Artist in Residency Program
Four talented artists have been selected from a large pool of applicants
to live and work for one month each in the Avery-Mann Gallery on
Rocky Neck. Each artist will give two public lectures: first, sharing
their artistic vision and accomplishments and, second, presenting
the work that was inspired by their stay in the Art Colony.
The residents for 2007are:
 Alexandra
Ludwig
Alexandra Ludwig, a Northampton, MA, abstract landscape and conceptual
painter, is the first of four Rocky Neck Art Colony Artists in Residence
for 2007. A serious musician and conductor, Ludwig became reintroduced
to painting while visiting Rocky Neck last year. Her paintings are
inspired by local landscapes as well as musical compositions.
Ludwig graduated from Smith College with a BA in music and studio
art. She received an MFA in conducting at Bard College and has been
a guest conductor in various orchestras on the East Coast including
the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra, Woodstock, NY; the Bard Music Festival
Chorus; the Capella Festiva Chamber Choir, Poughkeepsie, NY; and
the Bronx Opera Company, New York. Her paintings are influenced
by her deep commitment to music.
“The residency would benefit me in most of the obvious ways:
uninterrupted painting time, discussion and critiques with other
artists, and the endless inspiration of the Gloucester environment,”
said Ludwig.
During her Rocky Neck Artist in Residency, May 20 until June 16,
Ludwig will give two public talks. The public is invited to meet
Ludwig and see slides of her work on Thursday, May 24 at 7 pm at
the Bryan Gallery, 53 Rocky Neck Ave. On Thursday, June 14 at 7
pm, Ludwig will present work she has completed during her residency
at a gallery talk at the Avery Mann Gallery, 77 Rocky Neck Ave.
 Ken
Beck
The second resident is Ken Beck, a Boston plein air landscape
painter and adjunct associate professor of painting at the Art Institute
of Boston. Beck has been a practicing artist for almost 40 years
and had numerous awards and exhibitions in the New England area,
but only recently began painting landscapes in the outdoors.
“Until the last 5 years or so, I did no plein air painting
… Because I believed that painting outdoors was the greatest
challenge and a terrific way to learn how to make a painting, I
employed and encouraged outdoor painting in my teaching at the Art
Institute of Boston. … The opportunity to work and paint for
a month in Gloucester would be an invaluable experience and a wonderful
opportunity for me to more deeply and directly explore this new
direction in my work,” said Beck
Beck will be an Artist in Residence in Rocky Neck from June 25
until July 22. The public is invited to meet Beck on Thursday, June
28 pm in the Bryan Gallery. On Thursday, July 19 at 7 pm, Beck will
present work he has completed during his residency at a gallery
talk in the Avery Mann Gallery, 77 Rocky Neck Ave.
 David
Shapleigh
David Shapleigh, an artist whose drawings and paintings explore
the plastic meaning of visual perception, is a visiting assistant
professor of Fine Art at Bridgewater State College and Montserrat
College of Art and a middle school art teacher in Hopkinton, MA.
“An aim in my work is to represent the truth about the object
I am recreating. My work is created from direct observation. I do
not consider myself a ‘Realist’… but as an artist
that is committed to the exploration of my visual perception through
drawing and painting in the fullest plastic meaning of these terms.
… I often feel frustrated with the lack of studio time to
develop and finish projects. … My residency at Rocky Neck
Art Colony would provide the important time of further developing
and completing these projects.”
Shapleigh will be an Artist in Residence in Rocky Neck from July
30 until August 26. The public is invited to meet Shapleigh on Tuesday,
August 7 at 7 pm in the Bryan Gallery. On Thursday, August 23 at
7 pm, Shapleigh will present work he has completed during his residency
at a gallery talk in the Avery Mann Gallery, 77 Rocky Neck Ave.
 Elli
Crocker
Elli Crocker, an associate professor at Clark University, has
had numerous exhibitions, awards, and grants including a Rocky Neck
Residency in 2005 (starting September 9). Her detailed drawings
of animals and mythical figures go beyond the surface to the realm
of dreams, fantasy, and psychology.
“I would be honored and privileged to be able to return …
and once again be stimulated by this beautiful place and the many
artists who live and work nearby…The cross-pollination of
ideas and energy that such an opportunity provides, as well as the
removal from normal distractions, is a major creative impetus. I
have an unusual opportunity this year because of a Fall sabbatical
from my teaching position at Clark University, which affords me
this time to devote exclusively to my art work. … I can think
of no place I’d rather be during this rare interlude than
on Rocky Neck.”
Crocker will be an Artist in Residence in Rocky Neck from September
9 until October 5. The public is invited to meet Crocker on Monday,
September 10 at 7 pm in the Bryan Gallery. On Tuesday, October 2
at 7 pm, Crocker will present work she has completed during her
residency at a gallery talk in the Avery Mann Gallery, 77 Rocky
Neck Ave.
 Funding
for the Rocky Neck Art Colony Residency Program is in part from
the Society for
the Encouragement of the Arts made possible by The Massachusetts
Cultural Council John
and Abigail Adams Arts Program.
2006 Residency Program
2005 Residency Program
|
