The Lincoln Public Library has long welcomed artists who exhibit their work in its first-floor gallery space designed by renowned architect and modern art collector Graham Gund. But this spring, for the first time, the entire library will be transformed into a fine art gallery as the Friends of the Lincoln Library host a show and gala: “Grown, Shown and Owned in Lincoln.”
Beginning Monday, April 27, old George Tarbell and other familiar paintings, posters and quilts that usually hang in the library will be sent to the vault for storage and temporarily replaced with a display of fine art representing the best of Lincoln talent and taste. The two week show of select pieces will culminate in a Fine Art Gala on Saturday, May 9, when attendees—sipping signature art-inspired cocktails created by Lincoln’s party doyenne, Carol Michener Card—will have the first opportunity to purchase these and other signature art works that will be added to the show for the gala fundraiser.
“Dream Image” by Jennifer Berringer
Artists and collectors participating in the show have donated from 30 to 100 percent of the proceeds from the sales to the Friends of the Library, a nonprofit dedicated to funding programs and resources at the library. Byrnes Landscaping of Lincoln is a major sponsor of the event together with the Clark Gallery.
Planning for the show began last November, when the Friends invited artists who live in Lincoln, have shown in the first floor gallery, or whose work Lincoln families own to submit up to three works of fine art to be considered for the show. The Friends received over 100 submissions. A jury of three local residents—Jill Harrison, a certified art appraiser with ARTSmart New England; Tom Murdough, an architect with Murdough Design in Boston; and Carol Card, a board member of the Friends with a degree in fine arts—pored over the submissions and selected 60 works from over 30 artists for inclusion in the show. Visit the show’s website for the list of exhibiting artists. Images of most of the works will also be displayed on the website during the weeks leading up to the show.
The invitation to donate or consign art caught the eye of Lincoln native Amanda Hill, whose father, Craig Hill, served as a library trustee from 1986-1997. Craig and Heather Hill spent a lifetime collecting modern art to fill their Winter Street home. When they downsized to Bedford, they began paring their collection. The Hill family has generously donated three works from their collection and one hundred percent of the proceeds to the Library.
“Grazing by Moonlight (Codman Farm)” by Penny Billings
Penny Billings, a Lincoln artist who is a member of several prestigious juried arts societies including the Copley Society, will have three paintings in the show. The library is also excited to show three pieces from the Universe Series by local artist Lynn Avery (a.k.a. Gargill), who worked with the reference librarians to research images from the Hubble Telescope to inspire her work. The show will also introduce Lincoln to other Massachusetts artists such as Peter Batchelder and Robin Remick whose paintings grace the walls of some new collectors in town like Liz and Mark Wilkinson of Tabor Hill Road.
Tickets to the May 9 gala may be purchased on line at www.artgala2015.org. Those interested may also email the Friends at foll@lincolntown.org or stop by the library to request an invitation. Tickets are $75 per person for an evening of food, drink and fine art. The dress code for the event is “smart and arty,” so dig out your best spring beret and head to the Library on May 9.