Galleries : An artful stroll around town

By Samantha McCoy
Published: July 23, 2009

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"The Edgartown Gallery stroll is not just about the art," gallery owner Elizabeth Eisenhauer says, "It's a night for the community to come together."

At the Willoughby Gallery on North Water Street, the rooms were filled with admiring visitors at last Thursday's Edgartown Gallery Stroll. Photos by Ralph Stewart

Her words capture the ambience of last Thursday evening, when from 6 to 8 pm, eight participating galleries displayed the breadth of art available in Edgartown - along with wine, music, and friendly faces. Despite untimely rain clouds, warmth and excitement was tangible among both gallery owners and visitors.

This is the third year The Gallery Stroll was lead by the Eisenhauer Gallery, which featured the work of four landscape artists, each with a different approach. Island native Max Decker's talent for fusing impressionistic and realist principles have gained him notoriety on and off the Island. His moderately sized paintings accompany Eric Abrecht's larger, also impressionistic landscapes, while across the room John MacGowan's large and vibrant seascapes hang adjacent to Al Barker's classic outdoor scenes.

Gallery owner Elizabeth Eisenhauer enjoys the community aspect of the evening.

The North Water Gallery features three artists with very distinct themes. Ken Otsuka's photorealist depictions of beach shores reveal an appreciation for both the subject and its medium. The paintings of M. Katherine Hurley exhibit a fascination with color through its depiction of natural light. Across the room hang George Bramhall's small oil beach scenes.

The Christina Gallery with its classic aura currently features John Traynor's sailing and beach scenes. Down the street, Carlin Fine Art challenges every gallery norm, where in a small and fragrant room it juxtaposes silk-shaded, hand-blown glass lamps with large-scale giclees.

Willoughby Fine Art on North Water St. couples the work of proven favorites, mother Elizabeth Wadleigh Leary, whose monochromatic paintings in the Wyeth tradition are moody and representational, and multi-talented daughter Elizabeth Leary Strazzulla, whose modestly-sized bronze sculptures feature horses, dogs, and birds.

Debra Gaines Fine Art is home to the owner's Vineyard photography and her husband's pastels.

This is the first Edgartown Stroll for the Belushi Pisano Gallery, which relocated from Vineyard Haven in early May. The gallery highlights artist Judith Jacklin (a.k.a. Judith Belushi Pisano, gallery co-owner) whose mixed media sculptures combine discarded objects such as martini glasses, tea pots, rings and door knobs. The artist's comedic aptitude is present in all of her piece's titles, such as "Fertility Goddess" and "Doorknob Spirit."

Ashley Bostrom is the owner of another new Edgartown gallery, Forsyth Studio, which opened in early July. The gallery features her large playful seascapes influenced by weather patterns as well as smaller ink caricatures.

Throughout the evening, gallery owners participated in the stroll as well - talking shop and sharing reflections about the evening. Every owner expressed excitement at the engagement of this year's guests. "People were less social and more contemplative about the art work," Ms. Eisenhauer says.

Though the current economic turmoil was also acknowledged, few gallery owners seemed discouraged. "People now seem to have a more intimate relationship with the art they buy," Ms. Bostrom says. "There are less impulse purchases."

Samantha McCoy, a student at Cornell University, is a regular contributor to The Times.

At North Water Gallery, David Wallis, right, talks with George Bramhall. Photos by Ralph Stewart

Artist Elizabeth Strazzulla holds one of her bronze sculptures on display at the Willoughby Gallery.