Galleries : Friends of Family Planning Art Show
It was one of those typically Vineyard occasions -maybe typical of all small and close communities proud of its local talent and supportive of its causes. Last Thursday's opening reception of the annual Friends of Family Planning Art Show benefit at the Ag Hall brought out the board members, artists, and the Island community.
The gathering, festooned in silks and denim, was celebratory and social. Jeremy Berlin on the keyboard filled the hall with familiar melodies. Jan Buhrman's Kitchen Porch catering provided hors d'oeuvres that had people ambushing the wait staff as soon as they appeared with their trays. People caught up on each other's news and views while swirling noisily around exhibits of sculpture, paintings, jewelry, photographs, fiber, glass, and paper arts.
This year, almost 115 artists contributed work, with 40 percent of the sales going to support Family Planning of Martha's Vineyard, the nonprofit clinic providing affordable reproductive, gynecological, and contraceptive health care to the Island community.
The annual fundraising art show is a welcome tradition first organized by artist Liza Coogan, who, more than 20 years ago, was the principal founder of Friends of Family Planning. The spring fundraiser continues to herald the beginning of the Island's summer gallery season.
