Greenfield, MA— Unique river-themed artwork is currently on display at the Connecticut River Watershed Council (CRC) headquarters in Greenfield, MA. A fine art riverscape by landscape painter Jamie Young and river-themed quilt-work by the Fiber Artists of Western MA can be viewed at CRC’s open house on Wednesday, March 25 from 4-6pm. The artwork will remain on display through the end of April and is available for purchase. All are invited to stop in and celebrate our rivers. This event is free and open to the public.
Jamie Young’s diptych “Elwell Island” was donated to CRC earlier this month. This is the first public showing of “Elwell Island” in more than 20 years. Measuring roughly 3’x5’, the painting was created as part of the River Run Series in 1989–91. The project worked to raise awareness of the beautiful river that unites our valley. The Mass Arts Lottery supported the project in three cities: Northampton, Holyoke and Springfield. Young’s paintings and sketches depicted how the river passes through each city. “Often the scenes I paint are very small vignettes that I would pass by most days,” notes Young, “but caught in a certain light, they come alive.”
The works of the nine members of Fiber Artists of Western MA in their exhibit “Rivers’ Flow” describe the panoply of techniques and materials that is known today as fiber art. Beginning in the traditional needlework of quilting, embroidery and clothing construction, these artists experimented and branched into less structured forms and materials: art quilting, wet felting and needle felting, freeform crochet and multimedia printmaking on fabric. This year the nine artists have chosen the theme of rivers, influenced as they are by the Connecticut and other mesmerizing rivers in their lives.
CRC’s open house will also feature a 5:30pm briefing on current river issues, an opportunity to share your river story as part of their Power of Water Power of Words program, and a chance to meet fellow river lovers, CRC volunteers, staff and trustees. CRC’s offices are located at 15 Bank Row in the First Franklin County Courthouse building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Everyone is welcome.
The Connecticut River Watershed Council works to protect the watershed from source to sea. As stewards of this heritage, we celebrate our four-state treasure and collaborate, educate, organize, restore and intervene to preserve its health for generations to come. Our work informs our vision of economic and ecological abundance. To learn more about CRC, or to make a contribution to help protect our rivers, visit ctriver.org or call 413-772-2020, ext. 201.
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