John C. Traynor was commissioned by the United States Golf Association® to create a painting to commemorate the 115th U.S. Open Championship at Chambers Bay, in University Place, Washington, the first U.S. Open to take place in the Pacific Northwest. The original painting has been added to the USGA Museum’s collection.
[Read more…] about John C. Traynor Commission for US Golf Association
Memorial Day weekend is upon us and I can’t believe that we are beginning our 38th summer season here on the Vineyard. Yes, I was a freshman in high school when we first opened in 1977! Actually, my dad and I came up with the idea to start a retail business and we didn’t tell my mom until we were ready to open. At that time she was working for the Fligor family across the street.
During the early days we sold vintage photographs of Martha’s Vineyard from the mid 1800’s. As each year passed, we expanded upon our collection and inventory and new artists to gradually grow into what we are known for today, an established traditional fine art gallery. It was in 1994 that I formally took over the gallery business and it became The Christina Gallery.
[Read more…] about Summer Art Happenings at The Christina Gallery
The various maps and charts of the U.S. Coast Survey were created by geologists, meteorologists, astronomers and topographers, each highly trained in this new scientific discipline and with an unheard-of attention to detail. These men and women (the Coast Survey hired women professionals as early as 1845) helped push back the limits of astronomic measures, designed new and more accurate observational instruments for sea and land surveying, developed new techniques for the mathematical analysis of the mountains of data obtained by the field parties, and further refined techniques of error analysis and mitigation. Storms, mountains, dust, mud, deserts, wild beasts, heat and cold; all were the companions of the Coast Surveyors. They engaged in a great physical adventure which is little known and little understood.
The years between the end of the American Revolution and the beginning of the Civil War were pivotal ones in the development of American coastal charting. The country was expanding, the population was resettling and the coast lines were lengthening. Industrialization in the northeast encouraged the export of manufactured goods and the import of raw materials and with the discovery of gold in California, the country had grown from one coast to the other and maritime traffic had increased significantly.
When I view one of Duane Alt’s paintings, I find myself wistfully thinking of taking a trip to France. Duane’s use of jewel toned hues in his paintings remind me of the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, the enchanting city gardens and the sun-drenched fields of flowers and lavender of the countryside. During his lifetime, Duane has traveled extensively through the region, including both the French and Italian Rivieras. It’s Duane’s fondness for all things French that one might think that indeed he is a native, but that is not the case.
[Read more…] about Duane Alt: Contemporary Master French Impressionist
Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) is one of the most celebrated painters of the French Impressionist movement. Renoir was born in 1841 in the town of Limoges, in south-central France. His father was a tailor, and in 1844, relocated his family to the artistic and cultural center of Paris. Renoir showed interest in music and art at an early age, and was apprenticed at the age of fifteen as a porcelain painter. He spent two years learning to decorate plates, teapots and vases in ornate detail until the china works store closed in 1858. At this point, Renoir decided to take his talent and interest beyond commercial employment; he wanted to become a serious artist.
Renoir began his art studies in 1862 under the direction of Charles Gleyre alongside fellow students Claude Monet, Frederic Bazille and Alfred Sisley. They would all become friends and influenced each other’s work.
[Read more…] about “La Danse a la Campagne” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir
This is indeed the most delightful time of the year to spend on the Vineyard. The days are warm, nights are cool and the air is very refreshing. The Islanders you haven’t seen all summer are milling about now that the crowds have somewhat retreated back to the mainland. We already miss visiting with our summer clients; however it is kind of nice to take a step back to enjoy this beautiful island we live on.
The Striped Bass Derby started over the weekend and every other car that drives by the gallery has at least two or three fishing rods on their roof rack. In some respects Island life seems to come to a complete stop for people who enjoy fishing. And with this beautiful weather it’s hard to argue with taking a day off to do so.
Next month, the Martha’ Vineyard Food & Wine Festival will take place October 16 – 19, 2014. There is an extraordinary line up of culinary events and yet another wonderful reason to visit the Vineyard. And though the summer season is behind us, we continue to receive in new works from our artists, including those featured here by William R. Davis, Mitch Billis and David Bareford.
Happy Fall!
Summer is finally in full swing here on the Vineyard. It was a bit of a late arrival for most people because of the extended school season and snow days that needed to be made up. Outside of the uninvited Hurricane Arthur over the 4th of July holiday weekend, it has been a most delightful summer so far. The Town postponed the holiday celebration by a day and it was certainly worth it, the fireworks were spectacular!
[Read more…] about Summer Art Happenings at The Christina Gallery
Our 38th season is just beginning here on the island of Martha’s Vineyard! With the extremely long winter finally behind us, it has been wonderful to see everyone walking around town and stopping by the gallery to say hello. It’s always nice to catch up with friends and clients and hear about what has been going on in their lives over the last few months.
The gallery is displaying two new artists this season. Kate Tortland just graduated from Gordon College where she majored in art education, as well as, studio art. She has a lovely sense of color and approach to her impressionistic paintings. Kate says “my goal in creating works of art is to call attention to all the wondrous beauty that surrounds us – beauty that is so often ignored or forgotten.” She loves to travel and in addition to painting, she enjoys writing and illustrating books. We are very excited to have her work in the gallery.
[Read more…] about Our 38th season is just beginning here on the island of Martha’s Vineyard!
Today is Small Business Saturday. Please support your local business communities by shopping small, not just today but all year round! The Christina Gallery has a select art sale going on and a holiday promotion featuring our antique map and nautical chart collection.
The Christina Gallery, North Water Gallery and Pik Nik Art & Apparel are pleased to announce Plein Air Edgartown 2013 during the week of September 9 – 14, 2013. Artists from each of these three galleries will be out and about on the streets of Edgartown painting each day during the week. This will be a wonderful opportunity for art lovers to see the artists at work and watch them paint.
Artists participating include David Bareford, Traeger di Pietro, Herb Edwards, Lillia Frantin, John Hagen, Marjorie Mason, Anne McGhee, Brandon Newton, Marilyn Simandle, Jeanne Staples, John C. Traynor, Dan VanLandingham, Christie Velesig, Ken Vincent and Wendy Weldon.
Tomorrow evening, August 8th, will be the second Evening of Fine Art of the summer 2013 season. Here at The Christina Gallery we will be featuring the work of island favorite, Marjorie Mason. Mason has developed an impressive following of patrons since her graduation from the prestigious Rhode Island School of Art and Design in 1981. Her body of work is composed mainly of beach and landscapes from around the Vineyard.
Join us at The Christina Gallery from 6 to 8pm on Thursday August 8th as we open our doors to the public for the opening reception for Marjorie Mason. We look forward seeing you here!
To view new works by Marjorie Mason please click here.
