2007 Artist in Residency Program

Four talented artists have been selected from a large pool of applicants to live and work for one month each in the Avery-Mann Gallery on Rocky Neck. Each artist will give two public lectures: first, sharing their artistic vision and accomplishments and, second, presenting the work that was inspired by their stay in the Art Colony.

The residents for 2007are:

Alexandra Ludwig

Alexandra Ludwig, a Northampton, MA, abstract landscape and conceptual painter, is the first of four Rocky Neck Art Colony Artists in Residence for 2007. A serious musician and conductor, Ludwig became reintroduced to painting while visiting Rocky Neck last year. Her paintings are inspired by local landscapes as well as musical compositions.

Ludwig graduated from Smith College with a BA in music and studio art. She received an MFA in conducting at Bard College and has been a guest conductor in various orchestras on the East Coast including the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra, Woodstock, NY; the Bard Music Festival Chorus; the Capella Festiva Chamber Choir, Poughkeepsie, NY; and the Bronx Opera Company, New York. Her paintings are influenced by her deep commitment to music.

“The residency would benefit me in most of the obvious ways: uninterrupted painting time, discussion and critiques with other artists, and the endless inspiration of the Gloucester environment,” said Ludwig.
During her Rocky Neck Artist in Residency, May 20 until June 16, Ludwig will give two public talks. The public is invited to meet Ludwig and see slides of her work on Thursday, May 24 at 7 pm at the Bryan Gallery, 53 Rocky Neck Ave. On Thursday, June 14 at 7 pm, Ludwig will present work she has completed during her residency at a gallery talk at the Avery Mann Gallery, 77 Rocky Neck Ave.

Ken Beck

The second resident is Ken Beck, a Boston plein air landscape painter and adjunct associate professor of painting at the Art Institute of Boston. Beck has been a practicing artist for almost 40 years and had numerous awards and exhibitions in the New England area, but only recently began painting landscapes in the outdoors.

“Until the last 5 years or so, I did no plein air painting … Because I believed that painting outdoors was the greatest challenge and a terrific way to learn how to make a painting, I employed and encouraged outdoor painting in my teaching at the Art Institute of Boston. … The opportunity to work and paint for a month in Gloucester would be an invaluable experience and a wonderful opportunity for me to more deeply and directly explore this new direction in my work,” said Beck

Beck will be an Artist in Residence in Rocky Neck from June 25 until July 22. The public is invited to meet Beck on Thursday, June 28 pm in the Bryan Gallery. On Thursday, July 19 at 7 pm, Beck will present work he has completed during his residency at a gallery talk in the Avery Mann Gallery, 77 Rocky Neck Ave.

 

David Shapleigh

David Shapleigh, an artist whose drawings and paintings explore the plastic meaning of visual perception, is a visiting assistant professor of Fine Art at Bridgewater State College and Montserrat College of Art and a middle school art teacher in Hopkinton, MA.

“An aim in my work is to represent the truth about the object I am recreating. My work is created from direct observation. I do not consider myself a ‘Realist’… but as an artist that is committed to the exploration of my visual perception through drawing and painting in the fullest plastic meaning of these terms. … I often feel frustrated with the lack of studio time to develop and finish projects. … My residency at Rocky Neck Art Colony would provide the important time of further developing and completing these projects.”

Shapleigh will be an Artist in Residence in Rocky Neck from July 30 until August 26. The public is invited to meet Shapleigh on Tuesday, August 7 at 7 pm in the Bryan Gallery. On Thursday, August 23 at 7 pm, Shapleigh will present work he has completed during his residency at a gallery talk in the Avery Mann Gallery, 77 Rocky Neck Ave.

Elli Crocker

Elli Crocker, an associate professor at Clark University, has had numerous exhibitions, awards, and grants including a Rocky Neck Residency in 2005 (starting September 9). Her detailed drawings of animals and mythical figures go beyond the surface to the realm of dreams, fantasy, and psychology.

“I would be honored and privileged to be able to return … and once again be stimulated by this beautiful place and the many artists who live and work nearby…The cross-pollination of ideas and energy that such an opportunity provides, as well as the removal from normal distractions, is a major creative impetus. I have an unusual opportunity this year because of a Fall sabbatical from my teaching position at Clark University, which affords me this time to devote exclusively to my art work. … I can think of no place I’d rather be during this rare interlude than on Rocky Neck.”

Crocker will be an Artist in Residence in Rocky Neck from September 9 until October 5. The public is invited to meet Crocker on Monday, September 10 at 7 pm in the Bryan Gallery. On Tuesday, October 2 at 7 pm, Crocker will present work she has completed during her residency at a gallery talk in the Avery Mann Gallery, 77 Rocky Neck Ave.

For more information, contact the director of the program, Ruth Mordecai.

See past program residents:

2013 Residency Program
2012 Residency Program
2011 Residency Program
2010 Residency Program
2009 Residency Program
2008 Residency Program
2007 Residency Program
2006 Residency Program
2005 Residency Program

 

Funding for the Rocky Neck Art Colony Residency Program is in part from the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts made possible by The Massachusetts Cultural Council John and Abigail Adams Arts Program.