Winter Wonderland: My Exhibit at Healthworks, Cambridge

From February 16 to March 15, 2019, I have a “two-fer” show up at Healthworks in Cambridge, MA. This is my third show there. On the first level, I share eight of my collages inspired by my novel, Gina in the Floating World (several of them shown in December at Cadbury Commons).and that I refer to as my Japan Series. These are not for sale as I will be exhibiting them in the summertime at the Great Bay Gallery in Somers Point, New Jersey).

On the second level are six snowscape watercolors, all of them for sale. Snow is fun to paint, with its purple and blue shadows. Two of these watercolors are of houses, two are the dunes in snow, one is a wooded area with light pouring through, and the last is a snow covered marsh. These are all for sale. If you aren’t a member of Healthworks and wish to see these, contact me, and I may be able to arrange a visit for you with me as your guide.

The Old Lady of the Dunes (large, 2018).jpg

Collages Inspired by My Novel, Gina in the Floating World

During the month of December, 2018, a set of seven collages inspired by my recently published novel, Gina in the Floating World (She Writes Press), will be on display at Cadbury Commons in North Cambridge, MA as part of the NoCA winter gallery show. The novel, set in 1981 Japan, is about a naive, but ambitious Midwesterner who goes to Tokyo for a bank internship, takes an evening job as a bar hostess to support herself, and travels down a darker road. The collages capture some of the settings described in the story, and each is accompanied by an appropriate quote from the book. You can see more of my images by going to my Japan Series page on this website. They are not currently for sale, but if you are interested in eventually purchasing one, please contact me. The book is available at some local bookstores and on Amazon. You can find out more on my writing website.

NoCA winter show, Belle Brett collages

Cambridge Art Association, Member Spotlight on Me

The Cambridge Art Association regularly spotlights a member artist. I am thrilled to be their choice for July 4th! In the past seven months, my collages have been selected for three different juried exhibits at the two Cambridge Art Association galleries.  Currently, my collage, "Fading Light, Safe Harbor," which is part of my Japan Series is on show at the Kathryn Schultz Gallery, and "The Rock Garden" is displayed at their non-juried exhibit, "Still Life: Captured Moments" at their University Place Gallery. Click here for the link to the member spotlight piece about me.

Brett_Fading Light, Safe Harbor.jpg

My Second Juried Show at Cambridge Art Association-Lost and Found

I am pleased to report fhat I was accepted into my second juried show of the year at Cambridge Art Association's "Lost and Found" exhibit at the Kathryn Schultz Gallery during April 2018. My collage, "Finding One's Style," is another piece from my Japan series. This one shows women and girls showing off their unique fashion sense.

Finding Ones Style.jpg

Cambridge Art Association 2018 Member Prize Show

I was thrilled to be accepted into Cambridge Art Association's 2018 Member Prize juried show, with the exhibit at their University Place Gallery in Harvard Square, Cambridge. I submitted a paper collage from my Japanese series, called "Ryokan." I wanted to capture the architecture and spirit of a Japanese inn, with its geometry, view to nature, and aesthetic details. The opening was held on Friday, February 9th.

Ryokan (8"x 8")

Solo Show at Healthworks in Porter Square, Cambridge, MA

From mid-September to mid-October, my gym, Healthworks, will be displaying my collages and watercolor paintings. The exhibit is on two walls of the stairwell. The first wall I have titled "Skyscapes," and it will show seven watercolors that emphasize interesting skies and cloud formations.

Awash with Light (watercolor)

Awash with Light (watercolor)

The second wall I call "Cityscapes." It features predominately paper collages depicting different cities and city views and two watercolors. The exhibit is only open to Healthworks members unless I accompany you, so contact me if you wish to see the exhibit.

The City that Never Sleeps.jpg

 

 

November in the CVS Window

This watercolor is part of my Central Park series. It is probably the most abstract of my park paintings although a viewer can still see that this is a painting about autumn. My goal was to use a "glazing" technique, in which I layer colors after each previous color has dried. The transparency of watercolor paint highlights all the layers.

"View over the Park (Fall)"

"View over the Park (Fall)"

NoCa Show at the O'Neill Library in Cambridge

Members of NoCA have an exhibit up in the foyer of the O'Neill Library in North Cambridge, as a way of promoting their work and their upcoming winter show. I have two pieces (below), a collage and a watercolor both based on the same photo of Central Park in fall.

Watercolor: "I Recall (Central Park in Fall)"

Watercolor: "I Recall (Central Park in Fall)"

Note that I used similar elements in each--the buildings in the background, the stone bridge (although with a different placement), the water, the red tree in the foreground. In the collage, I populated the park with two people enjoying the view from their Adirondack chairs, adding a more playful feel.

Collage: "Autumn Serenade"

Collage: "Autumn Serenade"