Janet has been an exhibiting member at SCAA since 2021, and even juried an exhibition for us when she first moved to the area. In addition, she is a member of ACGOW in Westerly, and one of the featured artists in the current exhibit there.
She is a Juried Artist Member at Wickford Art Association, a Signature Member at the National Collage Society, and the winner of numerous awards. Janet's work truly stands out as being unique, utilizing a mixture of different materials and media. You will want to take a look at all the wonderful things she has been working on! To see more, view her website and two Instagram accounts, @circlegarden_Studio and @janetmaherart
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Sarah has been exhibiting with SCAA since 2021, and has also taught classes in our printshop. Outside of her involvement here, she has created an online class for artists interested in learning abstract composition. In the class, students study the work of abstract artists and apply what they notice to their own work using a limited amount of materials. She is an award winning artist whose honors include winning the 2024 Contemporary Collage Magazine Awards. Sarah's first solo exhibition, Stories Told - Fragments of Paper and Prose, is at AiR Studio Gallery in Westerly and will be on display until October 27.​

Be sure to follow her Instagram and visit her website to see more of her work, sign up for her engaging newsletter, and discover exciting opportunities to learn more about art.

Where are you from, and what do you make?

​I grew up in Charlestown and live in Richmond. I’m a printmaker and collage artist.

How long have you been seriously pursuing art?

​​My mother is a fiber and fabric artist, so I saw her creativity my whole life. As a child, I was more interested in reading than creating and only occasionally attempted to learn a craft. As an adult, I tried everything: quilting, weaving, dyeing fabric and fiber, spinning…the list is endless. I was a middle and high school English teacher and often added art projects into my lessons. At some point, I began getting into paper arts. I’m sure that came from my interest in books and writing. I took continuing education classes at the Rhode Island School of Design on papermaking, collage, letterpress printing, and bookbinding. I spent years bouncing around between all of these arts and crafts. Curriculum restrictions began to impact how much creativity I could bring to my teaching so I started doing more and more art outside of school. During the COVID-19 lockdown, I started gelli plate printing and found my way back to collage.

Tell us a joke.
​
​What do you call two colors who always praise each other?
Complimentary colors!

Marc first started exhibiting in 2006, and received his first award in 2008 at the Bristol Art Museum. His involvement with SCAA began in 2008, when he entered his first show here...and wasn't accepted into the exhibit. However, he continued to submit his work to shows every year thereafter, and in 2009 he received the Best Photography award in one of our exhibits. Since then, he and his wife, Bonnie, have won a number of awards throughout Rhode island and Southeastern Massachusetts at such venues as the Providence Art Club, Wickford Art Association, Attleboro Art Museum, Pawtucket Arts Collaborative, Warwick Center for the Arts, Newport Art Museum, Bristol Art Museum, as well as SCAA.
Follow him on facebook and instagram to see more of his work.

Where are you from, and what do you make? How long have you been seriously pursuing art?
​I was born in Rhode Island, left at an early age and found my way back in 1981 to do my residency in OB/GYN at Women & Infants Hospital. I have loved photography since about 8 years old when I picked up the family camera and began shooting my family and street. Along the way I used a Kodak Instamatic, Polaroid Swinger and got my first SLR by saving up my babysitting money at age 15. I used to take my camera to school and besides candids, I took pictures for my high school yearbook and newspaper. Even then I liked taking pictures of people, which led to my love for street photography today, and I developed my sense of composition and light. For a number of years life and career kept me from pursuing photography as an art form, but I was always the one with a camera when we went to events or on vacation. Later, I met my wife, Bonnie, who shared my interest in photography, and we began to take things to a new level, truly developing a passion for the art.

What inspires you to create?
​I truly get a dopamine rush just from the act of pressing the shutter. Now, with the advancement of the iphone cameras, I am never without my camera, and I find it impossible not to be shooting constantly. I shoot when I'm on the street, waiting for food at a restaurant, at a funeral, in a museum--everywhere. And if I get something good, it's that much sweeter. I find that my observational skills keep improving with time--for me it's all about seeing the world around me and capturing whatever I find interesting at the moment.

Which artist outside of your chosen medium has had the most impact on your art? What do they do and in what way do they influence you?
​Outside of photography, perhaps I have been most influenced by Norman Rockwell--his ability to capture those special moments has always appealed to me.

​As you will see from her interview, Linda King has been a long-time member of SCAA. She is also a member of many other arts organizations and regularly submits to exhibitions. Over the years, Linda has had her fair share of awards, most recently at Plymouth Center for the Arts including Best in Show. She was also part of an SCAA Members Invitational Exhibition in 2019. 

​To see more of her inspiring work, check out her Instagram account, @lkingartist.

​Ellie Swanson is a letterpress printmaker & potter from Rhode Island. After graduating from the University of Vermont in 2021 with a studio art degree, she has completed a number of work-study programs and internships to further her craft education. She has been a work-study student at Penland School of Craft, NC, and The John C Campbell Folk School, NC, and an intern at Power & Light Press, NM, and Hatch Show Print, TN. She has also been a winter resident at Penland, and a resident at Directangle Press, NH. Outside of these experiences she works at Mills Creek Market, in Cross Mills and the South County Museum.

​You can find her on instagram @starsheepz

What inspires you to create?

I brake for silos and smokestacks! Having always been curious for subjects that have a backstory, I am drawn to visually capture transition; decaying, abandoned buildings, obsolete machines and artifacts left behind. In photographing structures like mills & barns, I acknowledge their purposefulness in not only design but in the people whose lives unfolded within that space. I acknowledge that spirit, a withdrawn hand of man that leaves a presence that becomes eternal. 

Which artist outside of your chosen medium has had the most impact on your art? What do they do and in what way do they influence you?

Michelangelo’s unfinished figures: the struggling postures of the figures and the clear evidence of the stone from which they were coming alive.
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The abstraction of Henri Matisse’s larger than life-size series of Backs in the courtyard: the shapes/forms, their abstractions; their textures.

​As a member of SCAA, what do you like most about us?

I love SCAA’s sense of community and history deep in her walls. I’ve enjoyed participating in both educational and exhibiting roles, feeling part of a long tradition. I have met and developed strong relationships with many members of SCAA. Thanks so much for inviting me to be part of Maker’s Monday.

Tell us a joke:

What’s the difference between a large pepperoni pizza and a struggling photographer?
A large pepperoni pizza can feed a family of four!

Brother Ralph has been a member of SCAA since the 1980's, showing in our exhibits almost every year since then, and he's won quite a few honorable mentions over the years. A dedicated supporter, he is a former board member and even helped former President Brie Taylor curate 3 exhibits at our gallery in the 1990's. In addition to his involvement with SCAA, Ralph is also a member of the Providence Art Club and has had solo and group exhibitions at the Lyman Allen Museum, Attleboro Arts Museum, Manhattan College, and Providence College. He was a member of the Salve Regina University Art Dept as gallery director where he also taught 2- and 3-D design and ceramics courses.
Currently, Ralph works at Yonkers Ceramic Studio in New York, but he also recently took a workshop with Theresa Girard as well as participating in a residency with Kevin Gilmore in an effort to explore color and 2-D artwork more.

Where are you from, and what do you make?

I am a Cranstonian; attended La Salle Academy; entered the Brothers of the Christian Schools and lived three times at our Center on Ocean Rd. in Narragansett; BA in Italian from The Catholic University of America in W.D.C., M.Ed. from RIC, and MFA Ceramics at The George Washington University in W.D.C.
I currently work at Manhattan College (Bronx, NY) in the Career Development Office.
Although I have thrown on the wheel, my preferred construction method for my sculptures is hand building, using slabs and coils, and three elementary tools, a fork, various serrated metal tools, and a 30-year-old homemade paddle.  I’ve focused generally on four themes or so: messengers, dolmen structures, closed vessels, -scapes (with mountain/hill scape references) and more recently winged closed vessels and winged “artifacts,” an off-shoot of the closed winged vessels.

How long have you been seriously pursuing art?

Since my undergraduate days. Nell Sonoman, who taught a philosophy of art course that inspired me to see art better and to be in-tune with what it does to our spirit.
Many of you may be aware of my themes and forms over the years. They aim to expose my (and all of our) connection with the collective unconscious: with mystery, with invitation to participation while setting up inhibitions at the point of invitation; with pursuing personal and spiritual development. We wonder about [the themes and forms], what are they, what do they do, how do I react, what captivates me (the viewer), thus starting an active engagement.

What inspires you to create?

Nature, the earth – I’m an avid gardener – even now in NYC with 130 – 210 potted plants over the last two years. I’m fascinated by color and the consequent visual texture it creates as it combines with actual texture. I love touch.
[My work] is the result of what it means for me to construct pieces – what I see is the intimate relationship between building clay sculptures and my personal/spiritual development. Briefly, I have an idea of where I want to go with a piece.  I begin a conversation with the piece, sometimes quite obviously taking the lead; then other times, having to step back, a somewhat unconscious read of how the form is responding; and then continuing that dialog, moving to a sensed but at-the-moment imprecise goal. Building, paddling, removing clay, altering a form’s/shape’s direction moves to an unknown final reality.  Something similar to how I (we) grow individually; how I become the person I am now; how I grow more intimate with my spirit – even in my relationship with my God and His people. All these processes happen slowly, progressively and resulting in a new awareness at their completion.  Then the process begins again.

Is there a work of art that has changed your life or how you view the world in some way?

There isn’t just one. The contemplation of what generally calls my attention, through theme, playfulness, texture and color hold my attention. I believe it calls up something in my collective unconscious.

As a member of SCAA, what do you like most about us?

SCAA is where I had my start, in a sense. I appreciate the community and really enjoyed working on the Board. I became friendly with Jason and even assisted in a few installations some years ago. And Kathleen Carland. We both attended a prayer internship at Our Lady of Peace Retreat House, unbeknownst to each other until she read my resume. And the community is a good bunch of people.

Tell us a joke:

in response to sending in the materials for the Q&A:
I was hoping to have this to you yesterday, but it’s now Wednesday! When I’m one day late, I’m actually early!

Richard Levy has been exhibiting at SCAA regularly since 2019, including a Members Invitational Exhibition in 2022. Outside of his involvement at SCAA, he has had an impressive career. A multi-disciplinary artist, Richard has had large-scale steelworks on display at Tufts University, has created virtual reconstructions of archaeological sites for international museums, and has witnessed his animations from reconstruction projects shown at the Electronic Arts and Animation Festival, SIGGRAPH2001, in Los Angeles. Later in his career, he was one of the founding Co-Directors of the Computational Media Design Program at the University of Calgary. This Masters and PhD program is dedicated to multi-disciplinary research in the visual arts, music, dance, drama, design, and computer science. He is also an ardent painter, which you will read about here.
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To see more of Richard's work, take a look at his website. 

Where are you from, and what do you make?

Originally from East Orange, New Jersey, I grew up in the New York City neighborhood of Suffern, NY. Being close to the city made it possible even at a young age to visit the great museums of NY.  I owe much to my parents who would drive in on the weekends and take me to exhibits at the Guggenheim, Metropolitan, Frick and Whitney.  Not surprisingly in my youth my work was focused on landscapes based on scenes where I lived. Many of these early landscapes were of the places in my immediate surroundings and those we would visit while on family vacation.
As an undergraduate at Tufts University, I studied civil engineering and art and graduated with an engineering degree with a concentration in structural design. While at Tufts University, I pursued an interest in sculpture.  After graduating I pursued a master’s degree in architectural design at the University of California, Berkeley. Now that I have retired from a full-time academic career, I have the opportunity to seriously pursue painting in acrylics.

How long have you been seriously pursuing art?

Even as a young student, art was a passion. My first art lessons were at the age of 10, and although I have pursued an academic career, art has always been part of my life.  However, now that I have been retired for five years, I am able to devote myself to painting.  I have been fortunate to show in galleries in Rhode Island and in a group show exhibiting seven of my paintings at GREEN SPACE Gallery at TF Green International Airport.

What inspires you to create?

Living in Rhode Island, my art has been influenced by the natural beauty of the area. The places featured in my work are well-known to those living near the coast. The beaches, inlets, bay, saltwater ponds, and lakes are major features of my work. In particular, the changing atmospheric conditions are part of these studies. Light, though a critical factor in all paintings, is fundamental to landscape painting.  Though we rarely see the sun in view, its location shapes all aspects of composition.  Even on a cloud-covered day, the location of the sun will have a direct bearing on our perception of natural form.  For this reason, changes in the sun that occur by season, time of day, and weather make any location a life study. Though the study of natural settings is the major inspiration for my work, I believe that the artist’s point of view should always be present in a work of art.  Painting requires the physical manipulation of a fluid medium.  In creating a work of art, the energy preserved in each stroke is a record of the artist's struggle to present their worldview. In addition to landscapes, I have painted a number of portraits. My subjects are family members and relatives. Several of these portraits are group portraits that attempt to capture a moment in my family history. 

As a member of SCAA, what do you like most about us?

Being part of a community of artists that has a history that is approaching 100 years, is highly stimulating. Having the opportunity to show with other artists in Rhode Island, keeps me engaged in current artistic pursuits.

Where are you from, and what do you make?

I was actually born and raised right around the corner here on Old North Road in Kingston, RI.

The work I create is in two major media. I am a sculptor who works in found object assemblage, which I create from broken or discarded objects such as toys, hand tools, kitchen utensils and various non-functioning electronic items. I also work in digital media, using some of my original found object assemblage sculptures as models to rebuild as three-dimensional CAD models in the computer. These virtual models can then be positioned, posed, lit and rendered as the basis for a series of vector illustrations created in Adobe Illustrator and printed to a large format.

What inspires you to create?

A great deal of my inspiration comes from science fiction, fantasy, and comic art. Indeed, the original “Star Wars” from 1977 was the first movie I ever saw in a theater, so you can imagine the impact it had on me! I also have a great love for the Japanese printmakers of the Edo period, with Hokusai and Kuniyoshi being two of my absolute favorites!

How long have you been seriously pursuing art?

I was raised in a very supportive environment for creative pursuits. My mother, Freda Mathews, was a ceramic artist and longtime member here at SCAA, and so I have fond memories of playing in clay from a young age here. When did I really begin to choose art as a path? Likely in high school, where my dedication to my work ultimately brought me to RISD to earn my BFA in Illustration (1995). A couple of years later, I went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison for my Masters degree. It is there that I was introduced to the digital technologies that I continue to use today.

Which artist outside of your chosen medium has had the most impact on your art? What do they do and in what way do they influence you?

Another great question that actually brings me back to my formative years here at SCAA..
My first true art mentor was a man named Jim Visconti (for whom the Visconti Sculpture Award here at SCAA is named!). He had been a professional artist and designer who worked for years in New York City before moving down to Rhode Island in the mid-late 1980s. What was amazing about him is that he had the ability to immerse himself in a new medium and master it. He was a proficient draftsman and an award-winning painter who also worked in sculpture. When he came to Rhode Island, he had not seriously worked in ceramics before, and yet within a couple of years he was creating beautiful ceramic sculptural pieces that evoked a sense of ancient artifacts of great power and majesty. He was always looking to improve his craft and learn new techniques, and he had a real sense of timeless vision in all his work.

Is there a work of art that has changed your life or how you view the world in some way?

I think that it is very hard to single out one artwork, as every strong piece that I encounter has that ability to make subtle or significant impact on my perception. Ultimately, that is a goal of art– to evoke that change or substantial response in the viewer. If I were to make a list of all these many artworks and their effect upon me, I reckon it could be a very long essay, if not a book!

As a member of SCAA, what do you like most about us?

The community. Absolutely the community.

Many of the fellow artists here at SCAA are people I have known for years, even back to the days spent in the company of my mother here back in the 1970’s and 1980’s.
I also find myself making friends with new people that I meet in the course of my interactions at SCAA. I think there is a real sense of shared history here, and a very capable team that keeps the whole organization running so effectively. I also am heartened by the robust educational programming. I have told more than a few URI students about the wonderful resources and opportunities here!

Tell us a joke:
​
Here is a VERY nerdy one for you..
Werner Heisenberg is driving down the road when he gets pulled over by a traffic cop.
“Excuse me, sir,” the cop says. “Do you know how fast you were going?”
“No,” Heisenberg replies. “But, I know exactly where I am.”

And the explanation for the joke here