Artists Joyce McJilton Dwyer, Sue Kim, and me, Denise Shea

The ArtSpace Maynard gallery opened their “Debut” show on Saturday, September 9th. The gallery committee saw the call to participate in the show as an opportunity to kick off fresh work and challenge members to present pieces that have never been shown before. That meant some artists stayed true to their favorite styles and mediums, but many also used the chance to branch out into areas they aren’t typically known for.

Guests filled the space and spilled out onto Nason Street.

There was perfect weather for opening night at 15 Nason Street, and the addition of folding chairs to the sidewalk outside allowed the festive atmosphere of the event to spill into the street.

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Alison Wilensky, who runs the catering company Nosh and is also an ArtSpace artist, treated guests to delicious miniature works of culinary art—chocolate and raspberry tartlets, vegan spring rolls, prosciutto and cheese skewers, crudite cups and fresh fruit.

Working with some thirty disparate art pieces, the gallery committee was able to make them feel like a whole, related body of work. The setup was spacious enough for people to step back from most of the works and see them at a distance, allowing a better sense for them from across the room.

There are a few instances where you’d swear the artists had collaborated. In particular, Carolyn Stock’s painted pear-shaped gourd, Cathay Hauke McCarthy’s painting “Stripes,” and Julie Weinstein’s fiber piece “Color Study,” all share a color palette that would make you think there was something in the air that they were all tuned into. Those colors then seem to play off the ones in adjacent pieces, carrying a changing wave of vibrancy, through frames, across the white walls.

Carolynn Telfer, an ArtSpace Member, submitted her landscape painting “Hidden Places.” What’s interesting is that she came to a monthly Member event called the Artists’ Circle, where artists bring their work to ask for help, get advice, or simply share what they’ve been working on. Holding the piece toward her chest, Carolynn explained that it wasn’t a subject that she usually paints. She said that she wasn’t sure it was done, but wanted to share it. When she turned it around her fellow artists were floored. Passing the small painting around the room, we each marveled at the fresh, simple brush strokes laid over a hot pink underpainting. It’s very hard to keep mark-making simple yet have it feel so complete. Everyone agreed she should not make any changes to it. It was so exciting to see it framed and hanging.

An interesting thing about the piece: I was gallery sitting and a woman stopped in. We were talking about ArtSpace, art-making, life in Maynard, and more. She walked away from me, went right up to Carolynn’s painting, and told me how much she loved it. The work of an artist can feel so lonely and self-criticism is so easy. Sharing our work within an artistic community helps us find the courage to keep going, keep trying, and keep making. Equally important is the opportunity for artists to share their work with the public, in a gallery where the work can be taken seriously.

For “Debut,” I shared a painting I made this year during one of ArtSpace’s class offerings—the “Keep it Fresh” class taught by Kathy Deflice-Secor. I’m more known for my hats, and the one-day workshop, with its abstract nature, was way out of my comfort zone—exactly why I signed up.

Laura Howick, whose black, white, and red ceramic wall sculptures seem to be both exploding and imploding, had this to say: “In the past, my work looked like mash-ups between plants and undersea creatures, but I wanted to explore making work that is more abstract. The three works on display show variations of this idea.”

Senator Jamie Eldridge spoke about the importance of the arts to Maynard.

The opening night was electric, full of community and great conversations about process and play. Many out for a downtown stroll were welcomed into the gallery, where they were surrounded by art and the energy of the people who made it, their friends, and loved ones.

The event was a triumph, and if ArtSpace can keep up the momentum, Maynard’s downtown has a lot to look forward to.

The “Debut” show is on now through November 10, 2025. A new show will be opening mid November. Keep track of ArtSpace events here:

Events page.

You can learn more about ArtSpace Maynard here:

website.

You can join their mailing list by scrolling to the bottom of their homepage.