17th Annual Associate Artist Exhibit by Lyme Art Association (2009)

Things keep getting better for me with my art. For example, I was selected to be a featured artist for the 17th Annual Associate Artist Exhibit by Lyme Art Association. WOW!!! (You can read the press release.)

The 17th Annual Associate Artist Exhibit was held on January 16, 2009, at the Lyme Art Gallery from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. I was privileged to have four of my paintings accepted into the exhibition, which will run from January 16 through February 28.

Event Literature – 17th Annual Associate Artist Exhibit

Opening Reception (1-16-2008) – 17th Annual Associate Artist Exhibit

A lovely group of patrons attended the reception, in addition to plenty of food and drinks on the serving table. Also, my father, John O’Keefe Sr, and youngest brother Joe O’Keefe, attended the reception along with my wife, Jennifer, and our two children. Overall, we had a good time meeting people and viewing the exhibit. Additionally, I introduced myself to one of the elected artists, Richard Nazzaro. I had seen Mr. Nazzaro at other Lyme Gallery events, but I never had the opportunity to meet and introduce myself to him.

I had a chance to meet the Lyme Gallery Sales Manager Joy Hanes. She gave me some wonderful compliments about my paintings and said she is particularly fond of my latest work titled “Big Cork Tree.”

Reconnecting with Dianne Gorrick – Opening Reception

Before the evening ended, I was pleasantly surprised to meet Dianne Gorrick and her husband at the opening. Dianne was the juror for the first art competition I entered as an emerging artist. (2008 Annual Visual Arts Exhibit by The Cheshire Art League.) Dianne remembered me and my two paintings from that competition. Dianne and I are both associate artists with the Lyme Art Association, and we each had several pieces accepted into the exhibit. We walked around showing our paintings to each other while discussing various painting techniques. Dianne shared some tips for achieving smooth lines on tree branches, which I’m working to improve in my newer paintings. Dianne had high compliments on my color pallet. It was very encouraging to talk with Dianne again and participate in the 17th Annual Associate Artist Exhibit by Lyme Art Association.

Event Literature – About the Judge

Associate Artist at the Lyme Art Gallery 1

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Associate Artist at the Lyme Art Gallery 2

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Maryanne Rupp is a Killingworth pastel and oil artist who has won numerous art awards and has displayed her work throughout New England. She is a member of the Connecticut Pastel Society, the Lyme Art Association, the Madison Art Society, and the Clinton Art Society. Her work is in private collections throughout the Northeast, and she has studied pastel with Joanne Ballinger at the Lyme Art Association for the past seven years. She has taken numerous workshops with renowned local artists such as Karen Winslow, Diane Aeschliman, Jack Broderick, Hollis Dunlap, and Lou Bonamarte. She believes that producing art is the artist’s ability to find beauty in ordinary objects. 3, 4

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Associate Artist at the Lyme Art Gallery

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Footnotes:

1. Image of Phil Cutting from www.thetimesgroup.com ~ Community section ~ July 17, 2009.
2. Image of Bob Gregg from the fall 2008 newsletter the Lyme Art Association printed.
3. Bio information on Maryanne Rubb taken from Clinton Art Society website: Artist of the Month article ~ June 2008.
4. Image of Maryanne Rupp from Madison Art Society ~ March 2008.