GLOUCESTER – “Journey Along on the Edge,” the first art exhibition by the “Crit” Group, will open with a reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7, at Arts on Main in Gloucester.
For 10 or more years, artists Sammy Anderson, Bill Fulton, Janet Griffin, Kathy Klein, Mary Montague Sikes, Kay Van Dyke and Pat Zavada have met monthly in Gloucester to discuss their in-progress art projects. Even during the pandemic years, the seven artists continued to meet, some of them joining by Zoom.
Kathy Klein, who serves as the “Crit” organizer and leader, usually works in series with paintings that often focus on cutting edge topics, such as the diverse roles of women in society.
Kay Van Dyke, who founded Arts on Main when she wanted to take art classes and couldn’t find any in Gloucester, has tried various media but seems to have settled on oil painting. Bill Fulton has a background in commercial art with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design. Although he considers himself a “weekend artist,” he brings insightful commentary and help to everyone in the group.
Sammy Anderson, who started as a watercolor artist and now explores the experimental possibilities of acrylics, enjoys the wide range of visions each “Crit” participant brings to the meetings.
Pat Zavada, a self-taught artist, experiments with a variety of materials, creating a sculptural twist to all her work. She expresses a certain happiness in her three-dimensional creations.
Janet Griffin, an elementary school art educator for more than 40 years, loves color, fabric, threads and weaving. She shows each participant new ways to create three-dimensional art.
Mary Montague “Monti” Sikes, originally a pastel artist, earned a master’s degree in painting from Virginia Commonwealth University and over the years has experimented with intense watercolors, most recently oil and cold wax.
The September “Crit” Group exhibit is sponsored by Edward Jones and The Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Music is sponsored by Yolanda’s on Main.
