Artists Statement:
One of the few things that I know about myself after these many years, with any certainty, is that I like to make things. I make paintings, buildings, poems, gardens, sculptures, food, quilts, yarn, felted bowls and paper mache bowls to name a few.
I love the feel of a good brush coated with paint sliding over a canvas
I love the sensation of a drawing pencil making its mark on the paper
I love rocks and stones
I love the smell of wool and the feel of it in my hands
I love the textures, patterns and colors of fabric
I love the feeling of sinking my hands into the earth to plant a flower
I love to allow words to come out of me until my meaning is clear
I love light and I love color
I love discovering the world and discovering myself
I am compelled to paint and to write. An innate and essential urge, as much a part of me as my humanity. I make a mark on the earth or on a piece of paper.
The process of creation enables my ability to discover and understand the universe and myself. By trying to paint light; I come to understand light. By painting in and of nature; I enter the world in a fresh way and to come to understand myself in relationship. The experience of creating; be it planning, preparing, painting, or planting - always leads to, and reveals a new thought, a new idea, and a new opportunity.
About the Artist:
Bette Frank Leahy received a B.A. in Art from Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado, a B.Arch. from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York and an M.A. in Psychology from the New School for Social Research in New York City. She has been a licensed architect in New York State since 1992 and has over 15 years of professional experience in residential and commercial design. She practiced architecture in New York City before moving to the Boston area ten years ago. Aside from oil, acrylic and tempera painting, Bette is also a fiber artist and works in quilt making, spinning and dying, weaving, knit, crochet, needle felting and wet felting. Her crocheted and felted bags, bowls, flowers and vases are for sale in several stores in the Boston area. She also makes paper maché ritual bowls. Bette is also a collage artist and creates one-of-a-kind collage books and cards. Her most recent work includes gelatin monotypes. Bette's main interest going towards the future is in the integration of art and healing. She is currently conducting workshops and classes in Expressive Arts for Healing, Self Discovery and Transformation. She is also working with Hospice patients with Expressive Art.
Education:
Colorado College, B.A., Art
Pratt Institute, B.Arch., Architecture
New School for Social Research, M.A., Psychology
Salve Regina University, The Institute for the Expressive Arts
Brooklyn Museum Art School, Brooklyn, NY
Art Students League, New York, NY
Phyllis Hughes, The Lexington Arts and Crafts Society
Maris Platais, The Lexington Arts and Crafts Society
David Curtis, Essex, MA
Jill Pottle, DeCordova Museum School
Joy Dai Buell, DeCordova Museum School
Michele Cassou, Zero Point Painting
Stewart Cubley, The Painting Experience
Deborah Koff-Chapin, Touch Drawing
Exhibitions:
2011 - Waltham Art Windows, Waltham Riverfest, Waltham, MA (juried)
2010 - Paint the River, Waltham Riverfest, Waltham, MA
2010 - Lexington Open Studios, Lexington, MA
2009 - Sign of the Dove, Artisans’ Cooperative, Cambridge, MA (juried)
2009 - Locally Grown, Arlington, MA
2009 - IOA Green, Gibbs Gallery, Arlington Center for the Arts, Arlington, MA (juried)
2009 - Lexington Open Studios, Lexington, MA
2008 - Sign of the Dove, Artisans’ Cooperative, Cambridge, MA (juried)
2008 - Locally Grown, Arlington, MA
2008 - Arlington Open Studios, Arlington, MA
2008 - Brookline Bank, Lexington, MA
2007 - Arlington Open Studios, Arlington, MA
2007 - New Works, Parsons Gallery, Lexington Arts and Crafts Society, Lexington, MA (3 person show)
2006 - Painters Show, Lexington Arts and Crafts Society, Lexington, MA
2006 - Lexington Waldorf School Christmas Fair (juried) (also 2007, 2008 and 2010)
1989 - Project DMZ, Storefront for Art and Architecture, New York, NY (juried)
1985 - Terza Mostra Internazionale di Architettura, La Biennale di Venezia (Venice Biennale), Progetto Venezia: Este. Venice, Italy, Exhibition and Catalog.
Currently you can find my work for sale at:
The Shop, Arsenal Center for the Arts, Watertown, MA
Artwear, Arlington, MA
