ART: NANCY WRIGHT
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Kathryn Shagas | Burlington, Massachusetts
Light on Water
30 x 40”, mixed media, framed
I grew up in a family touched by addiction at a time when I didn’t know how to name or understand it. I sensed the anxiety but, as many children do, I took on the emotional burden and blamed myself. I watched myself, fearing that spontaneous expression might provoke a negative reaction.
Many years later, I’ve discovered the safety and peace of walking in nature. I hear the tranquil conversations between wind and water, occasionally blasted open by a screech or a howl. I feel part of a world humming with life. Sometimes I sketch, not trying to represent what I see as much as absorbing the rhythmic feeling of a place. From the viewpoint of physics, everything exists within a sea of vibration that includes rocks, trees and objects that appear stationary.
In the studio I draw from these walks and my early training in music, responding to a painting surface with a free flow of energy that I longed for in childhood and never expected to experience. I look at a piece in progress and ask myself, “How does this make me feel?” I think of the work as stories hidden in nature’s rhythms.
In my painting “Light on Water,” layers of paint and drawing media began as chaotic undercurrents of waves in turbulent water. Eventually they found a coherent woven surface reflecting rays of sunlight, a reminder of connectivity and renewal.
Mixed media artist Kathryn Shagas works to give form to the flow of visible and unseen rhythmic energies in nature. Her mixed media work is exhibited nationally, most recently at Triangle Gallery/Rockland, ME, Waterfall Arts/Belfast, ME, Prince Street Gallery/NYC, Fountain Street Gallery/Boston, Juniper Rag/MA, Maine Art Gallery/Wiscasset and several Union of Maine Visual Artists venues.
Originally from Montreal, Shagas holds a BFA in design from Philadelphia College of Art/University of the Arts and has studied at the New York Studio School and Maryland Institute, College of Art. She grew up playing classical piano, worked as an offset printer, pacifist magazine
editor and graphic designer. After a year of independent international bicycle travel that included China, Tibet, Bali and New Zealand, she built an award-winning graphic design firm. In 2022, Shagas closed the 33-year-old design firm to paint full-time. She lives and works in Belfast on the Gulf of Maine, which has warmed faster than 99% of the global ocean.
Sasha Knittel | Burlington, Massachusetts
Horn Pond
20 x 24”, mixed media, framed
Sasha’s home environment growing up was not safe and she struggled with addiction. She searched for ways to improve her physical and mental health and creating art gave her confidence and a supportive community. She encourages everyone to take any camera they have, go outside and focus on the water, trees and their surroundings and take some photos. Share them and it opens a door to connect with others who are also healing. There isn’t a final destination but believing in oneself everyday is the journey.
Sasha Knittel is a Burlington, Massachusetts based commercial freelance and fine art photographer. She is an exhibiting artist in the New England area and has been in galleries such as Kingston Gallery, Galatea Fine Art, Griffin Museum of Photography, a solo show at Burlington High School Gallery and will be in upcoming shows at The New Art Center and Griffin Museum of Photography.
Her work has been included by studioMLA architects as interior art for a children’s center renovation project. Creating art has been a healing journey for Sasha through going on photo walks and using photography as a way to connect herself and viewers to tiny details in nature.
Another focus of her work is to help protect green spaces.
In 2024-2025 she plans to donate 10% of select art purchases to The Trustees which is a nonprofit that cares for 47,000 acres of land around Massachusetts.
Patricia Busso | Watertown, Massachusetts
Grafton Loostrife #6
10x10”, mixed media, framed
I always struggle with what to say in an artist’s statement; how to explain the why of my work. People tell me my paintings are an expression of the joy within me and represent my continual search for beauty. And maybe that’s it. Maybe that is enough.
The searching I do with color and different mediums – the textures and richness of the melted encaustic paint in my marshes, the thin transparent layers of oil and cold wax that eventually become abstract landscapes, the lyrical floral ink drawings that create fields for paint to animate – it is all done with the goal of finding a beautiful place to land. That is when I deem a piece finished.
Being the daughter of an alcoholic father whom I lived with for 29 years in Worcester, I applaud the mission of Spectrum and would be honored to have my work in an environment committed to help those who suffer with addiction; a place that is located in the city where I was born, raised and went to college.
Back to my artist’s statement… Maybe I started to paint to create my own reality. A beautiful one. One in which I had the power and the control I lacked in an abusive home. I believe art really does have the power to heal. And I’d love to see my work play a small part in the healing process of others.
Back in 2001, Patricia took a month-long artist’s retreat deep in the woods of British Columbia where she lived in a tent on a mountainside with no electricity or running water. She intended to focus on photography which had been a passion of hers for over a decade, but her camera broke on the first day there. After purchasing some acrylics from the on-site supply shed, she instead spent her days in this primitive paradise painting on found wood and has been painting ever since.
While Patricia now favors oils over acrylics, her medium of choice is encaustic (pigmented beeswax) which allows for endless possibilities creating layered, textured pieces, often with unexpectedly exciting results due the element of serendipity inherent in the fusing process integral to this technique.
Patricia’s work ranges from sublime landscapes, to abstracted elements of the natural world, to purely non-representational compositions. She enjoys experimenting with color and different mediums, including oil, ink, encaustic, and cold wax. What excites her is the fact that at the end of the day something that may be called beautiful exists that wasn’t there before; something unexpected. And there are infinite possibilities for these conjurings each time she enters her studio.
A long-standing member of the SoWa Artists Guild and United South End Artists, Patricia has maintained a studio at 450 Harrison Avenue in Boston’s South End since 2009. She shows at AMZehnder Gallery in Wellfleet on Cape Cod, and has two pieces in the U.S. Embassy in Cotonou, Benin as part of the Department of State’s Art in Embassies program.
Patricia has had the pleasure of forming relationships with collectors both around Boston and across the globe. Oh…and when she’s not painting, Patricia teaches high school math.
Ella Delyanis | Grafton, Massachusetts
Grafton Loostrife #6
10x10”, mixed media, framed
I am in my 70's and have been a visual artists since I majored in painting at Boston University starting in 1969. When my husband and I struggle with infertility, we eventually adopted a beautiful 4 month old boy. Life with him has been a joy, but that joy turned into sadness as he struggled with drug addiction when he became a teenager. We paid for him to go into rehab many, many times (including Spectrum programs). Each time we thought he would be ok - but eventuay he went back to the heroin. His life was almost ended by overdoses more that once. He finally ended up in jail. He got out of jail this past May after serving 6 years in prison.
As awful as imprisonment sounds, jail time saved his life - got him off of drugs and cigarettes, gave him discipline and a work ethic. He is now clean and sober, doing well, has a job, and is living at Channing House in Worcester and planning for the future. We are so grateful to God and happy that he has come so far and continue to pray that his recovery continues forever. Thank you to Spectrum and other rehab programs that help those who suffer from the disease of addiction. As far as how his addiction has had an affect on my art career....I would say that only my work has saved me at times form the depths of depression created by his struggle with addiction.
Patti Kelly | Worcester, Massachusetts
Blue Hills
11x14”, mixed media, matted and framed
Alcoholism is a disease that affects the entire family. My family was small including my mother, sister and father who had the disease. He was afflicted with this disease his whole adult life. He was detached in many ways with me. He tried on some occasions to reach out but our relationship was very strained. He certainly scared me. I’m sure he didn’t want to be that way. I believe I became very independent and strong because of disconnections and uncertainties within our family home. One very important outlet for me was creating art. Art became my life line to an imaginary world. Today I am still working to be a better artist and person. Working on reaching out and letting the light shine bright.
Is primarily an American romantic abstract artist known for her imaginative, tempestuous landscape paintings. Often borrowing from nature, her choice of colors is inspired by the impermanence of New England’s changing seasons. Working in acrylic and watercolor, Kelly builds upon a nebulous surface layered with sensual colors. Using various tools, including palette knives, scrapers, and sticks, her gestural work presents to the viewer an emotionally charged imaginary world.
Rose Mamakos | , Massachusetts
The Accident
30x30”, poured acrylic on canvas
My entire childhood was touched by addiction and the long-lasting effects of it have made a major impact on my life. I am a daughter of an alcoholic father. My father stopped drinking when I was 16 but even now in my 60s it has had an impact that I am still discovering. It had primarily affected my self-esteem and how I dealt with other people. In my younger years I was painfully shy and did not want to interact with others. It was what drew me into creating. Unbeknownst to me I was participating in my very own art therapy during those early years. It was how I dealt with the chaos; it was/is my coping mechanism. Being creative in whatever media you choose has incredible healing power no matter your age no matter what you are dealing with.
“The Accident” is a representation of a major car accident my father was in when I was eight years old that I vividly remember, even the minute details to this day. The colors represent different parts of that day. I don’t talk much about the accident. I have two brothers, one just two years younger, the other is eight years younger. He was not born yet when the accident occurred. My brother that I experienced it with just recently spoke about it with me for the very first time. Our memories of the accident matched exactly. It was pivotal for both of us. My dad does not like to talk about it.
I currently create with fluid acrylic paint. Gravity, chemistry and density all play equally pivotal roles, making each piece unique in their own way. I am constantly experimenting trying to find new unique ways to display my individuality and my love of color and movement.
Rosemary spoke with Juniper Rag and Spectrum staff about the exchange with her brother, mentioning that it was painting for this collection that prompted the conversation and open exchange, further signifying the power that art has on helping us process emotion, pain and memories as well as prompt dialogue and connections.
Theresa Hersman | New Hampshire
Rising
36x48” inches
Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas
Life From the Blue -diptych
24x48”, mixed media
A New Perspective
36x48” inches
Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas
Why do I want my work to be in the Spectrum Collection?
Addiction is something I’ve experienced personally as a recovering alcoholic who has been sober for eight years. Substance abuse has left its mark on my circle of loved ones, resulting in several tragic outcomes. I know that these struggles are prevalent nationwide. Creating art is a healing practice for me. My art often depicts the element of water which is associated with tranquility. I am hopeful that my paintings impart peaceful feelings for viewers who encounter them.
Based in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire, Theresa Hersman’s abstract paintings dive into water’s serenity and landscape-altering power. Her painting process juxtaposes richly textured layers with mark-making and gestural brush marks. Theresa is a juried Signature member of the National Association of Women Artists and the New Hampshire Art Association. Her paintings have been exhibited in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
My creative process is a tool for introspection and meditation. Much of my inspiration is rooted in my physical experience of the natural world. My paintings develop through a process of layering and excavation. Working abstractly allows my intuition to guide the creative process. As a painting begins to take form, it often feels as though I am no longer making the decisions because the work takes on a life of its own. Art is subjective. I have succeeded if a viewer connects with my work on an emotional level.
Linda Cordner | Lincoln, Massachusetts, USA
Temperate Waters
30x30”, acrylic on canvas
Sunrise
30x30”, acrylic on canvas
Outlook
30 x36”, acrylic on canvas
I’m happy to have the opportunity to share my paintings with Spectrum Health Systems. I feel that art and creativity are an important part of peoples well-being, and Spectrum is doing important work in the healing of their community.
Linda has a BFA from the University of CT and has been an exhibiting artist for almost 20 years. Her work has been shown in galleries and museums around the country. Corporations, hotels and restaurants as well as many private residences have her paintings in their collections. She has also curated exhibits and served as a director for a non-profit gallery.
Linda’s paintings convey the ethereal qualities of landscape, atmosphere, or place as fuzzy memories, conveying the sense of them rather than a literal interpretation. Working in a transparent medium is important in her work, enabling her to have light and shadow present in the paintings. Her imagery does not come from a particular place or photo but from feelings about places, times of day or weather conditions. The abstracted blurriness of the paintings is like a quick glance of something you would see while passing by.
Denise Lafer | Milford, Massachusetts, USA
I Will Remember You
24x24”
Acrylic, acrylic ink, sand and marble powder, raw canvas
They Are My Reason
16 x 20”
Acrylic, acrylic ink, texture and coffee one raw canvas
Like many families today, I have an immediate family member who suffered from addiction for many years without any of us knowing. It wasn’t until I found him unconscious that everything became known. He has worked for many years to maintain his sobriety.
I have also lost someone very close to me to an overdose, it forever changes you as you wonder who they could’ve been and heartbroken for who is left behind.
Addiction does not discriminate, it can happen to anyone at any time. It has taught me to be kinder, compassionate and without judgement. Supporting people through whatever their sobriety journey looks like is what I hope to do.
Denise Lafer is an abstract artist living in a suburb of Boston, MA. Her work in inspired by nature and the impact of major life events. Her paintings are often layered to incorporate acrylic, oil stick, watercolor and pastel. Most recently experimenting with materials like tea bag paper and coffee. She currently works out of a studio in her home she shares with her husband and two children.
My goal with each new work is to bring a piece of the natural world alive in an abstract way. I hope it brings viewers a connection with the beauty of nature all around us.
Howard B. Johnson, Jr. | Hudson, Massachusetts, USA
Roentgens
11x14”, mixed media collage on cradled wood board
My main and continuous lifetime career focus is an imaginary worldview; a darkly humorous amalgam of mythic images reinterpreted as Pop Culture. Animation becomes a form of primitiveness representing the lifestyle of an era. An element of intended goofiness, whimsy and wit runs throughout the composition. Periods of time and historical events are blended and occur simultaneously. Content is influenced by UFO conspiracies, grail, alchemical charts, occult, metaphysical and outsider art, the surrealist era of cubism and contemporaries such as The Hairy Who, Peter Saul, George Condo, Victor Brauner and others of that genre. Composition can be complex with multi-faceted references or as simple as a contrived portrait study with no historical meaning. Each feature of the work becomes a center of interest; all equally rendered so as there are no lax spots in the finished piece.
Loner, raised near swamp with snakes, turtles and wildlife. Student underachiever cared less about social life. cars, clothes, sports, he said-she said: no Ring, Prom or Yearbook. Sixties Stoner: Civil Rights, End War activist: saw Hendrix, Joplin, Dead, Airplane etc. Drafted, Vietnam: Could draw, tried a low level Art School as deferment: no way. Mixed up with a rough crowd at the end of th 60’s. Don't wear it as a Badge of Honor, 5 yrs of life is missing from memory. Coming down was easy getting rid of the acquaintances was not. Took classes nights [Art, anything easy] Received B.A. in Media, a Technical job in a Fortune 500 company, becoming everything I once hated. Art on the side, 12 hr days the norm.
Punk Era 1977: at the age to get away with that stuff again: nihilism, perfect shedding the quilt and dogma of the sixties. Traveled to England to see the real thing. whenever off from work wanderlust kept me going, saw the rest of the world: 14 times overseas, plus US travel turning point was intense visions of an Indescribable Shapeshifting Alchemical Beings. Became a quest like Grail Myth. unachievable, the learning process is the product. Led to a distinct style; through networking galleries and museums took notice, go time from then on. Age 58, got married and settled down.
Nancy Wright | Westborough, Massachusetts, USA
Riding On Hope
24x36”, photograph printed on metal
He was only 14. Fell in with the wrong crowd. Kept falling. And falling. Until he died. And had to be revived.
This is a sad story of addiction… with a happy ending. I was merely an observer. Until I wasn’t.
There were years of lying, stealing, drugs, needles, arrest, rehab, death, totaled cars, rehab again, paraphernalia, selling. So many scary situations and much delirium.
He had dropped out of high school sophomore year. Yet, when he was 18 and incoherent, he approached me on a cold January day to ask if I would take his senior picture; the school had emailed him for it. I was beyond confused.
Fear flooded my veins; I was afraid of him at this point. But I had empathy because I so wanted this to be his reality. I acquiesced.
He dragged his motorcycle into his backyard. I quickly took 34 photos. Haunting for me, but he was pleased.
That was 11 years ago. So many stories of struggle and triumph along his journey. But, today he’s married with one child. He got his life back. Once by Narcan. Now by choice. Resilience has led him to hope.
This image features the handlebar/mirror/brake from one of the “senior photos.”
The mirror = reflection. The opportunity to have your life stare you in the face and hand you a second chance.
The handle = control. Grip it to take command.
The brake = stop. Reach it. Squeeze it. Turn your life around.
The backdrop is an ICM foliage photo, representing change and possibility. The spectrum of colors is vibrant, washing over the motorcycle. The fiery reds, oranges, yellows, and pinks don’t cover up the dark areas. They invite us to take a ride. To the other side. Shifting from dark to bright. Despair to hope.
Nancy has shifted her focus from nature to artist communities, where her own sense of connection has become heightened and a craving to belong has intensified. In that capacity, she has begun exploring more creative ways for her photography to provide a visual voice that tells a story ignited by emotions and feelings.
What inspires Nancy the most is connecting others with the colors, shapes, textures, patterns, and some might even say drama, of nature and the everyday world around us. Based in Westborough, Massachusetts, most of Nancy’s stunning photos have New England roots. With that said, she is always scanning for photo opportunities, finding them everywhere she travels: swamps, woods, beaches, cities, mountains and even in her own backyard. She believes that there is beauty all around us and she marries that beauty with stories that connect us.
In Nancy’s world, every photo has a story; what she loves most is connecting her stories with yours.
Michelle May | Paxton, Massachusetts, USA
Flore
36x36", mixed media on canvas
My formative years of childhood and as a young adult were shaped by traumatic family experiences brought on by alcoholism, bullying by my peers and a lot of fight or flight situations that just made me very used to surviving instead of thriving. I owe everything to the arts and sport as a young person, drawing, dance and soccer gave me confidence and creative outlets.
As a young married person, I quickly realized that life had incredible challenges for my husband at the time who lives with addictions and fights to stay on course. Art classes at Worcester Art Museum at this time transported me into a safe space, gave me confidence and saved me once again. These art classes led to an award-winning 20 year career using my fine art and graphic design skills. Art was such a gift to me and truly became my life.
Curating this collection was an enriching and cathartic gift that inspired me to paint Flore just for this collection. Each artist has generously shared a piece of themselves and reading thier statements inspired me to share myself authentically, knowing addictions have touched my own life and the lives of my children, who have lost many high school peers to opiod addiction. It was a very emotional process, curating and organizing these works.
Alcoholism and all addictions touch all of our lives in some way. Assembling this collection is more meaningful to me because of my personal story.
Michelle May is an artist, independent curator, and arts advocate. Currently, living in Massachusetts working on paintings that draw from blue spaces and organic forms in nature. The environment is very impactful in her work continuously, with focused importance on the preservation of blue spaces, organic textures and the historical layers of decay. Michelle hopes that viewing her work reminds you of time by the ocean and prompts a call to action in helping to preserve these precious spaces.
