Contemporary Abstract Expressionism at ArtSpace Maynard

I am excited to see how our work converses with one another! 

This will be an energetic, lyrical, and thought provoking show.

I will be exhibiting pieces from a fews years back as well as some brand new work.

ArtSpace Maynard 

Arts Night Out - Northampton

Get a original gifts this year! 

All works are 5x7, and only $40.00! 

Cash and carry. 

And, as always, the best party is at Oxbow! 

See you there.

This Friday night, Dec. 8th 5-8pm, 275 Pleasant Street, Northampton

Holyoke is Hopping!

Small works (what else?) Today

Baustein Building Gallery: Readywipe

Third floor, 532 Main Street, Holyoke

ample free parking!

art, refreshments, music,

free and open to the public

I also plan to have my studio open (just down the hall) if you would like to pop in!

Great Show!

Uncommon Goods - String Holders

Race Street Gallery

Saturdays & Sunday 11am-3pm through Dec 17

80 Race Street, Holyoke, MA

Hey, we had an awesome opening last night. So much fun, interesting, inventive work. Come see for yourself!

Uncommon Goods in Holyoke

"The utilitarian device known as a “String Holder” has been around since the invention of string, yarn and hemp dating back centuries. 

Over time, string holders evolved into bizarre folk art objects that abandoned the principle of “form follows function” in favor of novel caricatures and strange contraptions that have no practical purpose – i.e. art.”

I am going to have a couple of my sculptures in this show curated by Dean Nimmer & Bruce Fowler.

The exhibit promises to be inventive, surreal, and FUN, so you know the opening is going to be a great party!

Reception At Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery

What a great turn out at yesterday's reception! Plus an impromptu artist's talk. 
Many thanks to the students, staff, faculty and administration at STCC for this opportunity to share my work. 
My show will remain on view until Oct. 6th
Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery
Springfifeld Technical Community College

Show is Up!

Joanne Holtje  Recent Work

Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery

Springfield Technical Community College

September 12- October 6th

Find more images on my Facebook page!

Paintings from the past five years, Curated by Sondra Peron.

In addition to a few pieces from my most recent series, Odyssey, there will also be work that has never been shown before.

It is always so interesting and rewarding to watch another creative person respond and interact with my work! I am excited to see Sondra’s choices and how they sit together.

Please join me!

Solo Show at Oxbow!

Odyssey

New Paintings by

Joanne Holtje

June 29-

July 30

The Oxbow Gallery

Northampton, MA

Reception: July 14, 5-8 p.m.

I have filled the front gallery at Oxbow with vivid paintings which were inspired by Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey.

Don’t worry if you are not familiar with the story! 

The paintings stand on their own. 

If you are curious about which scene or character I was used for each painting, there are brief notes accompanying them.  

There will not be a quiz!

See you soon!

Thanks to everyone who came out to see our group show at the Sprinkler Factory!
We all had such a great time from opening till closing.
It all came down last Sunday night.

Now I am just weeks away from installing my solo show at Oxbow.  
I will keep you posted on my progress.
There will be a reception on July 14, if you want to mark the date now!

Continuum Continues

The Unexpected Form of my Grief

2017

oil on unstretched canvas

74x63

This weekend, June 3rd & 4th, is the last chance to see
Continuum:  5 years on at the Sprinkler Factory, Worcester, MA.

New Work from Christine Croteau, Joanne Holtje, Ted Lilley,
Philip Marshall, Lynn Simmons, and Mark Spencer

The gallery will be open from 1-4 p.m. both days.

On Sunday, starting at 2 p.m. we will have a public discussion about our work.  Refreshments will be served!

Sprinkler Factory Gallery West
38 Harlow St.
Worcester, MA

A Wonderful Opening Reception

Thanks to everyone who came out to make this a great celebration!

Sprinkler Factory Gallery, West
38 Harlow St., Worcester, MA

Gallery Hours:  Saturdays & Sundays 1-4 pm
Show closes June 4th

Installation Underway!

I was going to have some nifty shots of our installation process, but, alas, my battery was DOA.

You are just going to have to take my word for it that things are shaping up magnificently at the Sprinkler Factory Gallery West.

Please join us for our reception this Saturday evening!

Sprinkler Factory
38 Harlow Street
Worcester, MA

Reception, Saturday, May 13, 2017 from 6-9 p.m.

Sprinkler Factory: Here we come!

Gearing up to install this show!  I am super excited because I adore this space and love these artists.  It is always an exciting day when we all show up, nerves tingling, with our current works, ready to make magic happen.

I will be showing (have I mentioned this already?) my two largest paintings, ever.

May the gods of all things level and square be with me (not my natural forte) as I attempt to hang a nine panel painting.

Please come join us for our opening celebration on Saturday, May 13, 2017 6-9 p.m.

Sprinkler Factory Gallery West

38 Harlow Street

Worcester, Ma  

(artsier than you think!)

Busy, busy, busy!

Detail from new work

I am busy working towards two upcoming shows.

In May I will be joining five dear friends who have all worked and exhibited together over the past five years in Worcester.

This is always a very stimulating group for me to be involved with as my fellow artists do such amazing work with sculpture, printmaking, installation, video, and even occasionally paint!

Our newest production, Continuum:  Five Years On, will open at the Sprinkler Factory, West Gallery on May 13th 2017.

The image above is a section of a large piece (74x63), oil on un-stretched canvas that I will include in  this show.

More news to come.  Check back for updates!

Public Discussion and Poetry at the Anchor House

I want to thanks the brave folks. new friends and old, who braved the cold and snow to come to my opening last Friday.

It was great to be able to talk with everyone and hear their thoughts on this project.

Next Saturday, February 18th from 4-6 p.m. we will host a public discussion on this series, I will read some passages from the found journal, and several Anchor House poets will share their words as well.

Now, if only the gods of weather will cooperate!

Anchor House of Artists, 518 Pleasant St., Northampton, MA
Gallery Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday 1-6 p.m.

Found Journal Series at the Anchor House

Show is up and looks great in the space.

Gallery Director, Michael Tillyer, persuaded me to have the found journal pages on display along with the art.  I have always been protective of them, so I initially felt uncomfortable, but now I see how powerful it is to include them.

Please come join us at the opening on Friday night Northampton’s Arts Night Out

February 10 5:30 - 8:30p.m.

Anchor House of Artists

518 Pleasant St., Northampton

gallery hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday 1-6p.m.

This series of paintings that I completed in 2013 will be on exhibit at the Anchor House of Artists, Northampton, Massachusetts.

The Anchor House is an amazing place where visual art, performance and social outreach all come together under the guiding hand and big heart of Michael Tillyer, a gifted artist in his own right.

We will participate in Northampton's Arts Night Out on February 10th by celebrating our opening from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.

On February 18th there will be a public discussion on the making and source of this work as well as poetry from four Anchor House poets.  4 p.m.-6 p.m.

Find the Anchor House at 518 Pleasant St., Northampton in a nondescript building next the the Shell Station.

The Last Week: Anamnesis of Place at Oxbow Gallery

The opening was a wonderful event.  Thanks to everyone who braved the oppressive heat and humidity!

People have been drifting in all month, but now the show is in its last week.
This Thursday through Sunday
 noon until five p.m. and then its all over.

Catch it now!

Oxbow Gallery

275 Pleasant Street

Northampton, MA

New Works: Anamnesis of Place at The Oxbow Gallery

Show opens on August 4th

Today was installation day!

No. the job was not fueled by pizza, though that wouldn’t have been a bad idea.  I like clean pie boxes for transporting small paintings.

Anyway, things went smoothly.  A dozen paintings are up.  Tomorrow there are a few finishing touches to add, then the doors open 

Thursday, August 4th at noon.

Show runs through August 28th.

Artist’s Reception:

Friday, August 12, 5-8p.m.

The Oxbow Gallery

275 Pleasant street

Northampton, MA

More pictures soon!

Gallery A3 in Amherst

Gallery A3 in Amherst, Massachusetts is having their third annual juried show.

This year’s juror was Mara Williams, chief curator of the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center.

There were 222 entries and she selected 53 pieces, one of which was mine.

Cast a Wide Net

oil and graphite on paper

The show will be up until July 30, 2016.

The gallery is hosting a reception on July 16th and Artists in Conversation on July 21st

Please visit their website for more information!

Gallery A3, 28 Amity Street, Amherst, MA

Meanwhile I am putting the finishing touches on my up coming solo show next month.

Stay turned for more details!

Paper City Studios is just a few blocks from my studio in the Baustein Building.
I’ll have a couple pieces in this show as the guest of Dean Nimmer.

December Shows

December is always a great time to purchase original art.
Galleries are brimming with smaller pieces at tempting prices.

At Oxbow Gallery, (Northampton, Massachusetts) we are showing a roomful of 5x7’s all priced at $40.00 a piece and all proceeds go to support our lecture series.

 This is a wonderful way to to ensure that we are able continue to offer free lectures to the community.

The exhibit is up now through January 3rd, 2016
Opening reception will be Friday, December 11th 5-8 pm

Paper Work

oil and graphite on paper
2015










I am working these days with a specific solo show in mind.

The work will all be oil on paper.  There will be a bit of a range of scale, this being a example of a small one (note push pins for an idea of the size).

There is something about working on paper that feels so natural, so familiar, and very freeing.  You know, like what’s the big deal if you make something “bad”?  Don’t get your panties in a bunch, it’s just a piece of paper!

Many of the recent pieces have bits of older paintings in them.

Lay of the Land
2015
oil on paper
30x22


The work continues...

Just thought I’d post a few shots from last night’s festivities.

Thank you to Hammond Real Estate  for giving me this opportunity and hosting such a fun opening.

The work will remain up through the end of the year, so if you are near Belmont Center, stop in and check it out!

84 Leonard Street, Belmont, Massachusetts

Getting Creative

Sure, artists are used to being creative in the studio, but we have to be creative in getting our work out into the world, too.

When Hammond Residential Real Estate in Belmont, Massachusetts asked if I would be interested in displaying my work in their office for a couple months I said “Yes!”

With lots of help and support from them (special thanks to Laura and Mary Ellen), I have 15 paintings on exhibit now through the end of the year.

Hammond is graciously hosting a reception this Wednesday night from 6:00 to 7:30.
Please stop in and say ‘hello” if you can.

Hammond Real Estate
84 Leonard Street,
Belmont, MA
Reception Wednesday, November 4th, 6-7:30 p.m.
Show runs until December 30th, 2015

Materials matter

At this Point,
2015,
mixed media on panel,
18x18









Just like thinking about the self as being comprised of three intermeshing components of body, mind and spirit, paintings include intuition, concepts, and materials.

Depending on the artist, usually one of these three aspects is emphasized.  Sometimes one or more of them are denounced, but they are generally all present.

This piece was primarily about materials:  exploring the physical qualities and limitations of paint, the surface and various additives.

There are areas of gritty texture,areas of sheer glossy darks, and areas thick opaque colors.

More soon on an upcoming solo show!

Paintings from the Cape

I’m having a hard time prioritizing my time to include posting images here.

 I’ve got to let go of trying to organize or present things in any particularly thought-out way.

Here are a couple plein air paintings from last month.

The first one was a very sunny, blustery day at Pamet Harbor in Truro, Massachusetts.


The second one, was a very hot late summer day at Castle Hill center for the Arts also in Truro.

Honestly, it was a rough few days of painting.

Painting outdoors feels like something I need to push myself to do periodically, but it totally stresses me out!

I can’t lose myself in the process the way I can in the studio.

These are both 12x12, oil on panel.

River Eddy
2015
oil on panel
16x20


Yesterday I picked up a “new” camera at a yard sale and finally got back to shooting my work.

This is a piece I started in July when I was at Bennington College taking a MASS Art workshop taught by Honour Mack from MECA.

The course was called Painting from Perception into Imagination.

I will post some of the more perception (observation is really what she meant) based pieces soon.

Art Across the River, Oxbow Gallery & Gallery A3

Ascent no. 3
2015
oil on canvas
36x24













The cooperative gallery that I belong to in Northampton, MA, The Oxbow Gallery and the cooperative Gallery in Amherst, MA, Gallery A3 have joined forces to put on a joint show at both locations concurrently for the month of August.

This piece of mine was selected by the curators to be included at the exhibit at the Oxbow location.

Here are the details:
Gallery A3 located at 28 Amity Street, Amherst, MA
Opening reception Thursday August 6th, 5-8 p.m.

The Oxbow Gallery located at 275 Pleasant Street, Northampton, MA
Opening reception Friday, August 14th, 5-8 p.m.

Stop by and say hello!  I will be at the Oxbow for the probably the whole thing, but the last half for certain.