Current Art Exhibits
July 2024
James E. Mahoney Foyer
Art from Inside by Prison Book Program
Prison Book Program (PBP) has been sending packages of free, hand-selected books to people in prisons and jails across the United States for more than 50 years. Originating in The Red Bookstore in Cambridge, Massachusetts, PBP is now housed in the basement of United First Parish Church in Quincy Center.
Arts from Inside is a curated selection of works that PBP’s readers and requestors have sent to the organization over the course of many decades, often as a token of gratitude for a shipment of books they received. Many pieces are explicitly book-themed, depicting reading as a temporary escape from the confines of prison or as a vehicle for growth, learning, and rehabilitation.
The pieces in this exhibit showcase the detailed techniques that can be achieved with the simplest tools — most commonly, ballpoint pen and pencil. Art from Inside shows how much talent, creativity, and human potential resides behind bars. Learn more at prisonbookprogram.org.
Wakelin Room
Artist Series Collection, a group display by Quilling Card
A native of Vietnam, Quilling Card co-founder, Huong, had previously worked in Marketing throughout Southeast Asia and the US for large corporation. After years working toward someone else’s dream, she decided to leave the industry and pursue her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for the art of quilling. In 2011 Huong and her husband Raphael decided to take this passion and turn it into a flourishing greeting card company — making this beautiful art form more accessible and placing it in the homes of admirers all over the globe. Learn more at quillingcard.com.
Quilling is the art of rolling, shaping, and gluing paper strips to create intricate, decorative designs. The name originates from the use of bird feathers, or quills, to coil the paper. Throughout history, quilling has persisted, notably flourishing in the Western world. During the Renaissance, nuns and monks used gilded paper strips to decorate religious items, imitating expensive gold filigree. Later, it became a popular pastime for affluent European women, who decorated picture frames, baskets, and jewelry boxes. Today, quilling is experiencing a revival as an accessible, affordable hobby for people of all ages and backgrounds.
New Area Display Case
The Art of Repurposing by Joan Onofrey
Joan Onofrey received a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, along with the RISD Gold Medal for Design Excellence and a M.Ed/Art Specialist from the University of Pittsburgh. Her Collages have won numerous awards and have been exhibited throughout the New England area. Joan is a member of the Needham Art Association, the Wellesley Society of Artists, and the Dedham Art Association.
She has given collage workshops and demonstrations for various art groups and community sponsored events. She is always looking for opportunities to share her love of collage.
Jackie’s Room Display Cases
Aesop’s Fables Sculptures by Nancy Schon
Nancy Schön is a Boston-based sculptor celebrated for her warm and evocative representations of human and animal figures. Her work, characterized by a profound sense of empathy and detail, captures the essence of her subjects, making them relatable and endearing to viewers of all ages. She is best known for her iconic Make Way for Ducklings sculpture in the Boston Public Garden, which brings to life the beloved characters from Robert McCloskey’s classic children’s book. This charming bronze installation has become a cherished landmark, delighting generations of visitors with its playful depiction of a mother duck leading her ducklings.
Schön’s Aesop’s Fables Sculptures are a masterful series inspired by the ancient, previously enslaved Greek storyteller, Aesop, himself. With a collection of 24 sculptures, each piece corresponds to one of the 24 letters in the Greek alphabet, creating a symbolic link to the origins of these timeless tales. Schön’s imaginative approach not only pays homage to the cultural heritage of Aesop’s fables but also serves as a tribute to the universality and enduring relevance of these stories. Learn more at schon.com.
Commons Area Display Cases
Merging Cultures by Jayson Wang
Jayson Wang, a Chinese American student at Wellesley High School, started his journey in traditional Chinese paper cutting under the guidance of multimedia artist, Zhonghe (Elena) Li. In 2022, Ms. Li and Jayson were awarded the Massachusetts Traditional Art Apprenticeship — a two-year program for preserving cultural heritage — and supported by the Mass Cultural Council and he National Endowment for the Arts. In the Apprenticeship, Jayson learns to observe, design, and cut living things in nature, incorporating Daoist teaching into cutting skills.
As a New England resident, Jayson also infuses elements of American culture into traditionally Chinese themed art for new and unique meanings. He was invited to exhibit and offer workshops in the 2023 Lowell Folk Festival, encouraging people to explore the traditional art and experience of papercutting firsthand. He also participated in the Massachusetts Junior Duck Contest in 2023. As an inheritor of paper cutting, he hopes to introduce this traditional art (with a modern twist!) to the members of the Wellesley community.