Art on the move: Exciting June 12 reception to benefit HCT
It’s easy to be moved by beautiful art, especially when you’re moving it into the gallery! That colorful task provided an inspiring outing for Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) staff this week, as all hands were on deck to prepare for an exhilarating art reception fundraiser and show featuring the work of acclaimed artist Yvette Stenzel.
Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) staff members carefully carry the art of Yvette Stenzel into the 204 Sisson Cultural Arts Center in Harwich.
The event takes place on Friday June 12th, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the 204 Sisson Cultural Arts Center in Harwich. Stenzel, a part-time Harwich resident since 2013, has generously donated some of her dazzling paintings, and all sale proceeds will benefit HCT.
Admission is free and art prices range from $15 to $500. There are over 280 works of art to choose from. Incredible!
Cash, checks and credit cards will be accepted for payment, and purchased art can be brought home at the end of the reception.
Have a creative night out, enjoy delicious appetizers catered by the Family Table Collaborative and bring home a spectacular work of art that will add sparkle to your Cape Cod summer!
Stenzel is inspired by the work of Vincent Van Gogh, and prefers to paint with oils, although she has experience with watercolors, charcoal and acrylics.
On her website, she writes that “painting is for me foremost an emotional language that is uniquely expressive and direct. It provides both the artist and the viewer an uncommon opportunity to feel free from all restrictions and reach a rare vision of serenity when turbulent times can be suspended.”
From Boston, with love
Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) Director of Operations Charlie Sumner takes a brief break from art moving at the 204 Sisson Cultural Arts Center in Harwich.
The Great Art Migration began last weekend, when noted trucker and HCT Executive Director Mike Lach and his wife Forest piloted a U-Haul to Boston and retrieved a treasure trove of paintings from Stenzel’s studio. Once the truck chugged into the 204’s parking lot, the offloading ensued — a carefully choreographed art-moving ballet that would likely have made Alvin Ailey and Martha Graham proud.
Moving the art into the gallery space might have been the toughest part of the job, but there were challenges to come. The paintings had to be sorted by genre, and this was a delightful shuffle: splendid still life canvases on one side, majestic horse paintings on the other, with bracing seascapes at the front of the room. The easy conclusion? This is going to be a heck of a show!
HCT’s Director of Development Christy Laidlaw and her husband, the artist Thomas Winston Cooney, then began the long process of cataloguing the artwork, with ace HCT volunteer photographer Gerry Beetham photographing every painting.
Putting together the perfect show
Cooney, who has extensive experience mounting art shows at New York City locations and museums, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, described the kind of art puzzle that occurs when you’re trying to put together the perfect show.
“I’m thinking about the space itself, the size of the walls,” said Cooney. “There are a couple of large pieces, and I don’t know whether we’re going to use a lot of space for those, or if we’re going to highlight smaller pieces.”
The beautiful art work of Yvette Stenzel awaits curation and mounting for an upcoming Harwich Conservation Trust fundraiser reception at the 204 Sisson Cultural Arts Center in Harwich.
Cooney and Laidlaw attended an art show in the space a few weeks ago to get a feel for how the gallery could work for the Stenzel reception. Though the room is large, it is still finite, so careful decisions will have to be made on how to display the paintings for the most powerful effect. Then, there’s the precision work of mounting the paintings on the walls, a task for steady hands and eagle eyes.
Luckily, the beauty of the art provided joyous fuel for the undertaking. HCT is grateful for Yvette Stenzel’s wonderful gift, and we look forward to sharing her paintings with the community.
The reception is shaping up to be a grand event, and purchasing wonderful art is a joyous way to support the land-saving work of HCT. We hope to see you there for an evening of inspiration and conversation!
What: Meet artist Yvette Stenzel and view her amazing work at a catered reception to benefit Harwich Conservation Trust.
When: Friday June 12th, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Where: 204 Sisson Cultural Arts Center in Harwich (204 Sisson Road).
All proceeds from purchasing Yvette’s original paintings will benefit HCT’s land-saving mission. In addition to the reception on June 12th, Stenzel’s exhibition at the 204 Sisson Cultural Arts Center will be open June 15th thru June 23rd, Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Photo gallery: HCT volunteer photographer Gerry Beetham provided these great photos of Yvette Stenzel’s beautiful artwork. These are just a sample of the paintings that will be available during the HCT benefit reception and show!
—Your tax-deductible contributions help fulfill the mission of the Harwich Conservation Trust to preserve land that protects woods, water, wildlife and our shared quality of life. And your land-saving financial support helps us preserve beautiful properties that can become stellar trail destinations. Find out how to donate by clicking here.