thirteen works join the permanent collections of FriendshipWorks, Health Resources in Action, and Charles River Community Health Center. During the artwork selection process the most common remarks associated with … Continue reading A Fast Five Questions with Janel Houton
Since 2006, Jeannie Motherwell’s whimsical washes have graced the halls of agencies primarily serving students and elders like Massbay Community College, Cooperative Elder Services Inc, and North Suffolk Mental Health. We are excited to ask her the “Fast Four” questions as our first Artist Feature in 2018.
“Through my Swedish husband, I was introduced to art in many places in Sweden. Even the police station in his small hometown had several original works. My father in law lived in a facility that featured many paintings and photographs. Seeing the artwork in these places made me feel uplifted and in touch with human … Continue reading Carlyn M. Ekstrom
“My mother took me to art museums when I was younger, and I took a figure drawing class in college and LOVED it! Then, I discovered Jeanne Carbonetti in Chester, Vermont and studied with her and I was hooked,” says artist Jeannie Lindheim of her first flirtations with art. Those moments of inquiry have transformed … Continue reading Jeannie Lindheim
“As an artist I have immersed myself in the philosophy that in artmaking, the meaning matters. This I learned from my wonderful art mentor, Kate Ransohoff. To this extent my paintings in tempera and acrylics depict stories and insights relevant to us and the natural world we live in.” Wise words from one of our … Continue reading Renu O’Connell
It was serendipity that brought artist Jack Lillis and The Art Connection together, despite living on the other side of the US in Northern California. A friend residing in the South End “sent me an article about an art auction or sale sponsored by The Art Connection at the Cyclorama building on Tremont Street in … Continue reading Jack Lillis
Debra Olin is an artist who is captivated by intersections and connections, a fitting characteristic for someone who has been so devoted to helping our organization fulfill its mission of connecting people with art. As a practicing printmaker who hails from a sculpture background, for Debra the physical process of art making stems from making … Continue reading Debra Olin
For Tatiana Roulin, making art is much more than a process, it’s a 6th sense, intrinsic to her existence and as necessary as food, water and air. Tatiana sees the beauty of everyday living and finds her spark to create in many places—nature, everyday objects, people, books, and life stories. Ever since her first donation … Continue reading Tatiana Roulin
“To dream and to fantasize define my universe,” says artist Stephanie Warburg, who has been donating her “fantastic realism” landscapes, seascapes, and still life paintings in oil through The Art Connection since 2003.
Timothy Wilson is a photographer who strives for a sense of poignancy and mystery. He began donating in fall 2014, and three works have already found homes in local service organizations. His photograph “Once Played” (featured here) was selected to be part of Art BINGO 2015. Play to win it!
Ellen Rich likes shapes which are exaggerated, over the top, and awkward and show how the piece evolves in its making. She loves working with materials, the infinite color choices, the cutting, the smoothing down, the additive action; adding but rarely subtracting until it feels right. The sometimes rough edges and unfinished, messy bits for … Continue reading Ellen Rich
Diana Korzenik is a lauded writer, arts educator, and painter. She was the chair of the Department of Art Education at Massachusetts College of Art from 1972-1987, and in 2014, celebrated the acquisition of one of her paintings by the Brooklyn Museum. This artist has made 22 artworks available in The Art Connection’s portfolio, most … Continue reading Diana Korzenik
The image you see above is called “Outer World.” It was created using mixed media by artist and The Art Connection founder, Fay Chandler. This artwork was donated to the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of MA, Inc. through The Art Connection. Fay Chandler has had more than 30 solo art exhibitions. Her work appears … Continue reading Fay Chandler
Anne Silber first donated in April 1998. “I had a ‘why didn’t I think of that moment’; it was such a great concept.” Her serigraphs, or silkscreen prints, are hand-printed using hand-cut lacquer film stencils.
Tova Speter has not only been The Art Connection’s Program Manager, but also a donating artist and facilitator of our “Engaging Communities” Mural Project. Since 2005 she has donated six works, facilitated seven community mural projects and helped place 2618 works of art in 169 organizations! Tova is an artist, art therapist, and community muralist … Continue reading Tova Speter
Suzanne Hodes is a long-time Art Connection supporter and has been donating art since 1996. Since then she has celebrated the placement of 102 of her paintings and mixed media works in 88 Boston-area organizations. “Of the many great agencies that have received my work, one stands out.” Suzanne recalls fondly the artwork selected in … Continue reading Suzanne Hodes
Now in her eighth year of donating art through The Art Connection, 93 of Susan Schwalb’s art works have been selected by agencies throughout Boston. Susan works in silverpoint and uses metal leaf and powders to create shimmering effect on the canvas, paper, and board she works on. “My work is abstract and my … Continue reading Susan Schwalb
We are pleased to welcome Sarah Berry as our newest member of The Art Connection family. Not only a new staff member, Sarah is a wonderful photographer and participating art donor, who has already had four of her works selected within a month of making them available! Sarah’s passion for photography began at the age … Continue reading Sarah Berry
Over the last 13 years, Prilla Smith Brackett has donated over 114 pieces to The Art Connection. Her vibrant landscape paintings are displayed in 76 different Boston-area nonprofits organizations, offering each agency a welcome escape into the comforting beauty of nature. Breaking News! Prilla and her work were recently featured in ArtScope magazine. Read the … Continue reading Prilla Smith Brackett
Nan Tull has been a donating artist for over five years. She likes working with The Art Connection because we “help her get outside herself and share some of her love of art with others.” That love is certainly shared at 20+ community agencies who have selected 40 of her works to grace their walls … Continue reading Nan Tull
Now in his third year as a participating artist, photographer Mike Ritter has donated 20 artworks to 10 local nonprofits. Recipient organizations that connect with his work range from groups working with the elderly to those in low-income housing, and from at-risk youth to newly arrived refugees – demonstrating his versatility and ability to use … Continue reading Mike Ritter
Since 2001, Brookline artist Martha Jane Bradford has been donating her art through our program. A surge of interest in her work at the end of 2009 brought her above 75, and Martha has now donated 84 acrylics, oils, etchings, silkscreens, and digital drawings to community nonprofits. Here we answer the question: What exactly is … Continue reading Martha Jane Bradford
Mark Peterson is a photographer whose “automatic montage” technique lends itself to creating images of Boston and beyond that are familiar, colorful, and highly popular with our recipient agencies. He first made art available for donation through The Art Connection in 2011. Mark says his objective is “to take an ordinary view of specific but … Continue reading Mark Peterson
Newton artist Maria Termini has currently donated more work than any other Art Connection artist. Her 255th piece was recently selected by The Asian American Civic Association, and her artwork hangs in over 100 nonprofits in the greater Boston area. As noted on her website, “Maria creates joyful, colorful and earthy artworks that witness wonder … Continue reading Maria Termini
Featured artist Marcia Sewall shares her thoughts of the program: “The Art Connection makes a great contribution to the artist and the community. It allows the artist to, in a sense, volunteer in a meaningful way, sharing with organizations that might otherwise not be able to afford original art.” Marcia Sewall, artist and writer, engages … Continue reading Marcia Sewall
“For me, the photograph is raw material: not an end but a beginning” says donating photographer John Borchard, who goes by JB. Images from his series of Venice Windows and Scenes of Fogs and Mists are often described as calming, something many of our agencies look for in the art they select. When asked about … Continue reading John Borchard
JoAnne Hungate is an established artist with Boston roots currently living and working in Tucson, Arizona. She has been making art for more than 70 years and works in water media, collage, and assemblage and has celebrated the placement of 75 artworks through The Art Connection. JoAnne made her first donation through The Art Connection … Continue reading JoAnne Hungate
JoAnn has been donating art through The Art Connection for over 10 years and has donated the largest works we have been able to offer in our portfolio. Her colorful paintings on canvas are often 8′ x 10′ or bigger and are literally HUGE gifts to local nonprofits. With a studio in the South End, … Continue reading JoAnn Rothschild
You might recognize painter Jessica Pinsky’s style from our 2011 holiday card. Her two donations from the “What’s Your Fortune?” series were both selected by Whidden Hospital in November for display in its Women’s Health Center. Jessica is an Ohio native who moved to Boston to attend graduate school at Boston University, where she completed … Continue reading Jessica Pinsky
Jessica Burko is an artist, independent curator, arts marketer, and graphic designer. Her photographic mixed-media work incorporates collage, encaustic, and found objects. Jessica has been involved with The Art Connection since 2006 as an art donor and a volunteer. She helped us tremendously during her tenure on the Development and Marketing Committee in 2008-2010. Sixteen … Continue reading Jessica Burko
Jeannine Cook’s vibrant, luminous watercolor paintings are popular with a range of agencies. Jeannine is currently based in Townsend Georgia, was born in Tanzania, is European by heritage, and British-American by nationality. She is one of a growing number of active art donors who live outside of Boston. Jeannine Cook has been generously donating art … Continue reading Jeannine Cook
When an artist donates work, it may take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of years for the work to be selected. Jason has only been an art donor with The Art Connection for six short months, and yet all eight of the works he has made available for donation have already … Continue reading Jason Pechinski
Janet Shapero has enjoyed seeing 34 of her art donations find homes in our partner organizations since 2004. Her donations are primarily of Rete-chromes, Janet’s unique process which involves layering pigment on an open-weave backing, produces images that let some light through them and attract recipient agencies to them with their vibrant use of color and the intrigue … Continue reading Janet Shapero
Ginny Zanger is an artist and an avid scuba diver and is drawn to the unique colors and light she experiences while weightless underwater. Trees are also a great source of inspiration. Ginny works in watercolor and monotype and creates much of her work to share her love of nature. Five of her donations have … Continue reading Ginny Zanger
Fran Grossman began donating work through The Art Connection in 2008. Since then, 30 of her landscape and cityscape oil paintings and pastels have been brought to life in 20 Boston-area agencies, including four artworks finding homes this fall at Spectrum Adult Day Health Center and Whidden Hospital. Fran is a member of the Newton … Continue reading Fran Grossman
As of this year Faith has joined our 100 club! We have now placed 154 of her works in community agencies! Her lively caricatures of people she comes across while out and about inspire smiles in 48 Boston area organizations. Faith is an artist who received her education at the Rhode Island School of Design … Continue reading Faith Hyde
Newton artist Eleanor Rubin, an art donor with The Art Connection for 13 years, now has 37 of her works on display at 24 local nonprofits. “Magnified Wish,” a series of watercolors from 2004 are among her most recent donations – here she talks about the inspiration for these works and why donating her art … Continue reading Elly Rubin
Artwork by Edie Bowers, “Falling into Place, 5”, was recently selected as the 5,000th work of art placed by The Art Connection! This work was selected in March by a committee of staff and residents at United Residents in Academy Homes II (URIAH) in Roxbury. “Falling into Place, 5,” oil stick on paper, and “Italian … Continue reading Edie Bowers
David Kupferman recently moved from Waltham to Iowa but not before dropping off “a couple of works” for donation through our program. And by “a couple of works” we mean 200! We have placed over 75 works of his in the past five years and look forward to placing hundreds more (literally) in the years … Continue reading David Kupferman
An art donor since 2000, Cora Roth had donated 15 works that were placed in 13 agencies in the Boston area. She recently moved to LA, but first donated an additional 30 large works which now hang on display in The Art Connection office gallery. Cora describes her art as a tool: “through painting I … Continue reading Cora Roth
Clara Wainwright is the Honorary Chair of 2013 Art BINGO. She has placed 16 fabric collages and quilts through The Art Connection. Her fabric art is beautiful and serves to tell stories of people from all walks of life. Clara is most known for being the Founding Mother of Boston’s First Night. Clara’s artistic achievements … Continue reading Clara Wainwright
Catherine Carter is a painter, teacher, and arts writer based in Holliston, MA. Since 2006, she has donated 19 of her acrylic and spraypaint paintings. Thirteen of these colorful works have found permanent homes in places where people were drawn to their bright and playful characteristics. Catherine describes her work as being “all about … Continue reading Catherine Carter
Beverly Sky is an artist and designer specializing in fiber, fabric collage, handmade paper, and installation art. She is now in her second year of donating art, and her work in both watercolor and fabric collage have been placed through The Art Connection. Beverly has been immersed in the arts as a dancer, a weaver, … Continue reading Beverly Sky
Ann Sayre Wiseman’s artwork donations have been a welcome addition to The Art Connection portfolio since 2002. Ann passed away in April 2013 and her artwork lives on at our partner agencies, as well as at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and in the 14 books she wrote on crafting, creativity, and expressive therapy. We honor … Continue reading Ann Sayre Wiseman
Adria Arch is a painter, mixed media artist, teacher and arts administrator. Adria Arch’s paintings focus on the contrast between the accidental flow of materials such as paint drips and sprays and the deliberate placement of lines and marks derived from found sources. A recurring element in her work has been the use of doodle … Continue reading Adria Arch
Every couple of months we highlight artists who donate work through our program. Learn about why these artists got involved with The Art Connection, what kind of art they create, and about their memorable placements in Boston area agencies! Anne Silber Anne Silber first donated in April 1998. “I had a ‘why didn’t I think of that moment’; it was such … Continue reading The Art Connection – Featured Artists
Jennifer Hughes made her first donation in 2009 and has placed 19 works in a range of different media, styles, and sizes since then. “It just feels good to do it,” she says of making her work available to our recipient agencies. “Yes, art is for everyone”.
