At a Glance: Some things we’ve learned in 2021
Over the course of the year, the Medway Cultural Council spotlighted local artists from diverse backgrounds and art mediums. In this first month of 2022, we remember the lessons learned from their work and the interviews with each artist. We reflect on what they have taught us about art, life and what it means to create!
"My dad is my inspiration for loving to perform. When I was a child, I would sing with him for amateur night on summer vacations. My dad was a trained tenor and loved to sing and perform. Unfortunately, WWII interfered with his plans to sing on the radio. In his later years he performed in senior productions of musicals. My mother inspired me to become involved in social justice issues, particularly women’s rights. " Hazel Warnick
I’m inspired by my daily interactions with the visual world around me. Social issues and human emotional states find their way into my work as well." -CanMan
Painting has been a crucial aspect of survival for Arthur, as he battles his debilitating illness. It is this love of painting that drives him to keep going, and the satisfaction that his artwork has given joy to so many people. -Art Lee
"I’ve now travelled most of country, seen every place I ever wanted to see the most and what it’s taught me is that the grass definitely isn’t greener on the other side of the tracks, only farther. Medway is awesome. I call Medway the center of the universe" -Jesse Green
"People are worth remembering" - Kim Blenkhorn
"As with any art, I would suggest we are all artists before we ever step foot into a school. " -Tim Rice
"Teaching art is a great profession. Nature and gardening, the beauty of plants, birds, insects, flowers, my own desire to create, to explore and express ideas, the clay itself, and the work of other artists, designers and craftspeople, here and around the globe. I often visit museums and galleries." -Celeste Falcone
"History is another inspiration." - Judy Moffatt
“Don’t be afraid to try new mediums, and don’t be afraid to “mess up”. When you try new things, they might not turn out how you want the first time, but that doesn’t mean you are bad at using that medium and should never use it again. You won’t get the results you want on the first try, but with practice you might find that you really enjoy that medium.” - Lindsay Blenkhorn
"What inspires me is the work other artists and creators do." -Barry Schneier
"I am trying to get to know myself better" - Erin McCarthy
" Photography helped pull me out of depression. When I walked in the woods, along the lake, or at the beach, the beauty of Nature arrested my attention and made me concentrate on shooting pictures. Photography healed my heart." "I’ve never attended any photography classes, I learn it by listening to my friend’s suggestions and observing the photos posted on websites, and then practicing and practicing." "I found I could learn more than I had known. I learned swimming at 40 years old, I started exercising at the gym and embarked upon my photography journey at 50 years old." Pheobe Wu
"Art is not limited to things that hang on the wall. A bed quilt designed with beautiful fabrics is a work of art. ” - Elena Murphy
"We were always allowed to explore new materials, and think outside the box." -Tracy Babin
"Painting is both an escape and an adventure and anyone can do it" - Rich Puleo
"I explore concepts of beauty and graphic expression in lipstick, makeup and mixed-media. I crop subject matter to draw particular attention to one specific aspect or feature and to encourage the viewer to more closely observe and think about parts of subjects that we see regularly but do not often consciously examine." - Laura Osterweiss
"I hope to inspire someone to see things differently, maybe travel outside of their comfort zone." - Mary Weafer
