Annual Visual Arts Exhibition by Cheshire Art League (2009)

Posted on June 6, 2009 by John O'Keefe Jr.

Cheshire Public Library
Cheshire, Connecticut

The 2009 Annual Visual Arts Exhibition by Cheshire Art League presented an opportunity for me to fulfill a new role I had with the organization. I was accepted onto the Board of Directors at the Cheshire Art League with the assignment to improve the league’s online presence. This included a complete redesign of the league’s website. I attended most functions and recorded the events to collect material for web page entries. 17 league events were documented between 2009 and 2011, starting with this 2009 annual exhibition.

(Note: I resigned from this assignment in 2011 to pursue my online frame business Painting Frames Plus; unfortunately, the new web designer for the Cheshire Art League did not upload the events I recorded. I will try to re-post them on this site as time permits. The below pictures are just a sampling from this exhibit.)

Event Literature – Annual Visual Arts Exhibition

Cheshire Art League Event Prospectus — **Event Literature**

Receiving and Hanging – Annual Visual Arts Exhibition

Joan Shackford, Angela Orsene and Ann Hearn receiving the artworks — **Joan Shackford, Angela Orsene, and Ann Hearn**

Paul Miller and Tom Mayer hanging the artworks — **Paul Miller and Tom Mayer**

Opening Reception and Award Ceremony – Annual Visual Arts Exhibition

Annual Visual Arts Exhibition and Award Ceremony

I didn’t know it then, but Christine Ivers would become my sponsor for membership in the Salmagundi Club in New York City. Christine’s specialty is working with pastels, and is an excellent artist. I first met Christine at this Annual Visual Arts Exhibition by Cheshire Art League.

About the Judge – Annual Visual Arts Exhibition

Power Boothe publicity photograph — **Power Boothe**

Power Boothe, Dean of the Hartford Art School, University of Hartford, is a recognized abstract painter. He has had twenty solo exhibitions in New York. His work is represented in many public collections, including the Metropolitan Museum, the Guggenheim Museum, the Whitney Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art. Boothe has designed sets for Obie Award-winning productions, collaborated as a visual artist with choreographers and musicians, and has received numerous NEA Inter-Arts grants. In 1975 he was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Artist Fellowship for painting, and in 1985, a Guggenheim Fellowship for painting.1, 2

Footnotes:

Image of Power Boothe from hartford.edu ~ 2014
Bio. information for Power Boothe from the exhibition brochure

Solo Exhibition by The Picture Framer & Gallery (2008)

Posted on September 30, 2008 by John O'Keefe Jr.

My first Solo Exhibition by the Picture Framer & Gallery was excellent! In these early days, and with a lot of effort on my part, my renewed love of creating art and entrance into the local art scene was moving fairly quickly.

The Picture Framer & Gallery, View through front door — **(See my paintings hanging inside)**

Solo Exhibition – Event Literature and Promotional

The Picture Framer Event Poster — **Event Brochure**

Press release for John O'Keefe Jr's solo exhibition at the Picture Framer & Gallery in Cheshire, Connecticut in September 2008 — **As printed in the Cheshire Herald on August 28, 2008**

Solo Exhibition – Opening Reception (9-6-2008)

We held the reception despite a visit by tropical storm Hanna. Even though the poor weather discouraged most from attending the exhibit reception, we had a good group. Jennifer and I learned later that our local county was under a tornado warning during the event. Still, people came to see the exhibition opening, and I had the opportunity to talk with them about my paintings. We had refreshments and a good conversation. I was delighted with my first solo exhibit.

Solo Exhibition, Opening Reception, Main Gallery, Wall 1

Solo Exhibition, Opening Reception, Main Gallery, Wall 2

I selected eleven works to exhibit at The Picture Framer & Gallery throughout September. One of the more miniature paintings had sold, and another was still on exhibition at the Mystic Art Center. Therefore I had a mix of originals and reproductions displayed. The quality of the reproductions is so good that several visitors commented that they could not tell the difference between the originals and the reproductions.

Solo Exhibition, Opening Reception, Main gallery, Quests 1

Solo Exhibition, Opening Reception, Main Gallery, Guests 2

Solo Exhibition, Opening Reception, Main Gallery, Guests 3

Solo Exehibition, Opening Reception, Main Gallery, Guests 4

Solo Exhibition – People that have helped me!

Below are pictures of me with people who have helped promote my art business.

Opening Reception, Ann Hearn and John O'Keefe Jr. — **Ann Hearn owns and operates The Picture Framer & Gallery**

Opening Reception, Rob Lyon and John O'Keefe Jr. — **Rob Lyon owns and operates Sound Color**

Opening Reception, Joan Shackford and John O'Keefe Jr. — **Joan Shackford is the current President of the Cheshire Art League**

Solo Exhibition – Some Final Thoughts!

Below are pictures of friends and family that have encouraged and supported me. So many people supported me with Solo Exhibition by The Picture Framer & Gallery. Thank you!

Opening Reception, Sue Smith — **Sue Smith**
Close family friend

Opening Reception, John O'Keefe Jr. and his family — **John O’Keefe Sr.** (Dad – far left)
**Lynn Ambrosini** (Mom – left)
**Jennifer O’Keefe** (Wife – right)

Annual Visual Arts Exhibit by Cheshire Art League (2008)

Posted on April 30, 2008 by John O'Keefe Jr.

2008 Annual Visual Arts Exhibit by Cheshire Art League at Cheshire Public Library. — Cheshire Public Library,
Cheshire, Connecticut

The 2008 Annual Visual Arts Exhibit by Cheshire Art League was my first art show. The exhibit was held at the Cheshire Public Library in a dedicated space.

Even Literature – Annual Visual Arts Exhibit

2008 Annual Visual Arts Exhibit event literature by the Cheshire Art League. — **Event Brochure**

Hanging and Receiving (4-2-2008) – Annual Visual Arts Exhibit

I volunteered to help hang the exhibit. In addition, my family, wife, and children also assisted with the hanging process. During the hanging, I met several artists I would get to know better in the coming years.

Annual Visual Arts Exhibit, Member artists hanging artwork for exhibit — **Hanging**

Annual Visual Arts Exhibit, Member artists hanging artwork for exhibit - group pose — **Hanging Team**
(from left to right)
Paul Miller, John MacKay, Jennifer O’Keefe,
John O’Keefe, Dale Spaner, Danielle O’Keefe,
Angela Orsene, Joan Shackford,
and Joshua O’Keefe (taking the picture)

Award Ceremony and Reception (4-9-2008) – Annual Visual Arts Exhibit

With great excitement and anticipation, we arrived early for the award ceremony and reception. There were about 40 people in attendance. As a result, I met and talked with many people, including some artists in the exhibit. During the evening, I received an award and cash prize for my painting, “River Through the Adirondacks.” My family and I had a good time at the 2008 Annual Visual Arts Exhibit by Cheshire Art League.

'River Through the Adirondacks' by John O’Keefe Jr — *“River Through the Adirondacks*” by John O’Keefe Jr.

Annual Visual Arts Exhibit, John posing with award next to wining painting — **John O’Keefe Jr. and “River Through the Adirondack’s”**

Meet the Judge (4-30-2008) – Annual Visual Arts Exhibit

John O'Keefe and Dianne Gorrick — **John O’Keefe Jr. and Dianne Gorrick**

“Technique and brushwork with attention to detail outstanding. The use of the difficult color green is well executed. Distance – good 3D effect. Hudson River School quality.” ~ Dianne Gorrick

About the Judge – Visual Arts Exhibit

Professional artist Dianne Gorrick — **Dianne Gorrick**

Artist Dianne Gorrick’s formal education in the visual arts includes a Bachelor’s Degree from Purdue University and a Master’s Degree from Wesleyan University.

She is the recipient of two National Endowment Fellowships; a research grant concerning the Hudson River School of Painters and a fellowship to attend Dartmouth College, where she studied the art and culture of New England.

A painter and teacher with over thirty years of experience in the visual arts, Ms. Gorrick is represented in many private and public collections, including a prestigious sculpture installation for the Russell Library in Middletown, Ct. A lengthy exhibition history includes the Wadsworth Athenaeum, the New Britain Museum, the Slater Museum, and the Ward-Nasse Gallery, SoHo, N.Y.C.

Ms. Gorrick is an elected artist at the Mystic Art Center and the Essex Art Association. She is a member of the Ct. Plein Air Painters Society and the Lyme Art Association. Working in oils and watercolors, landscapes are the artist’s favorite subject matter. 1

Footnotes:

Biography information for Dianne Gorrick from her website.