ATTENTION
ARTISTS: The Council is currently scheduling exhibits of
two dimensional artwork for 2009 and 2010. To learn more about having
your artwork featured in the gallery here: Art
Exhibition Application and Guidelines (adobe
pdf. file)
ART GALLERY SCHEDULE 2010
January
2010: Alma LaFrance
Alma LaFrance, a painter of landscape using oils, received her early
art training with Arno Maris at Westfield State College, and has continued
her art education through classes and workshops conducted by noted
landscape and plein air artists.
LaFrance has had successful one and two person shows and also has
participated group shows with the Hilltown Plein Air Painters and
the Hilltown Artisan’s Guild. Her work has been juried into
the Springfield Art League’s Invitational, the Northeast Juried
Exhibition 2004, the 2008 International Academic Artists Exhibition,
as well as the Bennington Center for the Arts Small Works Shows, 2007-2008,
and the 2009 Laumeister Fine Arts Competition.
Artist Statement: “I most enjoy painting out of doors, which
seems to result in an impressionistic, rather than considered landscape
painting. The prevailing question is “How can I best use my
paints to quickly capture the moment, light and mood this landscape,
which for some reason begs to be painted, before the sun leaves or
the clouds lift?”
View recent plein air sketches at: http://www.hilltownview.blogspot.com
February
& March 2010: Hilltown Plein Air Painters

Mary Montague of Westhampton paints the local landscapes
in the pastel medium. She has been active with the Hilltown Plein
Air painters and is a member of the Connecticut Pastel Society, the
Hilltown Artisan's Guild and the Academic Artist Association.
Jo-Ann Denehy is a Whately artist painting original
oils of landscapes and flowers. A highlight of membership include:
Instated as a member of the Springfield Academic Artists in 2004 having
met the requirements of nationally juried artwork, a member of the
Old Deerfield Painting Group, the Hilltown Plein Air Painters and
a life member and former VP of the Deerfield Valley Art Assoc.
Alma LaFrance, of Huntington, paints oil landscapes.
She is a member of the Hilltown Plein Air Painters and the Hilltown
Artisan Guild. Her work has been juried into the Academic Artists
International Show, 2008; The Bennington Center for the Arts Small
Works Shows 2007 & 2008, and the Annual Laumeister Fine Arts Competition,
2009.
April
2010: Valerie Bassett

Valerie Bassett lives in Florence, MA. She holds a B.F.A. in Art Education
from UMass, Amherst, as well as a Master's degree in Art Administration
from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Valerie is a member of two
local art leagues, the Deerfield Art Association and the Holyoke Art
League, where she exhibits her paintings regularly. She has participated
in several public and private shows in the Valley as well as in the
Springfield area. She recently had a solo exhibit at Eastworks/Pioneer
Valley Ballet. Valerie instructs mixed level oil painting in Florence.