Carousel June 26 - July 26

Carousel,the July show at the Artists' Cooperative Gallery, brings memories of summer fun and childhood fantasies! In keeping with the Cooperative's year long conservation theme, "Going Green", members will show art designed to highlight the natural treasures scattered along our coast and the summer joy they bring. The sparkling bit of ocean blue in a jeweler's design, pottery in pastels and the warm colors of beach sand, photographs and paintings alive with the summer sun await you in the Gallery this month.

Lynn Anderson, a featured Artist Member in July, has illustrated and written a children's' book about one local treasure, the magical Carousel in Watch Hill. She will exhibit many of the 35 original watercolors that she painted for her book, "The Flying Horses of Watch Hill" as well as prints of the paintings and copies of the book which will be on sale. There will be a Book Signing by the author during an opening party for the show on Wednesday evening, July 2 from 5PM to 8PM. Lynn says, "the book is an exclusive look at what the little carousel horses do during the winter months when summer season is over and they leave the carousel building."

Diane Brown has always lived along the coast, in New York, Maine and now in Connecticut. As another of July's featured artists she will be exhibiting a special show of oil paintings of our coastal beaches. Diane says "the beach has always appealed to me, the sea, sand and it's wonderful grasses have become my passion. It was the lure of Maine's natural beauty that inspired me to paint. The natural beauty of Maine's various land and seascapes captured my artistic interest and before I knew it I was selling my work at art shows in Ellsworth, Bar Harbor and Bangor." Basically self-taught as an artist, Diane adds that was fortunate to spend time with Bob Kozora, who she calls "a remarkable artist." She continues, "I owe much to his teaching talents, and I will be forever grateful for the time spent under his watchful eye. I retired from The Westerly Hospital after 15 years of service this past January and now enjoy more time to put paint to canvas I have been able to paint more this past 5 months than I have in many years. Today, I reside in Pawcatuck, CT with my husband Bill and our white German Shepard, Lily. I'm Mom to Bryan, Mother-in-Law to Colleen and Grammy to Chloe and Sasha. Life is very good. " Diane was awarded the People's Choice Award in 2004 at the Cooperative and most recently Best in Show in the All Member Exhibit in October of 2007.

The July Show "Carousel", runs from Thursday June 26, through Saturday July 26. The Cooperative's members invite everyone to join them at an Opening Night Party and a special Book Signing on Wednesday July 2, from 5PM to 8PM, during Westerly's traditional Art Stroll Night. The Artist's Cooperative Gallery of Westerly is located at 12 High Street in downtown Westerly. Please call 401-596-2221 with any questions, and/or visit www.westerlyarts.com for information about the Gallery and it's Artists.