HAMPDEN — Local art association Scantic River Artisans will be hosting its Fall Into Art show at Thornton W. Burgess School, 85 Wilbraham Rd., on Sept. 13 and 14 to highlight Western Massachusetts artisans and their work.
The event will run from 3-7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14. It will feature various types of artwork, including photography, paintings, pottery, woodwork, metalwork, jewelry, inkwork and writing, Scantic River Artisans President Laura Salerno told Reminder Publishing. Featured artists will be coming from multiple locations such as Agawam, towns within Connecticut, Hampden, Monson, West Springfield and Wilbraham.
While the organization typically hosts events at the Hampden Senior Center, this show will take place at Thornton Burgess due to a conflict with another event at the center, Salerno explained. There is no cost for residents to attend this show.
In addition to local art, the Fall Into Art show will also feature the 2024 New England Mosaic; a 24 foot by 4 foot traveling mosaic constructed to highlight examples of “the beauty of New England,” Salerno stated. A collection of more than 250 canvas tiles, the mosaic was created in partnership with Agawam Community Artists and Artisans by the work of hundreds of local residents; artists and non-artists alike.
Each tile of the mosaic is unique, displaying an example of this year’s theme “the beauty of New England” through sculpture, paint, photos, stickers, oil and other mediums, Salerno said. The mosaic was previously displayed at two earlier events in the year by other organizations.
As the 2024 New England Mosaic’s final appearance, tiles will be for sale at the Fall Into Art show at $20 each with the money raised going toward a scholarship fund for art students at Minnechaug Regional High School, Salerno stated. She explained that the previous year raised $500 for students.
For any local residents who are interested in submitting work to be displayed at the Fall Into Art show, work can be brought to the Hampden Senior Center on Sept. 11 from 12-6 p.m. to drop off, Salerno said. A PDF of the application to submit work is available online at scanticriverartisans.com.
For Scantic River Artisans members, each piece costs $5 to submit with an accepted maximum of three pieces. Non Scantic River Artisans members can similarly submit up to three pieces with the first piece costing $15 and remaining pieces at $5 each, Salerno stated.
Submitted pieces will be judged by a “jury of peers” with three cash prizes for the top three winners. Pieces will be judged at the reception between 12-2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14, Salerno said. Artwork can then be collected between 3-4 p.m. or remain on display at the Hampden Senior Center, if a member of the Scantic River Artisans.
For more information about the Fall Into Art show or to submit an application for the show, email the Scantic River Artisans at info@scanticriverartisans.com.
