Open Window

Honorable Mention at The Four Corners Arts Center in Tiverton, RI

"Shore Break" © Claudia Ward

A very good friend of mine, who lives in RI, visited us on Long Island in July. She'd noticed that the Four Corners Art Center, near her in Tiverton, was going to have a juried exhibition featuring a showcase of photographic works presented on alternative surfaces - "No mats or frames allowed!" She encouraged me to submit a piece and I did. A wave image some of you may have seen called "Shore Break" was my submission. It's a 24" x 16" print on pearl paper, with an acrylic non-glare face-mount. The image literally floats on the wall without the restrictive boundaries of a mat or frame.

Honorable Mention for "Shore Break" © Claudia Ward
The Four Corners Arts Center, Tiverton, RI

The opening was August 24th, in Rhode Island, and neither of us were able to attend but being a good friend she promised to visit the exhibit before it ends on September 4th. She did and guess what we learned? I didn't get first place but was awarded one of two Honorable Mentions.

Thank you Four Corners Arts Center and thank you my dear, dear friend.

 

A Featured Gallery Exhibition

 

"At Sea", a Designer Showcase at The White Room Gallery, from June 7 to June 26 will feature EJ Camp, Michele Dragonetti, Jill Krutick, and me! I cannot tell you how excited I am to be a part of this and can't wait to see all our work hung in the gallery on Main Street in Bridgehampton.

Please come to the Artists' Reception Saturday June 11th between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. We would love to have you join us and are pretty sure you'll love what you see.

See you then!

 

Open Window's Sixth Year - 2015

Open Window was ajar most of 2015 as energies needed to be directed toward our photography business. In fact, there were only 47 posts to Open Window in 2015 compared to 231 in its inaugural year. Sadly I found it much easier to post a photo or comment to Facebook from "the field", and I know many of you don't participate in Facebook.

"Second Thought" © Claudia Ward

At the beginning of 2015, we'd planned on exhibiting in two shows in Florida, the plans for which had to change as Peter hurt his back just before we left and needed surgery once we got there. Brave soul that he is however (and with doctor's approval), we did meet up with our friends in Rincon, Puerto Rico where Peter rested and recuperated, and I got some of the best wave images I've ever taken. 

Chatham Arts Festival 2015

Spring, Summer, and Fall were filled with art festivals in New York State and Massachusetts (Memorial Day to Thanksgiving). In all, we participated in 12 art festivals (10 outdoors and 2 indoors). In addition to those, we participated in our own private show at Ashawagh Hall along with two other incredibly talented artists, 4 gallery shows, and one Christmas Fair. There's a lot of work involved in planning and executing the participation in these shows, which I hope explains my absence from Open Window. It simply could not be helped. Not only did we meet incredibly wonderful artists and sponsors, but we also found individuals who truly love our work. Connections have also been made with a Surf Clothing Company, a couple of galleries, and a framer/gallery in the Design Center in Boston. As we all know, "it's not over 'till the fat lady sings" - please pray she sings.

Good fortune had us shooting in the Southern Caribbean for a week just before Christmas. Water may have been the draw but it was the sunrises, sunsets, and fall skies that truly took our breath away, every single day. 

The Freedom Tower © 2015 Claudia Ward

As I watched the attached slide show before sitting down to write this, what struck me was how very fortunate we have been in addition to having worked harder this year than either of us have for several. Given all that, the highlight of my year was spending two nights in downtown Manhattan in the beginning of December. Having been on Wall Street on 9/11 and living down there from that day until I left in 2009, I'd seen the cleanup, read about the plans, and watched the beginnings of rebuilding, but it wasn't until December 7th (truly) that I saw for the first time, in person, what has replaced all of that destruction/construction and I must say, it is nothing short of breathtaking.

Past & Present Downtown New York ©2015 Claudia Ward

We came upon the reflecting pools our first night walking back to our hotel after dinner and I can honestly say I wept to see what we have created in memory of so many and despite so few.

The Reflecting Pools in Lower Manhattan After Dark 2015 ©Claudia Ward

The next day we explored it all and Peter was even able to coax me to the top of the Freedom Tower - something I will remember for all of my days to come.

New York After Dark from the Top of the Freedom Tower ©2015 Claudia Ward

Despite all of the despair we all felt that day, there is nothing but hope in the air as you traverse the park, or linger to contemplate  - watching the waters cascading into the reflecting pools.

As 2016 begins - there's an Open Window for all of us.

I hope you enjoy the slide show of 2015.

 

Photos and Slide Show ©2015 Claudia Ward
Music: "Up with End Credits" from the soundtrack, Michael Giacchino

 

Chatham's 44th Festival of the Arts

This weekend August 14, 15 & 16 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. each day, Peter and I will be exhibiting our images in the 44th Festival of the Arts in Chatham, MA. The show is in Chase Park on Cross Street and can be reached by Shuttles that leave every 20 minutes or so from the Chatham Community Center on Route 28 (formerly known as the Middle School) just before the rotary as you're coming in to town (on the left), or from the Creative Arts Center on Crowell Road. Admission is free AND all sales on Saturday and Sunday are TAX FREE - thank you Massachusetts. Our booth is #52 in the back left corner of the park heading toward the windmill. Stop by and say hello. I feel quite confident that you won't be bored. See you this weekend.

P.S. Did you catch my ad in the Cape Cod Chronicle this week? They also interviewed me this week for an article in next week's edition. What a kick!

Download Coco Ward 080615

 

 

"Within A Frame" Art Show

This coming Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at Ashawagh Hall (780 Springs Fireplace Road) in East Hampton, NY, there will be an art show called "Within A Frame" featuring three photographers and one painter, all based on the East End. I am among the photographers and will be showcasing images of my favorite subject - tidal waters and waves. My husband, Peter Tooker will be showing a wide variety colorful and black and white subjects ranging from a bikini-clad lady in a hat to a regatta under full sail "developed" using new digital applications that produce remarkable, eye-catching results. Michele Dragonetti will be exhibiting collections within her remarkable portfolio including her unique thought-provoking images of boat bows and many from her architectural collection. And lastly, Kirsten Benfield, a painter resident in East Hampton, will be showing watercolors created on and of the East End.

Hours will be :

Friday, June 26th 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 27th 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 28th 12:00 noon - 4:00 p.m.

Opening Reception: Saturday, June 27th 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Here's a little more about each of us.

Kirsten Benfield is originally from New Zealand and working in East Hampton. As a traveler, observation of her travels has been recorded in watercolor. "In exploring my sense of place on the East End, I bring the two places together in landscapes, and mind-scapes". Please visit her website at: www.kirstenbenfield.com.

Michele Dragonetti finds inspiration for her photography in urban as well as natural settings.  Although she doesn't limit herself to one style of photography, there is a consistent approach to composition evident throughout her work despite the wide variety in subject matter.  Michele is on the board of Professional Women Photographers, and established and curates their Instagram feed (@pwponline) as well as her own Instagram account (@michele_dragonetti).  More of her work can be seen at www.micheledragonetti.com.  

Peter Tooker is a long-time resident of Bridgehampton. An art major who loved photography, embracing it from the darkroom in his kitchen developing film to his current digital darkroom. Peter focuses his lens as well as his artistically trained eye on a variety of subjects including landscapes, seascapes, and the human figure, here on the East End, throughout the U.S. and in Europe. Peter's building his site at: www.PeterTooker.smugmug.com.

Claudia Ward grew up on Cape Cod and has called the East End home for more than 25 years. “Retired” from banking for the last five years, she’s turned her life-long love of photography from an avocation to a vocation with a specialized focus on water and waves. Her images have been heralded as “unique” and “painterly”, and are presented in a variety of ways including acrylic face-mounts, printed on aluminum, and gallery wrapped canvas. Please visit ClaudiaWardPhotography.com to see more.

 We'd love to see you all and share what we love to do with you.

 

 

Chatham's 44th Festival of the Arts

 

Who says "you can't go home again"? I can and will this summer. Peter AND I have been juried in to the 44th Festival of Arts in Chatham, MA - my hometown! It will be held in Chase Park on Cross Street over three days - Friday August 14th to Sunday August 16th (10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.). The park is around the corner from the house I grew up in and practically next door to my grandmother's old house. This was my "hood" and I can't wait to be back there once more. They even have a shuttle bus to shuttle you to and from the park. (Check the website for pick up and drop off locations.)

If you're on or near the Cape in August, please mark your calendars. Peter and I would love to see every one of you.

Amagansett Fine Arts Festival

 

On a roll!

Just received the acceptance email from the Amagansett Fine Arts Festival for the July 4th weekend. This is the fifth year that David Oleski has organized this event and I'm thrilled to be selected to be a part of it this summer.

"Spontaneity" ©2014 Claudia Ward

Here's a small preview of coming attractions.

 

Women of the World Art & Photography Exhibition

Over the past several years, I've been fortunate enough to be invited to exhibit some of my photographs in a variety of art shows on the East End and through these shows I've met some wonderful artists with whom I've stayed in touch. One such woman is Flo Siemsen from Babylon who very kindly recommended my participation in an upcoming exhibition in March that will be shown in the Hutchins Gallery at C.W. Post College in Brookville, NY. The theme of the show, curated by Jill Rader Levine, will be "Women of the World" and will feature over 50 women artists and photographers from all over Long Island. The exhibition will be available for viewing in the gallery Tuesdays through Saturdays between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., the entire month of March. (720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville, NY; lower level of the library)

But first, there will be a gala reception on Wednesday evening February 26th hosted by George Maragos, the Nassau County Comptroller at the Theadore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building at 1550 Franklin Avenue in Mineola, NY between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. This is a judged show and winners will be announced at the reception.

I am proud to have been asked to participate and thrilled to be exhibiting with such an array of accomplished artists. The reception and show should be very interesting with a wide variety of art on display. Please come and see what's happening in the world of art and photography on Long Island. In the meantime also check out the Facebook page set up solely for this event and the remarkable women participating it it.