Belmont Art Association unveils its 10th Anniversary Exhibit

From a majestic Chilean mountain range and an endless field of magenta flowers to abstract interiors and realistic vignettes, the impressive pieces created by Belmont Art Association (BAA) members will transport viewers’ imaginations during a show marking the group’s 10th anniversary.

“People need art in their lives,” said Darisse (Dari) Paquette, who, along with Naomi Ellenberg-Dukas, is co-chairwoman of the organization. “It’s such a critical part of people’s well-being.”

The all-member exhibit features 23 artists showing between one and three works of art each at the Belmont Gallery of Art, now through March 31. Although the BAA began in 2013, the exhibit waited until construction at the space on the third floor of the Homer Municipal Building was finished.

“We wanted to be a representational show” rather than a juried exhibit, she said. “We’re an inclusive organization.”

Asked how she felt about the decade milestone, Paquette said, “We feel a sense of accomplishment.”

The show primarily features photography, collage, and painting.

“It’s a great mix,” said Lauren Palmer-Merrill, gallery co-director and BAA member with work on display in the exhibit.

Like Paquette and Ellenberg-Dukas, Palmer-Merrill is a volunteer promoting the arts in Belmont.

“It’s been a labor of love,” she said of putting together the anniversary show. She added there would be workshops, artists’ demonstrations, and hands-on activities before the exhibit closes. An opening reception will be held on a yet-to-be-determined date.

Decade of enrichment

“It hasn’t always been easy to keep the group going,” said Paquette as she reflected on the organization’s history.

The brainchild of former Belmont resident Christine Chang, the all-volunteer group strives “to provide a resource for ideas, information, and exposure for the many talented artists of our community,” according to the BAA’s website.

There are more than 40 members, including painters working in oil, acrylics, and watercolor; collage artists; jewelry makers; fiber artists; photographers; and sculptors. Not everyone is a resident, with many coming from surrounding towns.

Although the BAA has no physical location to call home, it supports members on its website where artists can have their own page. The organization also promotes events in its newsletters and on Facebook and Instagram.

“We’re trying to support the artistic community and each other,” she said.

Before COVID, Paquette said the group held monthly in-person meetings, taking a break in the summer and December. But, like many arts organizations, the BAA struggled during the pandemic. Several members featured in a show at the Belmont Gallery of Art at the time had to wait months to retrieve their work after town buildings shuttered.

“We weathered that,” said Paquette.

The BAA worked to keep its members connected by switching to Zoom sessions during the pandemic, allowing those who left the area to continue attending.

In addition to supporting individual artists, the BAA also gives back by bringing more public art to the community. One such project is “Transforming Belmont.” The BAA worked with the town “to bring an artist’s eye to the otherwise dull green utility boxes used to control traffic lights around town,” The Belmont Voice previously reported. So far, 16 have been painted, with three more funded and due to be completed in 2024.

Asked about how she envisions the group’s future, Paquette said, “I would hope that our organization … can expand.”

She said the BAA may become an official nonprofit 501(c)(3) in order to apply for grants and grow.

“It has been quite the journey,” said Paquette.