Surprises at Sharon Art Walk

SHARON — If there was one aspect of the Sharon Art Walk that lacked an artistic eye, it was that its scheduling on early Saturday evening, Sept. 8, coincidentally aligned with both the chilliest day so far in our late-summer in-between season and with the locally beloved United States Open Tennis Championships. 

In fact, early on, more than a few attendees replied to the question of  “How are you?” with, “Not so well, have you seen how Serena Williams is doing? I’m worried.” So they flittered on home, back to the warmth and back to the screens where drama awaited (and disappointment for fans of Williams). 

There was little disappointment, however, for those who stayed and enjoyed the festivities as they toured the pop–up gallery shows up and down Sharon’s Green. 

In its second year, the Sharon Art Walk spotlighted big local talent, including painter Jeff Joyce at Standard Space, whose moody and elegant work is inspired by 19th Century Romantic poetry.

Also a big draw on Saturday was the show of work by painter Susan Rand, “Direct Observation,” at the Hotchkiss Library of Sharon. Rand’s deceptively simple compositions of barns in the snow pulled the eye in to marvel at her color choices: complex slate blues and modern poisonous limes. 

At the Icehouse Project Space on Upper Main, Dan Devine turned NASCAR cars inside out on the lawn; upstairs awaited an intimate tour of painter KK Kozik’s studio space. 

Across the street, an unlikely but lively party was forming at Town Hall — the Sharon Town Hall Art Gallery has continued to thrive under the watch of curator Zelina Blagden, who displayed Glen Seelenbrandt’s graphic orb prints creatively through narrow halls and up the staircase. 

For the dedicated art walkers there was no shortage of sights, including some surprises, such as Colleen McGuire’s miniature paintings in the J.P. Gifford Café and Tom Goldenberg at The Edward wine bar. 

Where there’s food and drink, art buyers will surely follow, right?