South Wharf Gallery Hosts Art Benefifor Meeting House Restoration

Bobby Frazier Thirty of Nantucket's finest artists are submitting work to South Wharf Gallery in preparation for its "Art for the Meeting House" benefit exhibit to help fund restoration of the Unitarian Meeting House as part of the nonprofit South Church Preservation Fund's $3.5 million capital campaign.

The exhibit opens with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, August 28. Because that is also the first night of the annual arts festival, this year celebrating with its "InsomniACK" theme, the gallery will be among scores of businesses staying open until midnight that evening. The special exhibit will remain up until Labor Day weekend, said South Wharf Gallery owner Mary Beth Splaine, who is a member of the SCPF board.

Each artist is producing their interpretation of the church, which opened for services and much more in 1809. Some paintings highlight the steeple, others depict the building from different vantage points, others focus on its interior and others still, on the clock and golden dome visible from the harbor. Recognizing that the artists try to make their living, or part of it, from selling their pieces, Splaine said they will receive a portion of proceeds from sales with the balance going toward the building repairs and restoration.

Howard Fraker "The building is so important to the town. It is our community center open to everyone. It is a place for political discussions, lectures, concerts and the home of Congregation Shirat Ha' Yam. Other congregations have met there. One of the Unitarian's first principles is the inherent worth and dignity of all people. That is the overarching feeling of that building," said Splaine.

"These artists are from many galleries and their own studios, and they understand as community members how important this building is and how aesthetically beautiful it is."

Julie Gifford is among the roster of artists contributing work to the benefit. Gifford likes to paint birds, so she has created "Over the Dome," which is from a bird's-eye perspective showing cranes flying past the church dome weathervane on their way to The Creeks.

"This meeting house is part of the whole community," Gifford said of why she wanted to be part of the special exhibit. "So many events have happened there. It's such a treasure, and it deserves to be restored and have a little TLC. It's wonderful to be part [of the exhibit]. Thirty artists is incredible. Everyone is so busy. It's a labor of love."

David Lazarus Susan Boardman spent more than 200 hours from conception to comple- tion of her embroidered picture of the front of the church with lots of little people coming toward the door.

"It's such an icon," she said of the meeting house. "When you are coming in on the boat it's the first thing you see, and it has such a wonderful history. I'm very grateful it's there. I think they have a good plan to save the old girl. It's such a community gathering place, which is why I put so many people in front. Every artist loves that church — everyone does."

Edwin Rudd is focusing on finding

an angle depicting a portion of

the building that is unique. He said he was appreciative that Splaine invited him to be involved in this unusual exhibit and views it as a worthy benefit event.

"A lot of other really good artists are doing it," he said. "It's a great thing to do and worthwhile to do for the church. It was very nice of Mary Beth to ask me to be part of it." I