the Art drive Donates $5,300 to the Lloyd Center

Dartmouth, MA – Thirty Dartmouth and Westport artists that teamed up this summer to organize the annual open studio weekend, donated $5,300 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 sixth season, the Art Drive artists have now donated a combined total of nearly $23,300 to the Lloyd Center.

art-drive-2013Lloyd Center for the Environment’s Executive Director Rachel Stronach expressed the Center’s gratitude, “We are so grateful to once again be selected, by such a talented and generous group of artists, and to be the beneficiary of this exceptional event. In addition to drawing a number of new visitors to our region, the Art Drive raised funds to support the Lloyd Center’s critically important environmental education programs, helping us to provide hands-on science programs to those students who need it most. We cannot thank the Art drive artists enough for their support.”

This years’ feature event was the Classic Cod, participating artists applied their own unique creativity and styles to create large, colorful depictions of cod fish, another favorite of the South Coast and a species known well to Massachusetts. 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 36 four-foot-long cod fish. The general public had the opportunity to view the public display of the fish and bid on them throughout the weekend at the Dartmouth Historical Society or on eBay. According to Beverly Carter, Art Drive spokesperson, “a percentage of the income from the fish sales added substantially to the collective Art Drive contribution to the Lloyd Center.” Making the construction of the fish possible were Concordia Yachts and Dartmouth Building Supply.

2013-classic-codAs part of the Art Drive’s own outreach program Rising Stars, students from Dartmouth, Westport and Bishop Stang high schools’ art departments once again exhibited outstanding student work featuring original versions of starfish at Cape Yachts’ South Wharf in Padanaram during the Art Drive weekend.

Consisting of some of the area’s premiere painters, ceramic artists, photographers, jewelers, woodworkers and others, the Art Drive uniquely puts emphasis on a consistent and high level of professionalism and quality in some very unusual and dramatic studio settings. Lovers of the arts enjoyed a great weekend escape while touring these historic Massachusetts Southcoast towns. With only 15 miles separating the studios, visitors enjoyed a casual drive through this picturesque area with ample time for a picnic lunch or to dine at area restaurants.

Dartmouth and Westport artists founded the Art Drive in 2008 to give visitors an opportunity to sample the concentration of creative talent in Dartmouth and Westport. This year, participating Art Drive artists included Robert Abele, Alyssa Adriance, Gary Adriance, Maddy Bragar, Peg Call-Conley, Beverly Carter, Sarah Daughn, Janet Egan, Deborah Ehrens, Brenda Figuerido, Maureen Fleming , Ray Genereux, Gay Gillies, Mary Harman, Wendy Goldsmith, Sandra Hall, Michael Hubert, Marty Keating, Tracy Mahaffey, Frank McCoy, Dora Atwater Millikin, Matthieu Oliveira, Janie Owen, JP Powel, Deborah Quinn-Munson, Sabrina Satkin, Jim Sears, Rising Stars, Susan Strauss, and Jimmy Viera.

In addition to the participating artists, The Art Drive is sponsored by many local businesses including sponsors: Anne Whiting Real Estate, The Sylvia Group of Insurance Agencies, FLORA and Flora & Foglia. Inc., Friends Academy, William Raveis Realty, and Crowell’s Fine Art; and supporters Dedee Shattuck Gallery, Dartmouth Dermatology, Details and Design, 6 1/2 Bridge Street Gallery, Folia, Milbury and Company, Norton Gallery, Ries Family, Law Offices of Rusitzky and Russell, Westport Lobster, Black Bass Grille, Not Your Average Joes, Davoll’s General Store, Bayside Restaurant, Beach Plum Cafe, Handy Hill Creamery, Salvadores Ice Cream, Dockside, and Westport Rivers Vineyard and Winery.

Go to www.the-art-drive.com for evolving details for the next annual Art Drive, scheduled for August 9 and 10, 2014.