Posted August 4, 2005

By Rick Winterson

     One of South Boston's most beautiful hidden resources is the shaded, walled garden in back of the South Boston Branch Library. And one of its most popular uses is the Annual Art Festival, which is open to adults from across the South Boston community. On Thursday, July 21, from 1 until 7 p.m., the Library hosted its 34th Annual Arts Festival, a tradition at the Branch since 1971.

     The exhibit was, as usual, highly eclectic, as well as quite colorful. Nelson DaCosta contributed several portraits and figure studies in a cubist genre. Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque were exemplars of this school around 100 years ago. DaCosta's work evokes Braque's approach to depicting the "interior" of a subject.

      Maren Tober exhibits were abstract expressionist in nature. Her use of brushstrokes and splatters on a gold background seemed random, but had both force and an underlying order akin to some of Jackson Pollack's best-known works.

     Many views of South Boston and its surroundings were shown. Seascapes by Bill Frew, several photographs by Peg Donovan, and a street corner at dusk by Debbie Putnam were examples. The South Boston Arts Association was well represented by Frew and Putnam, as well as by Harold Cunniff and Joe Kebartas,

     Summer afternoon refreshments were provided by the Friends of the Library. Bob Dunlap and Kathi Taylor entertained the crowd with a varied blend of music.

     This year's exhibit featured an unusual new offering: the "Community Canvas Tote & Tile Project". It was the idea of Laurel Moreau, Senior Library Assistant, and was sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Interested participants - there were 29 - designed and drew their own works during the Art Festival, using materials provided by the Library. These were then assembled into five collages that will be printed onto Library tote bags by Artists for Humanity for sale to the public. Also, one of the five collages will be imprinted on a tile that will go on display at the Branch Library.

     If there was any criticism at all of this year's Festival, it was the lack of sculptures/3D works. These pieces are always of interest; more such submissions should be encouraged next year. Good art always contains an element of risk. Perhaps a local artist would be willing to propose an "installation" next year for the Library's shaded garden.