What’s New on the Vineyard Art Scene

With more than 40 galleries and hundreds of artists, Martha’s Vineyard is a haven for art buyers and browsers. This summer, galleries will spotlight new artists, established artists taking new directions in their work, and even a couple of world-renowned artists from the past whose work has hung in major museums. Check out a few highlights of exhibits encompassing painting, drawing, photography, and more. 

 

During the last week of June and the first week of July, the Granary Gallery will welcome two young painters to their vast collection. Dan VanLandingham, one of the most exciting young Vineyard artists, has joined the Granary fold and will be showing a sampling of his serene landscapes, which feature striking skies and an expert use of light. Granary Gallery owner Chris Morse is especially excited to be introducing a young artist from Cuttyhunk, Tamalin Baumgarten, who will exhibit her work on the Vineyard for the first time. Baumgarten’s quiet New England landscapes and figurative scenes evoke a sense of melancholy, and a hint of mystery. 

 

Author and illustrator Kate Feiffer will be the subject of a solo show at the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse Art Space from the end of June through July 11. Feiffer has titled the exhibit “Dedicated to Doodle.” She will be showing, among other things, a whimsical series of simple line drawings embellishing the actual dedication pages of classic books. 

 

On June 30, Kara Taylor will host a show at her West Tisbury gallery introducing new figurative collage textile paintings from her time spent in South Africa, as well as Vineyard-inspired landscapes. It’s always a treat to see what the very popular, imaginative artist has been up to over the course of the winter. 

 

On June 27, the Eisenhauer Gallery will host an opening introducing the work of Russian-born New Zealand artist Ilya Volykhine, and the California artist Chase Langford. Volykhine, who is new to the gallery, creates abstract figurative images that often incorporate bits of Russian newsprint, and have an interesting collage feel to them. 

 

Two new galleries have opened on Dukes County Ave. in the Oak Bluffs Arts District. Michael Blanchard will offer a selection of his dramatic Vineyard land and seascape photographs in the space next door to the former Gallery Josephine, while in the space previously occupied by that gallery, (and before that, the Dragonfly Gallery), Val Francis will open a new space called Knowhere Gallery. For her opening exhibit, Francis will show work created by members of the Boston nonprofit group Artists for Humanity. The Knowhere Gallery will officially open July 6. The opening show will be followed by a solo exhibit of the paintings of Stephanie Danforth. 

 

Another new gallery worth checking out is the Chilmark Gallery, dedicated to the work of painter Brandon Newton and mixed media artist Abe Pieciak. The South Road gallery will also feature work by a number of Island artisans. 

 

Louisa Gould will welcome another abstract artist to the fold, with the introduction of the Martha’s Vineyard-based painter Deborah Colter. The Louisa Gould Gallery will host an exhibit of Colter’s colorful paintings, along with new work by landscape artist Christie Scheele from July 5 through July 23. 

 

The focus of a solo show at the Eisenhauer Gallery, opening on July 11, will be new paintings by T.S. Harris, whose colorful beach scenes were inspired by found mid-century black-and-white snapshots. 

 

In mid-July, the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse will exhibit a solo show of work by painter/sculptor/filmmaker Carol Brown Goldberg. The internationally recognized artist will show a series called “Mirror Universe.” The opening for the exhibit will be held on July 13. 

 

During the first three weeks of August the Granary Gallery will exhibit work by an array of African American Artists — both past and present, along with paintings by local artist Heather Neill. During the recent large-scale renovation of the Mayhew-Hancock-Mitchell House in Chilmark, Neill was given access to the historic home, and she will be unveiling her paintings of the interior this summer. Chris Morse calls the collection, “almost an archive of the restoration process.”

 

In mid-August, the Field Gallery will spotlight the work of three of their most popular artists, including Max Decker. Although he is perhaps best known for his landscapes, Decker has been focusing more recently on intimate domestic portraits, which he describes in his artist statement as “quiet interiors whose bright colors belie a solitary narrative.”

 

At the end of the summer, the Granary Gallery will once again honor two of the Island’s most revered artists — Thomas Hart Benton and Alfred Eisenstadt. Although examples of work by both men are always on display at the gallery, on August 18, Morse will hang a more comprehensive selection of the gallery’s collection. 

 

Renowned African American artist Paul Goodnight will be the subject of a solo show at the Cousen Rose Gallery in late August. On display will be work in pastels, pencil, and acrylic. Goodnight, whose work is in collections at the Smithsonian and numerous other museums around the world, has been represented by the Cousen Rose Gallery for more than 30 years. The gallery is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. 

 

Louisa Gould’s annual Abstract Art Show, in late summer, always provides a great opportunity to view work that’s a bit different from the average Vineyard gallery fare. With a couple of new abstract artists in her gallery this year, the show should prove an interesting overview of the genre. 

 

There’s plenty more to check out this summer. For a more comprehensive listing of gallery happenings, see the MVTimes calendar of events.