Arts Artists Association of Nantucket hosts A Fragile Nantucket
New show opens Oct. 3 with evening reception
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENT WRITER

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHARON HUSSEY "Marshes at Eel Point" by Sharon Hussey

Each year, the Artists Association of Nantucket chooses themes for some of its shows, and this year a new idea will be explored called A Fragile Nantucket, a subject that is dear to most islanders, especially as the open environment continues to be incrementally lost to development.

"It's not only about what we are about to lose on the island, it is about what we treasure here and what might be unique to Nantucket," said AAN gallery director Bobby Frazier.

The exhibit, which opens Friday, Oct. 3 with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Washington Street Joyce and Seward Johnson Gallery, was the concept of artist Penny Scheerer. Frazier said he anticipates about 100 pieces of work in all media to be submitted, but prior to yesterday afternoon's deadline he could not name with certainty all the artists who will participate.

Frazier will be showing one of his Madaket Harbor scenes that he said shows "a lot of sky." Photographer Garth Grimmer plans to hang a picture taken in the early morning in the moors with a drop of dew clinging to the end of a leaf. Sharon Hussey will contribute two paintings: one is of sandplain grasslands at the new conservation property on Linda Loring's land. "They are truly beautiful," she said of the grasslands. "They ripple in the wind." The second painting will be of marshes at Eel Point.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT FRAIZER "West End Blues" by Robert Fraizer

Chris Bourbeau is putting up a painting of the "Serengeti" Africalike landscape along Milestone Road featuring a tree in the foreground and smaller trees in the background with their wind-blown shapes. Vince Calarco, who is a Trustees of Reservations ranger, is submitting a painting called "Daybreak at Coskata Woods," depicting a Trustees' property. Photographer Daniel Sutherland, whose work is often used in Nantucket Conservation Foundation brochures, maps and reports, will contribute landscape photos, mainly of conservation locations.

"My major thesis is documenting the Nantucket landscape and the preserved landscape on Nantucket through interfacing between that and the surrounding waters," he said.

Other artists who are expected to submit work to A Fragile Nantucket, but who could not be reached, include painters Margaret Fox, Randy Hudson and Penny Scheerer. I