The Marion Art Center is pleased to announce its next exhibit, “Willoughby Elliott: A Retrospective.” The show will feature paintings, serigraph prints, and ceramic vessels by the late artist, spanning over 30 years. Elliott’s atmospheric, impressionistic compositions contain gestural brush strokes of bold and vibrant colors. His emotive paintings remind one of a humid summer day in New England, some evoking the feeling of walking along on the edge of a marsh or cranberry bog. The soft edges of trees and overlapping colors present a calming view of landscapes or vistas familiar to all who live in the region.
Elliott was born in California in 1943. He earned a Master’s in Fine Arts in Painting from Rhode Island School of Design in 1967 and went on to chair the Department of Fine Arts at the College of Visual and Performing Arts at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where he was professor of painting and printmaking. Elliot was a beloved teacher and a prolific artist. Starting out as a printmaker, he was later known for his paintings featuring local landscapes, which he exhibited extensively at galleries and museums throughout New England. Elliott passed on April 12, 2016 at age 72.
The MAC exhibit runs June 4 – July 16, with an Opening Night Viewing scheduled on Friday, June 4, from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm. The number of guests allowed in the galleries at one time will be limited, but visitors may mingle outdoors on the MAC lawn during the event. Art in Bloom @ the MAC is also scheduled during the retrospective. Visitors can view floral arrangements inspired by Elliott’s works, June 24 – 26. The Marion Art Center is located at 80 Pleasant Street in Marion, MA, at the corner of Main and Pleasant streets.
This exhibition is presented by the Marion Art Center in partnership with the College of Visual and Performing Arts at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. One-third of all proceeds from sales will support the Willoughby Elliott Endowed Scholarship Fund at the CVPA. The purpose of this fund will be to provide scholarship to a fulltime undergraduate in his or her junior or senior year with a preference for a painting major with financial need as determined by the Financial Aid Office at UMass Dartmouth. Additional donations to the fund can be sent to the Office of Advancement Services, UMass Dartmouth, 285 Old Westport Road, Dartmouth, MA 02747. For more information about the show, visit marionartcenter.org. Contact the MAC by calling 508-748-1266 or by emailing info@marionartcenter.org.