Jaffrey residents filled the gallery spaces at the Civic Center Friday night for the opening of three new exhibits.
Guests enjoyed food, wine, and mingling at the free community event launching the exhibits of local artists Bessann Triplett and James Cusmano, and a traveling exhibit by the Midcoast Maine Book Artists.
“We are a group of artists from the midcoast of Maine, and we came up with the theme of ‘Hello, neighbor,’ because New Hampshire is our only bordering state,” said artist Richard Reitz Smith of Camden, Maine. “The pieces in this exhibit explore the ideas of neighbors and community, and what people have in common, or not. A lot of the pieces are also introducing our part of Maine to this community.”
The Midcoast Maine Book Artists formed in 2018, when they had their first show, according to artist Sandy Weisman.
“We keep expanding, and we keep expanding our idea of where we want to exhibit. We’ve been in a couple galleries, we’re looking to exhibit at a college, and now we’re exhibiting here,” Weisman said. “Everyone is welcome who is interested in the idea of making books or how to make books. It’s a very generous group.”
The Civic Center’s main gallery hosts “Form and Color” by painter Bessann Triplett. Triplett, who spent 30 years running a hand-weaving studio, uses “color, line and form to explore perception, memory and experience.” She works in acrylic paints and mixed media.
The second floor of the Civic Center displays the work of Monadnock region artist James A. Cusmano, who over the course of his career has worked in pastels, oils, and watercolor, paints, as well as printmaking, textiles, pottery and ceramic tile.
Cusmano’s most current work is created by applying liquid French dyes to white china silk using a brush. Work on display includes florals, landscapes, and nature scenes.
All three exhibits are free and open to the public and run through July 25. For more information, go to jaffreyciviccenter.com.
