September Gallery Openings and Events

The summer may have come to a close, but that only means that autumn is on the way. And for many Islanders, September = Bliss. The water is still warm, the roads begin to empty out and everything is still open. This is true for Island art, as well. Galleries all over the Island are open and have some pretty exciting shows lined up for the month. We’ve listed some of the highlights here, but as always, check our calendar for complete and updated listings.

is chock-full of art events throughout the month of September. On September 8, the show “The Time Project: One Year, Eleven Women Explore the Meaning of Time” opens in the Pebble Gallery. The show features video, painting, sculpture, printmaking, clay, photography, computer-generated images, mixed media, and writing, through which each artist defined her interpretation of time. There will be an opening reception on September 8 from 4 to 6 p.m. featuring Beatrice Greene performing an original piano composition. The show runs through September 11.

Featherstone is still celebrating its 15th anniversary and this month’s Big Event is the Artist Studio Tour on September 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Starting at Featherstone, guests will be given maps that will take them to the personal studios of 15 of some of the Island's most talented artists located all over the island, in many different shapes and sizes. The day ends with a closing reception at Olga Hirshhorn's home from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at , , and at Featherstone for $50

Other upcoming shows include Janice Baer's photography show "Block Party" with an opening reception on September 15 from 4 to 6 p.m. The show stays up through Sunday, September 18. On September 18, "The Art of Fiber Show" with Guest Curator Julia Mitchell opens with a reception from 4 to 6 p.m. This show will stay up through October 5.

Down the road, is hosting a Plein Air Invitational Painting "Derby" that started on September 1 and runs through September 25. The Plein Air "Derby" runs in a similar fashion as the annual Martha's Vineyard Fishing Derby and features artists who have been invited by the gallery to bring in their "daily catch" for display and sale. There will be an opening reception on September 10 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. that will also feature Island painter Traeger diPietro as the featured gallery artist for the annual September reception.

"Derby" entry fees from the artists and a portion of the gallery sales proceeds will be donated to Featherstone Center for the Arts.

The Dragonfly Gallery will also participate, along with many others, in the final Oak Bluffs Arts District Stroll of the year, on September 10 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Over in Edgartown, the will hold its final exhibition of the season, “Lasting Impressions." The show features the work of Tjasa Owen, Olga Antonova, Jeff Schaller and Elizabeth Washburn. These artists are some of the gallery’s most popular artists as well as new faces. An opening reception will take place Saturday, Sept. 3 from 6 to 8 p.m., with music provided by Mike Benjamin.

At the , the last reception of the 2011 season takes place on September 11 from 5 to 7 p.m. The show will feature work by Alison Convery, Susan Convery Foltz, and "By the Sea," artwork by more than 60 members of the Martha's Vineyard Art Association saluting the 66th fishing derby.

In Vineyard Haven, the is hosting its Fourth Annual Abstract Show, “Rhythm and Blues,” which opened on September 1, and continues until September 15. The exhibit showcases the work of five artists: Marsha Staiger, Sondra Arkin, Roberta Gross, Laura Roosevelt and Ellyn Weiss.

Up-Island in West Tisbury, the won’t be having any more shows, but will remain open through October. Across town, is still putting the finishing touches on its last show until spring, so we’ll keep you posted.