There is a restlessness and a type of creativity that arises from confinement and isolation. This exhibition speaks to being physically or mentally enclosed; where longing for freedom starts to take over one’s mind, leading to moments of introspection and often delightful serendipity. Cabin Fever is on view from January 23rd through February 16th, 2025 at The Kittery Art Association.

Opening Reception: Sunday, January 26th from 5-7pm.

Also on View: Works by Spotlight Artist Nancy Morgan

Nancy Morgan: “I am a fabric artist and have been perfecting my art for the past twenty years. When I started this journey there was no doubt what my subject matter would be. I was born and raised here in the Seacoast and have seen the countless changes that have occurred. I thought I truly knew and appreciated every aspect of the cities and towns, the rivers, mountains, and sea. But once I decided to capture these scenes in fabric, it was like a filter had been removed from my eyes, everything became clearer and brighter, the details more distinct. Suddenly I am seeing these familiar scenes in new ways. I then translate this fresh image into a piece of art utilizing fabric, thread, and tulle, so others can have the opportunity to view the scenes in the same way that I do. When I look around, I see a street full of vibrant colors, steeped in the history of the seacoast. I see the peaceful calm waters and intimate settings. These are all scenes that I have known for my entire life, but now I am really seeing them, as for the first time. And when I begin to see things as they really are, not as I ‘know’ they are, my work becomes more intimate.”

Art Intake for Exhibiting Members: Monday, January 20th from 2-6pm in the gallery. Please read our 2025 All Member Exhibit submission guidelines and download your artist contract here: www.kitteryartassociation.org/submission-guidelines

This show includes daring and experimental works of art, many of which are on paper, where boundaries are pushed of this delicate medium. From bold sketches and intricate prints to innovative mixed media compositions, this exhibition highlights the courage and creativity to explore new techniques and ideas. This kind of work requires raw energy and vulnerability – every mark made being a leap of faith. Take A Risk and Works On Paper are on view at The Kittery Art Association from February 20th through March 16th, 2025.

Opening Reception: Sunday, February 23, 5-7pm.

Also on View
100 DAYS: FABRIC, PAPER & STITCHING by BJ Glanville

“Each one of the pieces in this collection represents a day in my self-imposed 100 Day challenge. This challenge was the incentive and impetus to get me into my studio and create a piece each day for 100 days. It worked to encourage me into my creative space and surprisingly, it provided a great deal of FUN and inspiration!

The criteria I gave myself was to include a piece of fabric and paper from my own stash, and then finish with hand stitching to bring the whole piece together. Each day helped me to realize how much joy can be derived from being creative! Immersing oneself into the creative process shuts out the distractions of the outside world and there can be peace for a while.”

25% of all proceeds will be donated to Seacoast Pathways.

Art Intake for Exhibiting Members: Monday, February 17th from 2-6pm in the gallery. Please read our 2025 All Member Exhibit submission guidelines and download your artist contract here: www.kitteryartassociation.org/submission-guidelines

This show explores the use of vibrant color, abstraction, and how the strategic use of lines can tell visual stories. It showcases artwork that uses bold, contrasting palettes and dynamic markings to create visual tension and harmony. Pieces use strokes, shapes, and colors to evoke movement and meaning. Perhaps a dialogue between color and form is created, and marking tells a story of artistic expressionism. Color Fields and Mark Making are on view at The Kittery Art Association from March 20th through April 13th, 2025.

Opening Reception: Sunday, March 23rd, 5-7pm

Also on View: Works by Spotlight Artist Melissa Lea Simmons

Known for her large expressive bouquets, Melissa Lea's abstract paintings feature bold colors and dynamic marks that exude energy and her joy for life. Her intuitive process opens her imagination to possibilities and subjects ranging from landscapes and botanical bouquets, to interiors, exteriors, and non-representational abstractions.

Melissa Lea Simmons is a New Hampshire native who resides in Barrington with her husband of 25+ years. Her art career combines her experiences in business and education, with her experiences of faith, New England heritage, and the abundance of natural goodness that surrounds her. She is a self-taught intuitive artist who paints from imagination without reference or a defined plan. Her artwork has been exhibited regionally, internationally online, and has been awarded and published.

Acrylic, gauche, oil pastels, soft pastels, and other media are on her palette. She explores subjects and media with the intention of sharing the freedom to create with others. "Your spirit should be edified, uplifted, and curious when you experience my art, maybe a piece will cause you to pause a moment, release your thoughts, and explore possibilities."  ~ Melissa Lea

Art Intake for Exhibiting Members: Monday, March 17th from 2-6pm in the gallery. Please read our 2025 All Member Exhibit submission guidelines and download your artist contract here: www.kitteryartassociation.org/submission-guidelines

Join us for an celebration of the beauty and environmental consciousness of our world, featuring works inspired by our environment and pieces created from repurposed and sustainable materials. This joint exhibit highlights the transformative role of art, and its ability to instill an awareness about our planet’s majesty and bounty. These works beg the questions: What can I do in my own life to address some of the ecological issues of our times? How might I commit to a re-imagined relationship with my own environment? Earth Awakening and Reduce Reuse Recycle are on view at The Kittery Art Association from April 17th through May 11th, 2025.

Opening Reception: Sunday, April 27th from 5-7pm

Also on View: Works by Spotlight Artist Margaret Dwyer

Margaret Dwyer earned her Master of Fine Art degree in Visual Arts from Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier. Her thesis involved researching, writing, and creating art based on psychological themes such as trauma, dreams, and the unconscious. She works with a variety of mediums, but her favorite is watercolor. Her paintings have been recognized in numerous juried national and international exhibitions and have been published in fine art books and magazines that include:

Splash, America’s Best Watercolors - (North Light Books)
How Did You Paint That? - (International Artist Books)
American Artist Magazine
The Artist’s Magazine
Southwest Art Magazine
Manhattan Arts Magazine

In 2019, Margaret was the Artist in Residence for Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Woodstock VT for 3 years, followed by a residency at Woodstock’s Billings Farm & Museum. This past fall, she taught watercolor at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Deer Isle to the Maine Art Education Association.

The imagery in her artwork often reflects life experience and is represented in landscapes, water scenes, portraiture, nature, florals, and abstracts. Margaret also loves to develop experimental watercolor techniques. Her vibrant paintings often combine unconventional methods with traditional ones, branding her work with a unique style.

She has extensive experience teaching watercolor throughout New England at art centers, galleries, schools, and her own private studios.

“Being a visual artist in New England allows me to explore diverse themes and unique environments. I am deeply inspired by its history, scenic drama, and sense of wonder I feel when I am here. I love being a studio artist, but I also have a passion for teaching. This incredible medium is filled with surprises. Opening the world of watercolor to people has been and continues to be a purposeful mission for me. Ideas and artistic methods are constantly in motion in my studio, and it is a joy to share that with others.”

Art Intake for Exhibiting Members: Monday, April 14th from 2-6pm in the gallery. Please read our 2025 All Member Exhibit submission guidelines and download your artist contract here: www.kitteryartassociation.org/submission-guidelines

“Creativity takes Courage” - Henri Matisse

The viewers of this show are invited to bear witness to the courage and creativity of young artists. Featuring works from students of Mitchell School, Shapleigh School, and R.W. Traip Academy.

Opening Reception TBA

Bursting with vibrant energy of renewal and transformation! This show highlights the dynamic forces of springtime in New England. Nature awakens with the signature explosion of color, light and new life, through bold strokes, palettes and the stirrings of all things renewed and textural. Always welcome after winter’s stillness, there is a pulse of rebirth. Explosive Spring is on view from May 29th through June 22nd, 2025.

Opening Reception: Sunday, June 1st from 5-7pm.

Also on View: Works by Spotlight Artist Christine Duprez-Young

“Artfully interpreting color, light and scale is the thread that took me from my first career as an Interior Designer, to an Artist. I am a self-taught artist of ten years. I started with pastels, appealing to me for the satisfying immediacy of the medium and their color. Interested in painting on larger scale, I moved onto oil and multimedia painting.

As a New England native, who raised our family on The Seacoast and in the local mountains, my artistic influences are clear. Painting local seascapes and vistas has been my primary focus for my work. Along with still life and small works that include florals.

When Covid arrived, I turned my focus to photographing my garden for inspiration and new subjects in which to immerse my attention. Surrounding myself with saturated hues, in this contemporary large scale, kept me buoyed during such a restrictive time. I’ve continued to enjoy self-expression thru flora and fauna and this macro view of nature. I’m pleased to grown my repertoire to include such works and look forward to my further exploration in nature.” - Christine Duprez-Young

Art Intake for Exhibiting Members: Monday, May 26th from 2-6pm in the gallery. Please read our 2025 All Member Exhibit submission guidelines and download your artist contract here: www.kitteryartassociation.org/submission-guidelines

Rugged beauty, both textural and smooth, are woven into the harbors and deep waters of the timeless coastal views. The ever changing mood of the Atlantic feeds the creators of this area to make art that is both familiar and unique. Nautical New England is on view at The Kittery Art Association from June 26th through July 20th, 2025.

Opening Reception: Sunday, June 29th from 5-7pm.

Also on View: Works by Spotlight Artist Wendy Welton

“Hi, I'm Wendy. As the youngest child of an artist/sculptor and carpenter father and a photographer/journalist mother, the creative impulse was ingrained from the start. Architecture provided a very satisfying outlet (and a roof over my head) for many many years, for which I'm exceedingly grateful. But Fine Art always called my name. I took my first step in that direction in 2016 - with a week long workshop. I was instantly hooked. I’ve recently transitioned to pursuing art full time.

Painting is my free passion, where I don't need permission to express a strawberry sky if that's what I see, or imagine. And the way I see that is often in my dreams. My most satisfying practice is to paint en plein air. That painting has a life. Then I paint again using that painting as a source. The act of re-seeing it simply from the painting embeds it in me and then I wait for the dreams. If I'm patient (and eat my vegetables), new paintings show up in my dreams, waiting for me to give them life.

My Art is about the essence in between what some think of as the "subject" of a painting. Not the thingness of things, but all the intangibles that knit life together. A color can remind you what the temperature was that day. A texture can evoke the feel of the air. I'm looking to communicate that moment when you first glance and something makes you catch your breathe in wonder. In that moment you don't have time to analyze this form, that detail - any specific Thing. You can only absorb the mood of the whole. That's what I'm looking to capture.” - Wendy Welton

Awards:
BoldBrush - Top Ten Finalist (out of 2552 entries) August 2022

Rockport Art Association Quick Creations (a plein air competition) First Place - May 2021

BoldBrush "Fav15" (the top 15% as selected by staff ) June 2020, October 2023, April 2024, March 2024

Art Intake for Exhibiting Members: Monday, June 23rd from 2-6pm in the gallery. Please read our 2025 All Member Exhibit submission guidelines and download your artist contract here: www.kitteryartassociation.org/submission-guidelines

This exhibit invites viewers to explore the untamed beauty and raw power that can be found in the world. There is freedom, chaos and mystery found in wild landscapes, creatures and fertile imaginings. From bold colors to dynamic forms – the art in this show reflects the untamable spirit that exists within and beyond our everyday experience. On The Wild Side is on view at The Kittery Art Association from July 24th through August 17th, 2025.

Opening Reception: Sunday, July 27th from 5-7pm.

Also on View: Works by Spotlight Artist Meredith Reynells

“I grew up in Peterborough NH and was lucky to have a family that took me to York Maine every summer for a two-week vacation. Since 2012 I have been a full-time resident of Cape Neddick Maine.

My love of oil painting started in high school and continued through college. After college I was encouraged to paint a portrait of my then black lab Clinton. After we lost Clinton in 2007, I realized how much that pet portrait meant to me, and I started painting pet portraits for other pet lovers. Since then, I have created hundreds of pet portraits for people, and I plan to continue this service for as long as I am able.

My most recent subjects are directly inspired from the memories of my family vacations here to York Beach. There is an endless amount of natural beauty just minutes from my house. If you are in the area, you can find me with my easel painting in the French plein air style of outdoor painting, especially when the weather is good.” - Meredith Reynells

Art Intake for Exhibiting Members: Monday, July 21st from 2-6pm in the gallery. Please read our 2025 All Member Exhibit submission guidelines and download your artist contract here: www.kitteryartassociation.org/submission-guidelines

Summer here is filled with timeless allure and grace! See our coastal landscapes through the eyes of local artists in Summer On The Seacoast and En Plein Air – on view at The Kittery Art Association from August 21st through September 14th, 2025.

En Plein Air is a French expression that translates to "in the open air," and refers to painting or drawing outdoors. Painting from life enables artists to capture the natural light, textures, and atmosphere of the seacoast in real-time. Our annual En Plein Air Exhibit features vivid depictions of rugged shores, serene harbors, gardens, and the beauty of the environment that surrounds us.

Opening Reception: Sunday, August 24th from 5-7pm.

Also on View: Works by Spotlight Artist Harry Prichett

Harry Prichett’s work explores the landscapes of Cape Cod and New England using acrylic on wood. The light of the outer Cape, especially in Truro, where he has visited throughout his life, profoundly influences his art. After living in New York City for 40 years, he recently settled on the New Hampshire Seacoast, where new surroundings continue to inspire his creative process. Coming from a family of artists and with a background in writing, acting, and comic improvisation, his work is guided by the improvisational concept of “YES AND.” Each piece evolves without a predetermined outcome, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in a mood of their choosing.

Art Intake for Exhibiting Members: Monday, August 18th from 2-6pm in the gallery. Please read our 2025 All Member Exhibit submission guidelines and download your artist contract here: www.kitteryartassociation.org/submission-guidelines

Important Note relating to Art Intake: Please indicate on your artwork labels if your pieces are designated for the En Plein Air Exhibit.

This exhibit explores the timeless interplay between the human form and everyday objects through classic genres of art. The nude is tastefully celebrated and examined alongside the still life. Au Naturel highlights the lovely juxtaposition between the human form and the quiet elegance and innate dignity often found in ordinary objects. On view from September 18th through October 19th, 2025.

Opening Reception: Sunday, September 21st from 5-7pm

Also on View: Works by Spotlight Artist Amy Vander Els

Amy Vander Els studied Studio Art and Art Education in college, earning both a B.A. and an M.Ed in k-12 Art Education from the University of New Hampshire. Her teaching career brought her overseas to teach art at international schools in Italy, Hungary and the Cayman Islands. Amy returned to New England in 2014, and now designs jewelry, creates artwork and teaches encaustic workshops out of her mill studio on Water Street in Amesbury, Massachusetts. Her award-winning artwork has been featured in solo, invitational, and juried exhibitions and is represented in private collections in the US and abroad. Her jewelry can be found in boutiques, galleries and gift shops throughout New England. Amy is treasurer of the Amesbury Cultural Council, and is a member of the Newburyport Art Association and the Kittery Art Association.

Art Intake for Exhibiting Members: Monday, September 15th from 2-6pm in the gallery. Please read our 2025 All Member Exhibit submission guidelines and download your artist contract here: www.kitteryartassociation.org/submission-guidelines

In More Than Words, artists delve into the powerful connection between visual art and language, showcasing works that transcend the literal meaning of words to evoke deeper emotions and ideas. The viewer is challenged to explore the impact of words on thought and perception, offering new ways to experience the intersection of art and language. On view at The Kittery Art Association From October 23rd through November 16th, 2025.

Opening Reception: Sunday, October 26th from 5-7pm.

Also on View: Works by Spotlight Artists Karen Camlin and Pat Sevigny-Higgins

Karen Camlin: Artist + Art Educator
"I work in a variety of mediums, pure and mixed; acrylic, watercolor, pastel, charcoal, graphite, to name those most frequently used. I work in a variety of forms from printmaking, painting, drawing and sculpture using found object. I employ those mediums and forms that best convey my intent and the work’s meaning.

For me, limiting my work to one medium, or one style, is equivalent to speaking with a limited vocabulary. I believe that to be an artist involves the search for the best way to share what I see, feel and want to say, without concern for what others may think is an inconsistency in modes of expression. And yet I know there are some tendencies that reoccur in my work.

Some of my work incorporates figurative subjects in a fantastic or surrealistic manner, as well as incorporating elements of illustration and graphic design.

When I work in a purely abstract fashion, a style known as Lyrical Abstraction aligns most closely with my intents. With its use of organic line and shape and sense of movement, and its pursuit of surface texture - manipulating mediums by whatever means - Lyrical Abstraction seems to be the name for what I most enjoy in art making.

I studied art education at the University of Southern Maine in Portland, and visual design (graphics) at Southeastern Massachusetts University (now UMASS, Dartmouth). I have taken numerous courses and workshops, with examples listed here:
Harvard University Extension School, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Maine College of Art, Portland, Maine; Heartwood College of Art, Kennebunk, Maine; Sanctuary Arts, Eliot, Maine; and at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, Maine.

I am a member of the Seacoast Moderns artists’ group and the Kittery Art Association. My work has been included in member shows of these groups, and in exhibits of artwork by seacoast art teachers at the Kittery Art Association. I have participated in exhibits of artwork by faculty members of Wells-Ogunquit C.S.D. and MSAD #35, as well as that of Maine state art educators. K. Harvey Camlin, the signature I often use in my artwork, refers to those names used over time in my personal life and professional work.”

Pat Sevigny-Higgins: Fine Artist
“I do not always paint what I see, but I always paint what I feel” There isn’t a time that I can’t remember where creation and the making of art was not in my life. My primary goal as an artist is to make art that satisfies a primal need to create. I am moved by the most simplest of objects; a shell with an elegant curve, to the full landscape of a winter’s marsh. I find interest in most occurrences of each day. I enjoy being out of doors and find my muse on a trail walk, a beach stroll, marshes, gardens, in my travels or just in my backyard. There is no end to subject matter to explore.

I work primarily in Mixed Media/Acrylic, as well as Watercolors. I work both realistically as well as abstractly. I find that these two styles work best for me, in that one constantly informs the other. My watercolors have a tendency to be more literal and realistic. This type of painting demands a need to constantly keep my drawing skills sharp. Working in watercolors is very calming for me. I find working abstractly a cerebral challenge and an exciting trip that I take each time I start. I never know where the piece will take me or where it will end up.

I am a member of the Kittery Art Association, Robert Levy Lincoln Gallery and York Art Association.”

Art Intake for Exhibiting Members: Monday, October 20th from 2-6pm in the gallery. Please read our 2025 All Member Exhibit submission guidelines and download your artist contract here: www.kitteryartassociation.org/submission-guidelines

Join us for our annual Holiday Show and Artisan Gift Bazaar at The Kittery Art Association from November 20th through December 21st, 2025. This show brings together a festive collection of visual hanging artwork and small handmade items by local artists that capture the spirit and warmth of the holiday season.