Few Vineyard galleries feature as broad a range of artists, media, and styles as the Louisa Gould Gallery on Main Street in Vineyard Haven. The “Small Wonders and More” show, currently on view at the gallery, covers many bases. It’s Ms. Gould’s most comprehensive annual show, offering a treat for the eyes and a destination for affordable original art, jewelry, ceramics, woodcarving, and more.
Along with new work by some of the gallery’s most popular artists, as well as a few new artists, the show also features numerous gift items. Donna Dalton’s whimsical wood carvings of birds, cats, fish, and other critters on wheels are charming and original. Ceramic pieces by Suzanne Hill in voluptuous shapes with interesting glaze designs are functional abstract art pieces. Fish-themed books from marine artist Flick Ford make great gifts for the fisherman on your list. As always, Ms. Gould is featuring a selection of handblown glass ornaments from Vitrix Studio that make great decorations all year long.
The show’s most unique gift items come from an artist who is new to the gallery this year. Kathleen DeQuence Anderson creates polymer clay figures in the shape of standing hearts. Each is decorated in highly creative original patterns, some with beads and other adornments. Each figure functions as a box — the top comes off to reveal a tiny stash space big enough for a special message or keepsake. Ms. Anderson’s work has been shown in galleries across the East Coast, and she has been featured in the journal Black Art in America.
Sally Martone’s little freestanding birds on gold leaf–painted board are attractive displayed alone or in sets.
Other gift items in the show include jewelry by a number of different artists, floral cards by Peggy Turner-Zablotny, and small unframed oil paintings which boatbuilder Nat Benjamin brought back from Haiti. One hundred percent of proceeds from those sales goes to a Haitian community center.
The show includes a number of small-scale paintings which are great for gift giving. “For those people who have everything, a little piece of original art makes a very special gift,” Ms. Gould said. Among these “Small Wonders” are little landscapes and seascapes by Donna Blackburn, Nick Paciorek, Paul Beebe, and Christie Scheele, and acrylic on board abstract paintings by Ms. Gould’s newest artist, Marie-Louise Rouff, who previously showed her work at the Shaw Cramer Gallery.
New larger paintings by Mr. Beebe, Ms. Scheele, and John Holladay are also included in the show. All in all, there are over 60 new works of art.
Ms. Gould usually hosts a fall and a winter show, but this time around she has combined the two. “I think the Small Wonders show gives people who might otherwise be intimidated to walk into a gallery the chance to buy something. Or just enjoy the artwork,” Ms. Gould said. “I love this show and this time of year. People come back to the Island, and they’re in a festive spirit for the holidays.”
For those who missed the reception last weekend, Ms. Gould will host another open house on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 12 to 4 pm. The “Small Wonders and More” show will hang through Dec. 24. For more information, visit louisagould.com.
