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.