The Christina Gallery

On the Island of Martha’s Vineyard

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Martha's Vineyard

Lillia Frantin’s Windows of Summer

Sailboats and Seashells by Lillia Frantin
“Sailboats and Seashells”

When I look at a painting by Lillia Frantin, I immediately smile and think of summer. A table set with a brightly patterned cloth, fresh cut flowers, and a bowl of juicy fruit in front of an open window says summer to me. It’s as if you can feel the warm ocean breeze softly come through the window as you watch the boats sail on the horizon. I want to spend a carefree afternoon in front of that window. [Read more…] about Lillia Frantin’s Windows of Summer

E. J. Paprocki Inspired by Martha’s Vineyard

E. J. painting on a cloudy day in Edgartown
E. J. painting on a cloudy day in Edgartown

Impressionist E. J. Paprocki, who joined the gallery in 2020, recently visited Martha’s Vineyard to paint “en plein air” or in the open air. It was his first visit to Martha’s Vineyard, and he promises it will not be his last! “Martha’s Vineyard was, in a word, inspiring. Never have all the visual elements I like to incorporate into my paintings come together in a single location. No editing was needed – I painted what I experienced.” [Read more…] about E. J. Paprocki Inspired by Martha’s Vineyard

“Vineyard Landscapes – The 2021 Collection” by Marjorie Mason

“Lucy Vincent Sunset Surf”
Marjorie painting “en plein air”

We are excited to present this year’s “Vineyard Landscapes – The 2021 Collection” by well-known Island artist Marjorie Mason. This evolving collection will be on display on the gallery’s first floor through the summer and online.

[Read more…] about “Vineyard Landscapes – The 2021 Collection” by Marjorie Mason

We are open for the 2020 Season!

TCG first floor
The first floor of the gallery. The artists featured from the left: David Bareford, William R. Davis & John C. Traynor

We hope you and your loved ones are doing well and are in good health and spirits. The gallery is now open for the 2020 season and we have protocols in place for your safety. If your personal preference is a private appointment, we are happy to make that arrangement with you.

All the artists are working, and we will continue to highlight their new works on our website. We have always said that “art is good for the soul,” and we believe now this to be even more true. Please stay well and we look forward to seeing you when you feel comfortable.

Best,

Christina & Steve

Marjorie Mason – Artist who loves the Vineyard

Marjorie Mason’s Vineyard Landscapes opened on Thursday, August 6, 2015, at The Christina Gallery in historic downtown Edgartown. Mason has developed an impressive following of patrons since her graduation from the prestigious Rhode Island School of Art and Design in 1981. “Just before I graduated from art school I happened upon a printmaking technique that guided me out of my major in Illustration and into the world of oil painting the landscape.” Mason would spend the next twenty years perfecting that technique of monotype oil painting where the finish work takes on the softness of a pastel. During this time she also evolved as a plein air painter working consistently with other Island artists who shared the same passion to explore Martha’s Vineyard through direct or alla prima painting.

Menemsha Morning Rose Dune by Marjorie Mason
Menemsha Morning Rose Dune

[Read more…] about Marjorie Mason – Artist who loves the Vineyard

February 2013 – The Upcoming Season

It’s hard to believe it’s already the middle of February because before you know it the daffodils will be blooming around here! We’ve had a little snow here and there, and then of course, there was the blizzard of 2013 which really was a major event here in New England. We received about a foot of snow on the island and it was very pretty, like a winter wonderland!

I have been spending my time preparing for the summer 2013 season and have a great schedule of events. First up, will be an exhibition of paintings by long time gallery favorite, John C. Traynor. We will be displaying works from his recent travels, including Scotland, Ireland, France and maybe even some of Italy, if he makes the trip as currently planned for this Spring.

“Menemsha Harbor”
by John C. Traynor
“Home & Abroad”
June 27 – July 7, 2013

Lillia Frantin will be present for our July gallery stroll event and we will feature her wonderful modernist paintings. She was new to the gallery’s collection last season and her colorful and spontaneous paintings were very well received.

"Primrose & Seashells" by Lillia Frantin "In a Summer Light" July 11 - 18, 2013
“Primrose & Seashells”
by Lillia Frantin
“In a Summer Light”
July 11 – 18, 2013

During the August gallery stroll, island artist Marjorie Mason will be on hand to talk about her recent paintings of Martha’s Vineyard. As always, that is a popular event!

"Lucy Vincent Sunset" by Marjorie Mason "Vineyard Landscapes" August 8 - 15, 2013
“Lucy Vincent Sunset”
by Marjorie Mason
“Vineyard Landscapes”
August 8 – 15, 2013

And stay tuned, in September we are planning a “plein air” painting event with one of the other galleries in town. You will be able to watch many artists around town painting and interpreting what they are seeing. More details to follow as they become available.

“En Plein Air” with Jan Pawlowski

Jan Pawlowski is known internationally for his impressionist seascapes, landscapes and city scenes. Sunday the 24th of July marked the opening of the Polish artist’s one man show here at The Christina Gallery. Pawlowski has been a frequent visitor to Martha’s Vineyard since joining the gallery in 1996.

This exhibition of his work highlights these visits as he displays views of the island. The paintings displayed in the show demonstrate Pawlowski’s confident and quick brushstrokes as well as his sensitive understanding of color and form. Pawlowski’s followers appreciate his bright and serene palette.

"A Day for Sailing" by Jan Pawlowski
“A Day for Sailing” by Jan Pawlowski

Paintings such as “June Afternoon, Edgartown Yacht Club” capture the essence of the Vineyard. A light wind blows causing the American flag to flutter in the wind and a cluster of sailboats breeze by in the distance. Pawlowski manipulates the oil paint masterfully, transforming a few simple brushstrokes into light and fluffy clouds gracing the otherwise clear afternoon sky.

Jan Pawlowski paints en plein air or ‘in the open air.’ This technique of painting was advocated by the Impressionists of the late 19th century. In 1841 tubes of paint were invented, allowing artists to easily transport their materials and paint from life wherever they were inspired. Prior to this invention, artists and their assistants hand ground pigments and produced their own paints. Many art historians and critics credit the creation of tubes of paint for the development of Impressionism for it was the ease of movement that allowed artists to paint outdoors. Pawlowski embraces this technique and can often be found along the beaches and waterfronts of Martha’s Vineyard capturing the jovial atmosphere of the island with his expressive brushstrokes and pleasing palette.

Pawlowski has been recognized for his oeuvre of artwork by the Polish government; in 1979 he was awarded the highest honor given, called “Authorization and Certification.” His work was also in the collection of Pope John Paul II.

Camille Pissarro and His Family

Camille Pissarro and Family
Pissarro with his wife and son, Paulemile, and daughter, Jeanne, in their garden at Eragny in 1897

Camille Pissarro (1830 – 1903) is frequently referred to as the patriarch of the Impressionist movement. Pissarro moved from his birthplace of St. Thomas to Caracas in 1852, and after this taste of independence from his family’s bourgeois life, returned to Paris (where he had studied as a boy) in 1855 to begin his life as an artist. Pissarro’s artistic talents were apparent from an early age, yet he increasingly grew to dislike the aesthetic canon revered by the Salons of Paris. Pissarro embraced the technical act of painting [and printmaking] and enjoyed the freedom and possibility that the paintbrush allowed him. He eliminated historical and sentimental associations from his artwork and instead focused on the quality of light and the modeling of form. Academies and the Salon that presided over the respected artistic world of Europe did not share this viewpoint. Instead they admired the artist whose work captured the likeness of the subject matter while not revealing the artist’s hand or the mark of the brush. A passionate brushstroke was seen as a weakness. Pissarro, along with his like-minded contemporaries including Monet, Renoir, Degas, Sisley and Morisot, organized their own exhibition of Impressionist works separate from the exhibitions hosted by the Salon. This exhibition was held in 1874 and was the first of eight independent Impressionist shows.

Throughout his life, Pissarro remained committed to his artistic ideals which were adopted by his children and future generations of artists. He was the only artist to exhibit works in all eight of the independent exhibitions, demonstrating his support of the younger generations of Impressionist artists. All of Camille Pissarro’s children were encouraged to draw frequently and four of his seven sons became well-established artists in their own right.

"Femme a la Barriere" by Camille Pissarro 1889
“Femme a la Barriere” by Camille Pissarro 1889

Pissarro produced engravings for his own enjoyment; he did not seek to sell them and as such they are often printed on small or unrefined pieces of paper. Despite this amateur attitude towards the medium of printmaking, Pissarro was to become a master in aquatint later in his career. His Femme a la Barriere (1889) combined both drypoint and aquatint and is a prime example of the varied techniques with which Pissarro experimented. He was known for remaining open minded about methods of artistic expression and embraced many styles within his works. The print is of a woman opening a garden gate. Varied lines capture the texture of the woman’s bustling skirt, the leaves of a bush blowing in the breeze, and the fine detail of the thatched roof cottage in the background. Pissarro’s prints reveal his private thought process and layers of preparation that lie behind each of his oil paintings.

 

“Favorite Places” by John C. Traynor

Last Friday evening, July 1st, the gallery filled with visitors to celebrate the opening of our most recent show and to kick-start the summer season. “Favorite Places” is an exhibition of oil paintings by John Traynor that depict his favorite places from his travels. Locations shown include Paris, Venice, Martha’s Vineyard, and his own backyard in southern New Hampshire. John Traynor is a contemporary New Hampshire-based artist who paints landscapes and marine scenes with a remarkable sensitivity to light.

As Traynor says, “I want to share what I see with the viewer, the spontaneity, the structure and the beauty of what is all around us.” This honest approach to painting has resulted in over two hundred awards recognizing Traynor. In November 2010 he was the recipient of the prestigious Salmagundi Club’s highest award, The Salmagundi Club Medal of Honor and Merit, for his artistic achievements and contributions to the field of art.At the opening guests mingled with John and his wife Sara while enjoying the art. Visitors heard stories of John’s travels ranging from the grassy meadows of Ireland to the New England countryside that corresponded with the paintings on view. John often paints outdoors on location, a fact that is immediately apparent in his rendering of color and form. He has been recognized as a Copley Master by the Copley Society of Boston, the oldest non-profit art association in this country. His work is part of over one thousand public and private collections around the United States.

The summer season is in full force on Martha’s Vineyard following the Fourth of July weekend. We currently have over 30 artists on display at The Christina Gallery as well as our antique collection of charts and maps. Stop by our gallery at 32 North Water Street, Edgartown to see the exhibition for yourself or flip through our online selection of works by Traynor here.

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The Christina Gallery

The Christina Gallery
5 Winter Street
Edgartown MA 02539
508-627-8794
art@christina.com

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July Afternoon, Edgartown Yacht Club
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