Outdoor Adventures

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Gallery showing ‘Waterworks’ of Seacoast art

By Chris Elliott
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PORTSMOUTH - The Coolidge Center for the Arts, located at the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion at the end of Little Harbor Road, held an opening reception Sunday for its latest exhibit. Featuring the work of 10 area artisans, "Waterworks" is a display of large-scale paintings, wood carvings, photographs and garden sculpture all with an aquatic theme.

According to Dody Kolb, director of the Coolidge Center, the theme is appropriate to the gallery and to the area.

"Water seems to have a pacifying effect on people. It’s universal," said Kolb. "I’ve lived on the Atlantic and on the Pacific, and there is nothing like the New England coast. This area is all about water, and I think the exhibit celebrates that."

From Don Stone’s dramatic and stormy ocean images, to Frank Corso’s realism, to Fred Dolan’s hand-carved and painted decoy ducks, "Waterworks" addresses a wide variety of visual art idioms.

"I used to hunt as a kid growing up in Somersworth," said decoy maker Fred Dolan. "There was such a gun culture then - if it flies, it dies. These days, I still go into blinds, but I hunt with my camera. I prefer to see the birds fly."

The tradition of hand-carving elaborate duck decoys began in 1918 with the passage of the Migratory Bird Act, which prevented the sale of migratory birds. This changed duck hunting from a commercial venture to a sporting one, greatly reducing the harvesting of wild birds.

As a result, affluent hunters created a demand for artful decoys. Last summer, a hand-carved decoy from 1930 sold at auction for $805,500.

Other artists participating in the Coolidge exhibit include Chris Augusta, George Augusta, Terri Donsker, Tom Glover, Grant Hacking, Simon Harling and Don Williams.

Under Kolb’s direction, the Coolidge Center has undergone significant refurbishment, which includes renovations to the physical site as well as more-frequent and bigger exhibits.

For Jennifer Croteau, the gallery’s accountant, the charm of the building and the gallery have led her to participate in many of the gallery’s presentations.

"I usually help out with events like this one, partly because of my association with the gallery and partly because Dody is so special. There have been so many improvements since she’s come on board," said Croteau.

Attendance was brisk on Sunday, and the main gallery echoed the cacophony of intermingled conversations. Many of the featured artists were present, identified by their name tags. Art patrons asked questions and shared opinions with the artists, and several pieces in the show found buyers.

"Waterworks" runs through Aug. 17. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays, or by appointment.

http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/07282003/news/41912.htm