Second Sunday Demo
May 12, 2024
11:30am – 1pm
Bill Paarlberg
“Many-splendored” life of the working artist

This May, instructor and watercolorist Bill Paarlberg will discuss the “many-splendored” life of the working artist. Bill specializes in watercolor and especially in Plein Air. This May he will discuss how he composes using recycled work, media images and new drawings as well as do a brief demo

Body of Work Exhibit
May 2024
Cheryl Sager
Let Me Take You There

The first time I visited Europe I was just taken with how old some of the places and buildings were. I fell in love with the small doors that were sometimes in the oddest places and felt like they led to secret and special places. I have since been back and as before the doors, gates and windows just captured my imagination. I decided to take pictures I could paint and make these the focal point of my BOW. While sleeping, my brain as it often does, ponders, creates, problem solves and plans. It was through this process that I decided to take viewers behind the doors and into other places. Hence, the concept for “Let Me Take You There” was born. In this show you will discover doors from various locations, near and far. When you discover your door, the one you want to “take you there,” you then can choose the place you want your door to secretly open to, your
“secret garden,” your “Narnia,” your “Calgon, take me away!” then that painting goes behind your door where it stays hidden until you reveal your secret and special place. Each painting is titled, dated and signed on the back. When you look for my signature on the front you will have to be bit of a detective because my signature is hidden within the painting. Enjoy the search and discovery

Body of Work Exhibit
May 2024
Stephen Emery Carr
Always Near Water

My love of water and my interest in boats and architecture play a big part in the choice of subject matter for my artwork.  Hence the name of this show: “Always Near Water”.   But I paint too slowly to paint at the water’s edge. I mostly paint from photographs in my home studio.  Often before starting a painting I will sketch the subject with pen.  This helps me solidify the composition and understand how the light is falling on the subject. 

In addition to being a member of the Seacoast Artist Association, I am a member of the Newburyport Art Association, and the American Society of Marine Artists.  My paintings have been exhibited in numerous NAA Juried, Holiday and Selected Artist Shows, the Seacoast Artist Association, the Ipswich River Watershed Association, the Newburyport Artist and Culture Shanties, the Boothbay Region Art Foundation, the Exeter Inn, the Lamont Gallery at Phillips Exeter Academy, All Saints Parish (Brookline, MA) and the Cambridge Boat Club

I live in Newburyport with my wife Kate and our two West Highland Terriers.  When I am not painting I am the Assistant Boy’s Crew Coach at Phillips Exeter Academy.

For more information, or to see more of my work, go to www.secarrart.com “The Paintings of S.E.Carr” or to instagram : #secarr136 and #stevecarr136. If you have questions email me at secarr136@gmail.com

Theme Show
May 2024
In Full Bloom

We are reborn each spring. Not just us, but all life around us. The perennials in our gardens; fuchsia peonies, fragrant lilacs and lily of the valley, and grass, lush and green under our bare feet, breathing life into our world. Where does your eye gaze, what do you see in this lovely month of May? We’ve waited all winter for gardens and fields in full bloom. And now it’s here!

Annual All Members Exhibit
May 4-5, 11-12, & 18-19, noon to 4pm
Primavera – The Art of Spring

The SAA will be hosting our 2nd Annual All Members Spring Exhibit at the Exeter Town Hall Upstairs Gallery, 10 Front St. The exhibit will take place for 3 weekends in May: May 4-5, 11-12, & 18-19, noon to 4pm plus an opening reception May 10, 4-6pm. The exhibit will benefit the scholarship fund and is open to the public. 

Exeter Town Hall Upstairs Gallery 4-6pm,  the amazingly talented violin brothers Dacha and Sava Thurber present a special music program for the “Primavera” Exhibit.

SAA Gallery 5-7pm, Maine singer-songwriter Jerry Short returns with original compositions, old favorites, and new tunes on guitar, harmonica, dobro and vocals.

Exeter Art Walk 
May 4 & 5 noon-4pm

The SAA along with nine other art organizations will be open for a fun weekend of art, studios, music and refreshments!
See the printable tour guide.

Plein Air
Organizers: Carol Poitras and Kathy Statires
Tentative 2024 schedule: 

• Tues, May 14 – Newcastle Commons, 10-1. No charge for admission this day. 
• Tues, May 21 – Swasey Parkway, Exeter, 1-3.
• Tues, May 28 – Peirce Island, Portsmouth, 10-1. 
• Mon, June 3 – Portsmouth, 10-1. Meet at Hearth Market, 60 Penhallow St.  
• Tues, June 11 – Newfields boat launch, 10-1. Marsh views 
• Mon, June 17 – Annick’s Garden, Exeter, 10-1. 
• Tues, June 25 – White Gate Farm, Epping, 10-1. tentative
• Sat, July 13 – American Independence Museum Festival, Exeter, 10-4. tentative

These dates are tentative and will be confirmed before each event.  Watch SAA emails and Facebook!