The Art Drive 2011 donates $5,000 to the Lloyd Center

The Standard-Times
October 19, 2011 12:00 AM

DARTMOUTH — Thirty Dartmouth and Westport artists that teamed up this summer to organize the annual open studio weekend, donated $5,000 to The Lloyd Center for The Environment in Dartmouth to be used to support the Center’s ongoing environmental science programs in the Westport and Dartmouth public schools. In its fourth season, the Art Drive artists have now donated a combined total of nearly $13,000 to The Lloyd Center.

D’Arcy G. MacMahon, The Lloyd Center’s executive director said, “We are deeply honored to once again have been selected, by such a prestigious and talented group of artists, and to be the beneficiary of this extraordinary event. In addition to drawing an untold number of new visitors to so many unusual and dramatic studio settings this year, the Art Drive raised badly needed funds to support The Lloyd Center’s ongoing efforts to give children back their connection to nature which, for so many, had been lost.”

Surprising Stripers, a new Art Drive program last year, enlisted participating artists to apply their own unique creativity and styles to create large, colorful depictions of striped bass, a species well known to the area. Stationed outdoors along the Art Drive routes—in public spaces and in front of stores, shops, businesses and other sites in Dartmouth and Westport—were 40 four-foot-long Striped Bass. The general public had the opportunity to bid for them on e-bay. A percentage of the income added substantially to the collective Art Drive contribution to The Lloyd Center.

As part of Art Drive’s own outreach program, Dartmouth and Westport high school art departments presented Rising Stars, an exhibit of outstanding student work at Cape Yachts’ South Wharf in Padanaram during the Art Drive weekend.

Consisting of some of the area’s premiere painters, ceramic artists, wood-workers, photographers, jewelers and others, the Art drive uniquely puts emphasis on a consistent and high level of professionalism and quality. With only 15 miles separating the most distant studios, visitors were able to enjoy seeing the artists’ works with ample time to dine at area restaurants and shop at local stores, twenty-five of which helped sponsor the event.

Organized by Dartmouth residents Beverly Carter, Sandra Hall and Deborah Quinn-Munson, The Art Drive attracts visitors from Boston to Providence to the area for the two-day August event. “We are most grateful to The Lloyd Center and staff for assisting us in promoting the event to its members and others,” said Beverly Carter. “Their help made all the difference, and even with a struggling economy, the number of visitors to all our studios was as robust as last year’s event. We would also like to thank the many Dartmouth and Westport businesses that contributed both funds and services to make this community event a great success.” she said

Go to www.the-art-drive.com for evolving details of the fifth annual Art Drive, scheduled for August 11 and 12, 2012.