Happy Birthday National Parks!

TELLING AMERICA'S STORIES: 100 Years of the National Park Service Art Show

TO: Editors, Feature Writers and Event Listings
SUBJECT: Art Related Special EventsDATE: May2, 2016
PRESS RELEASE Contact: James Dyment E-mail: director@thebrush.org The Brush Art Gallery & Studios256 Market  Street, Lowell, MA 01852 Gallery Hours:  April 1 to December 31–Tues-Sat 11am-4 pm, Sun 12 noon -4 pm www.thebrush.org   978-459-7819
Exhibit runs: May 7, 2016to June10, 2016 Reception: June 5, 2 to 4 PM


LOWELL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK CELEBRATES CENTENNIAL WITH A NATIONAL EXHIBITION Exhibit Title –“Telling America’s Stories: Celebrating 100 Years of the National Park Service”Lowell, MA –The National Park Service turns 100 years old on August 25, 2016! In celebration of the centennial, the Brush Art Gallery and Studios in partnership with Lowell National Historical Park is exhibiting contemporary art in a juried exhibit, held at the Brush Art Gallery and Studios. Storytelling has been a part of our shared cultural heritage for generations. It brings people together, imprints pictures on their minds, and fosters meaningful connections with history, culture, and the natural world around us. The unique treasures that make up our beloved National Park Service are as diverse as we are; from historic homes, trails, battlefields, and cemeteries to bustling urban centers, canal ways, recreation areas, and seashores. In response to the NPS Centennial “Find Your Park” campaign, we asked artists to submit their personal connections. Here is what “Telling American Stories: Celebrating 100 Years of the National Park Service” means to them!The exhibition includes the following artists: Susan Beers, Milford NH; Merry Beninato, North Andover MA; Amy Bisson, Lowell MA; Carol Boileau, Andover MA; Jerilynn Bush, Sheboygan WI; Lola Chaisson, Concord MA; Christiane Corcelle, Belmont MA; Michael delaVega, Lowell MA; Patricia Demers, Lowell MA; Linda Demers, Lowell MA; John Doyle, Arlington MA; Dave Drinon, Andover MA; Tom Fiorelli, Lowell MA; Claire Gagnon, Dracut MA; Vassilios “Bill” Giavis, Lowell MA; Patricia Gould, Albuquerque NM; Sandy Gregg, Cambridge MA; Deirdre Grunwald, Lowell MA; Donna Howard, Woburn MA; Cynthia Hughes, Chelmsford MA; Chrissy Theo Hungate, Lowell MA; Janice Jones, Methuen MA; David R. Jones, Methuen MA; James Keefe, Mattappoisett MA; Sue King, Lancaster OH; Michael Koerner, Carmel IN; Deborah LaFogg Docherty, Boynton Beach FL; Margo Lemieux, Mansfield MA; Maria Luongo, Newton MA; Richard Marion, Lowell MA; Katie Markson, Madison WI; Anne McNevin, Milford MA; Bobbi Eike Mullen, Weston CT; Suzanne Neusner, Rhinebeck NY; Vincent Parent, Lowell MA; Daniela Pasqualini, North Chelmsford MA; David Phoenix, Stow MA; Christine Predd, LaPorte IN; John Quigley, Lowell MA; Darcy Schultz, Groton MA; Lisa Shea, Sutton MA; JimShepka, Windham NH; Margot Stage, Westford MA; Don Sullivan, Lowell MA; Margo Thach (Mam), Lowell MA; Robert Thurlow, Lowell MA; Michal Truelsen, Lowell MA; Barbara Wauchope, Lee NH; Bruce Wood, Groveland MA; and John Wren, Lowell MA.PANEL OF JURORS• Laurel A. Racine, Senior Curator for Research and Planning, National Park Service’s Northeast Museum Services Center (NMSC), Charlestown, MA.• Ahmad Ward, Vice President of Education and Exhibitions, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI), Birmingham, AL.• Gwen Strahle, Artist, Professor, and Senior Critic at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Providence, RI.The Brush Art Gallery and Studios is located in the Lowell National Historical Park across the courtyard from the Visitor Center. This dynamic and captivating place was originally founded by the Lowell Historic Preservation Commission, U.S. Department of the Interior in 1982.
The Brush presents museum quality exhibitions, educational programs, and has collaborated with many other nonprofit groups. Artists occupy studio spaces to interact with and educate the public on a weekly basis. Currently, fourteen studio artists produce paintings, illustration, photography, jewelry, sculpture, ceramics, quilts, and handwoven items. Associate artists display work in the common area. The Brush Art Gallery and Studios is a nonprofit, 501©(3) organization. The Brush is supported by Lowell National Historical Park and Eastern National.Lowell National Historical Park is a unique urban national park, founded in1978, dedicated to preserving and exploring Lowell’s continuing history as the nation’s first large-scale manufacturing city. The park works in partnership with community organizations, local residents, and visitors to tell stories of technology, labor, immigration, women’s rights, and the industrial economy in Lowell and beyond. Over 500,000 visitors annually to Lowell National Historical Park visit museum sites, participate in interactive canal and trolley tours, view operating textile machinery, participate in hands-on family programs, attend special events, and more. For more information, please visit: http://www.nps.gov/lowe.Image: Banish Misfortune III: The Mills, etching on paper by Michal Truelsen###

This exhibit has one of my images in it and I am so excited!!!

TELLING AMERICA'S STORIES: 100 Years of the National Park Service Art Show

Lowell National Historical Park Celebrates Anniversary with a National Exhibition

Exhibit Dates: May 7, to June 10, 2016
Reception: Sunday, June 5, 2:00 to 4:00 PM


The National Park Service turns 100 years old on August 25, 2016! In celebration of the centennial, the Brush Art Gallery and Studios in partnership with Lowell National Historical Park is exhibiting contemporary art in a juried exhibit, held at the Brush Art Gallery and Studios.   Storytelling has been a part of our shared cultural heritage for generations. It brings people together, imprints pictures on their minds, and fosters meaningful connections with history, culture, and the natural world around us. The unique treasures that make up our beloved National Park Service are as diverse as we are; from historic homes, trails, battlefields, and cemeteries to bustling urban centers, canal ways, recreation areas, and seashores. In response to the NPS Centennial “Find Your Park” campaign, we asked artists to submit their personal connections. Here is what “Telling American Stories: Celebrating 100 Years of the National Park Service” means to them!

This exhibit has one of my images in it. I am so incredibly happy to be a part of this very special exhibit. I absolutely love national, state, county, and city parks. I even love things that are not necessarily parks. I love the outdoors and nature and the beauty of it all. My image To Where is in this exhibit. If you are in the Lowell, Massachusetts area check out the gallery that is actually located in a national park! How freaking amazing is that!? The show runs until June 10th. Happy Birthday National Parks!!!

http://www.thebrush.org/index.html

Asheville, North Carolina- October 2014

October 2014- I was finally getting a chance to take a trip down to North Carolina and visit some best friends and see a place I have wanted to see for many years... the mountains in Asheville.

The trip was amazing. More amazing than I was expecting. My images are pretty much in order from the beginning of my trip to the end. (With some minor switches here and there.) I arrived in Asheville late Wednesday night. I arose early the next morning to be able to watch the sun rise on the mountains via the Blue Ridge Parkway. Boy, am I glad I did that...

These first set of images are from 7 a.m. on the Blue Ridge. It was freaking cold and being from Wisconsin, I know cold weather. That was a bummer, but it kept me wide awake, that is for sure. There was one point on a look out point that I was so excited that I was running up and down the road to get pictures. Then I laughed at myself because of how ridiculous I probably looked to the other people who were brave enough to venture out that early. The scenery and colors took my breath away. I was just so overwhelmed by the feeling of being in the thick of the wild like that. The mountains went on forever. At Craggy Gardens I was so high up, I was looking down over the clouded land. I was above the clouds!! It was spectacular.

I also checked out downtown Asheville, and the classic hotel Grove Park Inn with a couple I met while I was there. I am thankful to have met some wonderful people while I was on this solo trip. They took me to the Grove Park Inn and I am so thankful for that. This place was gorgeous. I wasn't able to take but one picture while I was there for the very short amount of time, but definitely something to check out next time I go.

Another stop on my trip was Dry Falls. It is this crazy awesome waterfall that you walk behind! Pictures are below, with more explanation and such. Then I drove 7 hours to the coast to my best friends, Sam and Devin. I spent time with them and got to revisit my old town of Wilmington. I got  the chance to go to Airlie Gardens which was such an interesting place. They have a chapel made out of glass bottles! (Pictures of that are also below) What a beautiful garden it is. Enough rambling from me though, just look at the pictures!

I want to go back in spring and experience the majesty of these healing mountains once again.

Enjoy!! 

First scenic spot on the North East portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Blue Ridge Parkway and face of a mountain wall.

Before

During

After

 

 These three images were the first major curve I came to on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and it was all while the sun was hitting the curve at the same time. Bright pure morning sunlight on the East.

 

 

First tunnel I went through!!

View from Craggy Gardens early morning.

Miles high trash can.

So, I stopped here and walked up a little path. As I was looking into the shadows of the mountains I saw Glassmine Falls!! Except, it was teeny tiny from this spot. I could barely see it with the darkness and bright sun. It made me laugh, but I was excited because it was the first waterfall of my trip!

I was above the clouds!!!

I love this tunnel.

These are a couple of pictures of the Linn Cove Viaduct, which is a portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway that extends out and over the wild mountain terrain. There is a visitor center and a parking lot with a few trails that take you either below the Viaduct, like the pictures show, or there is a trail that takes you above it. I just took the short trail below it to see the grandeur of this architectural wonder. They build the road like this so it would blend in with the natural surroundings and not to disturb the wilderness. You could hear when cars would move on this portion of the parkway, it made a clunk sound like a car going over a bascule bridge.

Another view from Craggy Gardens.

Far view of a tunnel near Craggy Gardens.

Far view of the Linn Cove Viaduct.

River Arts District

I made a short stop at the River Arts District in Asheville. I really loved the idea and concept of the studios being very open to the outside. Most of them, if not all, had huge garage doors that were open to the outside. People just walk in and wind their way through the different studios housed in these old factory buildings. I wouldn't mind working there, that is for sure!

Studio spaces in the River Arts District.

Had to take a picture of this bowling ball in a stone wall, only because it is a Miller High Life ball!! Wisconsin!!

If you are not familiar with the Before I die... art installations please look it up. I was really excited to see one in person. Many things on there that I totally relate to.

Grove Park Inn. This was my only picture I was able to take while there. Such a masterful piece of architecture. It was very lavish and I felt way out of place. But the veranda in back is something to definitely check out! Not to mention their subterranean spa!

Dry Falls

Yes! You actually do walk behind the waterfall!! It was spectacular!

This was a weird little cave along the walkway behind the waterfall inside the rocky cliff.

This is known at Bridal Veil Falls. It is right off another scenic parkway and you can drive right behind it!! It was pretty little, but still really awesome to do.

Here you can see where it is right off the road.

These are images from Airlie Gardens in Wilmington. It is really a beautiful space.

Great light makes things look like a fantasy.

Bottle chapel! A very unique space. The colors were so bold and the layout of the bottles was done very well. This was the thing I was most excited to see in Wilmington.

Me on a giant spider. Thank goodness it wasn't a real spider.