Gallery - Wild Things by Abby Zonies

Reception: Wednesday, January 6, 7:00 pm

By A. Zonies

Based on a highly exaggerated view of reality, Wild Things by Abby Zonies is a series of large-scale, raucous, colorful still lifes and landscapes. While rooted in traditional subject matter, the paintings often emerge more from the imagination than from observation, incorporating a deeply saturated personal color palette to invoke a romantic and modern sensibility. Wild Things will be on view in the Gallery from January 5-28 with an opening reception on Wednesday, January 6 at 7:00 pm.

Zonies writes, "In this series of paintings, I have looked back at some of my favorite painters and have incorporated the aspects I admire most about their work, the intense color of the expressionists, the gesture of the abstract expressionists and the romantic sensuality of the Dutch still life painters. Color has emerged as the guiding sensibility of my work. By having looked backward I have moved my work forward."

Abby Zonies has a BFA from Boston University and a MFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts / Tufts. She currently teaches painting at the Museum School and in 1981 was the recipient of a Massachusetts Foundation Fellowship award. She won Best in Show at the Springfield Art League National Exhibition in 1992. Her work has been shown extensively in the New England area and is included in many private and corporate collections.

Hall - Botanical Explorations by Carrie Megan

Reception: Thursday, January 7, 7:00 pm

By C. Megan

Playing on her fascination with the unique shapes, patterns, textures, and colors of unusual fruit and vegetables found in local New England markets, artist Carrie Megan paints botanical specimens. Through her quest to capture their characteristics in subtle layers of watercolor washes and fine brushwork, she hopes to share the delight of her discoveries with the viewer. Botanical Explorations will be on view in the Main Hall from January 5-28 with an opening reception on Thursday, January 7 at 7:00 pm.

Carrie Megan is a 2010 candidate for the Certificate in Botanical Art and Illustration from the Wellesley College Friends of Horticulture. She has worked as a graphic designer and illustrator for over 25 years and creates her art in both graphite and watercolor. Her work has been shown in international juried exhibits at the Phoenix Art Museum with the American Society of Botanical Artists and the New York Horticultural Society. She has also exhibited with the New England Society of Botanical Artists at the Pembroke Public Library, New England Flower Shows and the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard, among others.

Display Cases

First floor cases

R. M. Mottola will fill the first floor display cases with a beautiful assortment of his hand built stringed instruments. He began building instruments in 1993 and is involved in development, formal research and education in all aspects of lutherie (stringed instrument making). He is the technology editor and a contributing editor for American Lutherie, the quarterly journal of the Guild of American Luthiers; a non-profit educational organization. Info visit: www.LiutaioMottola.com.

Second floor cases

Sam Glass will fill the second floor display cases with vintage ice skates. He began his love affair with skating while still a boy living in his native Chisinau, Romania. Beginning with his first pair which were built by his father, Sam remembers the transition from skates that attached to one’s shoes and were sized using a key, to today’s skates which have blades attached to shoes (or boots). Info: call 617-947-6993 or e-mail.

Atrium case one

The Roman god Janus, after whom the month of January was named, is typically portrayed with two faces. These are often taken to be looking both into the past and into the future, an appropriate interpretation during the transition from one year to the next. Focusing on our personal pasts this month, Atrium case one will feature an exhibit called Who Are You? Exploring Genealogy. Interested in genealogy? Consider joining the library’s Genealogy Club.

Atrium case two

The library's Legacy for Literacy program will be highlighting its bi-yearly class for ESL students, Preparing for the Citizenship Interview. The next 8-session class, which covers U.S. history, government, and the interview questions, will begin on Thursday, April 1 at 7:00 pm. Info call: 617-796-1364.