Portal Dedication in Kendrick Park, Amherst, MA

Terry Rooney, forme & sculptor Matt Evald Johson with Portal Sculpture in Kendrick Park -
 Photo credit Rene Theberge

When I first moved to Amherst, MA in the early 90's, I was disappointed that in this rich artistic community there was no permanent contemporary sculpture in any of the parks in town. When I become Chair of the Amherst Public Arts Commission it was one of my goals to make sculpture part of the landscape in this town. Yesterday, this dream became a reality with the dedication of Matt Evald Johnson's sculpture the Portal in Kendrick Park. We (the Amherst Public Arts Commission) raised the funds to make this a permanent installation in this town park. Many people contributed time, money and energy to make this a reality including the Business Improvement District which gave us a challenge grant of $3500 to get us started. Many thanks also goes to my former committee members, especially Rene Theberge now chair of the Public Arts Commission for finishing the work I started ,Bonnie Isman who helped writing grants, Rachel Hankinson, who did helped with logistics! Thanks to all the community members, too numerous to list here for making this dream a reality.

A Piece of Heaven - Amherst, MA

Riding bareback on my horse Tumbleweed on the beach, mixed media monoprint

What is your heaven on earth? This is the question I asked everyone I met over a period of two years and the results of this search is an exhibition which is presently at Amherst Town Hall Gallery. The Amherst Public Arts Commission will be hosting an artist's reception for me on May 1, 5 - 8 PM. It seems appropriate that this opening is happening on May Day. A day to honor workers labor, including artists.

Wonderful article written by writer extraordinaire, Bonnie Wells the former Art Director for the Amherst Bulletin (She came out of retirement to write this piece!)

http://www.gazettenet.com/artsentertainment/hampshirelife/11940377-95/art-people-terry-rooney-painter-printmaker-curator?ID=abcde&CSAuthResp=63329%3A24583790%3A28678%3A15%3A24%3Asuccess%3AC138E67051169CC045D77E8F342E52BD

Art Salon @ Deerfield Arts Bank

Samuel Rowlett

There's a wonderful piece on the history of the Art Salon starting at the Chancellor's House at UMASS and it's newest incarnation traveling the Valley. It's next event is at the new Deerfield Arts Bank tonight starting @ 7 PM. Seating is limited so come early. There are two Amherst Biennial artists Samuel Rowlett and Tim deChristopher are just a few of the dynamic artists that will be featured in tonights Art Salon.

http://www.gazettenet.com/news/townbytown/southdeerfield/11533185-95/dont-blink-artists-have-20-seconds-to-explain-their-work-at-artsalon-in-south

Deerfield Arts Bank - Close to Home - Grand Opening

Bryan Higgins

South Deerfield, MA. There's a lot of creativity brewing CLOSE TO HOME, the first exhibition for the newest art center in the Pioneer Valley, the Deerfield Arts Bank. This is the creation of artist Jane Trigere who has transformed the former BOA building into a center which will offer exhibitions, art classes and musical entertainment. This first exhibition (curated by me) will feature mostly Deerfield artists including: Candace Bradbury-Carlin, Bryan Higgins, Alicia Renadette, Kerry St. Laurent, Jane Trigere & Marcia Rossi Wise. This "Close to Home" exhibition will take us on a textural and spiritual journeys through various media including impressionistic painting of water (Marcia R. Wise), reuse of fiber history (Alicia Renadette & Jane Trigere), recycled materials (Candace Bradbury-Carlin) and multi-media constructions (Bryan Higgins).

Artists Reception & Grand Opening will be: Sunday, April 6, 2:00 - 4:00 PM

There will be several special events, music and art classes in the coming months. Check our website for further details. 

www.deerfieldartsbank.com

Our first special event after the opening will be the traveling Art Salon on April 17 @ 6:30 PM highlighting various talent in the Pioneer Valley. 








Trigere and Rooney launch The Deerfield Arts Bank in South Deerfield so "Close to Home" with the hopes of engaging all of the talented artists and members of our extended community. Come join us in this exciting new adventure and be part of what happens next.

Gallery Hours, Wed, Thurs, Fri. & Sunday 1 - 4 PM.

Heaven & Enlightenment

In my hour of darkness

I've been honored to be offered two solo exhibits early this year, one in the Incubator Project Space at UMASS which will be featuring Beneath the Surface. This body of work documents a visitation from a turtle on a beautiful mountain lake during a meditation retreat. This experience during a time of family illness helped me get past the darkness & sadness of this time and inspired me to think beyond myself and create for the greater good.

That's why I started the Amherst Biennial, to help the artists in the Pioneer Valley receive the attention they deserve. This is documentation of this experience that enlightened me.

Beneath the Surface
Incubator Project Space, Hampden Gallery, UMASS -
Artist's Reception - Sunday, Feb. 13, 2 - 4 PM
Feb. 23 - March 13

xhttps://www.umass.edu/events/exhibition-terry-rooney-beneath-surface

The second exhibition, A Piece of Heaven, is the result of interviewing people over a two year period, to capture their "heaven on earth."

Both exhibitions will feature my monoprints from over a 15 year period, from conventional printmaking to non-toxic. Beneath the Surface were created at Zea Mays studio, (a non-toxic print studio in Florence, MA) '10 - '12 and A Piece of Heaven capturing heaven on earth, printed at Top Press Studio at Arts & Industry Building in the late nineties.

A Piece of Heaven
Amherst Town Hall
4 Boltwood Walk
Amherst, MA
March 3 - May 30
Reception, May 1th, 5 - 8 PM
Thursday Evening

Arts Centers Blossoming in the Valley

It had been my hope, while I was Chair of the Amherst Public Arts Commission to re-utilize a decommission school (East St. School) to make the Amherst Arts Center. While gathering a group of knowledgeable and influential people to help me plan this arts center, it became apparent (to me) that in order to make this happen, I would have to give up my own artwork,  as well as significant personal & family time and devoted myself completely to this endeavor which would have involved constant fundraising. After a lot of soul searching, I realized that at this stage of my life that it was more than I cared to sacrifice. So I was so pleased to hear that a new arts center is being created in a former bank building in South Deerfield, by an entrepreneurial spirit, Fiber Artist, Jane Trigere. She has three goals for the Deerfield Arts Bank - have fun, build community and pay the bills. She has asked me to "mentor" her and help organize some exhibits. The first exhibit will highlight artists from Deerfield during the month of April. Later this Spring a call for art from artists in the Pioneer Valley will be posted. If you would like to be consider for either of these exhibits send 3 low res jpegs to terryrooneyart@gmail.com directly or links to your websites for consideration of our exhibition committee.

This Arts Center is still evolving, there will be art classes, art supply store, performances and many wonderful events to enrich the cultural life of the Pioneer Valley. 

http://www.recorder.com/home/9111560-95/deerfield-arts-bank-to-open-in-former-bank-of-america

Also more good news on the Arts Center front is that the Northampton Center for the Arts has found a new home at 33 Hawley St, Northampton. http://nohoarts.org/

Reflections & Results

Terry in home studio, Brooklyn '72

This has been an incredible year for me on so many levels. I've had the opportunity to revisit past loves, reflect on our histories and experience the loss of a dear friend. On top of this, dealing with the health care system for two family members with some success and some neglect. All of which, because of legal issues, I can not rehash here. But these times have also brought forth moments of grace, such as my mother-in-law receiving a book of Pushkin's poetry (in Russian), saying she has been looking for this poetry, all her life. And then reciting this poem in Russian to me from memory at 91 years old.

On the upside, my sources on the Amherst Public Arts Commission have confirmed we have reached our fundraising goal to make the Portal a permanent installation in Kendrick Park, Amherst. It feels to good to make the dream of bringing permanent public art in one of our town's parks, a reality. Thanks to all our supporters for making this happen. We will have a commemoration probably in Spring. Stay tuned.