What, When, Where: O: Art At 33

By Kaitlin Madden

While the lure of Nantucket—beaches, boating, dining oudoors—may be the strongest during the summer months, there’s also much to be said for the island in the off season. The ferry may run less frequently and there’s a good chance you’ll run into a few “see you next summer!” signs, but at the same time, there’s a sense of peace, ease and seclusion cast over Nantucket that’s hard to come by in the summer.

Besides a wonderful tranquility, the island also offers a number of cultural happenings and festivals in early fall—restaurant week, the annual Cranberry Festival, the Historic Harvest Fair—that rival bigger summer events in fun and quality. This week, the big draw is the Nantucket Arts Festival, happening now through Sunday, October 7. The festival features studio tours, artist discussions and lectures, an “organ crawl” (not to worry, we’re talking organs of the instrumental variety!) and a variety of unique art shows.

In addition to the programming put on by the Nantucket Arts Council, there are a number of separate group art shows happening during the week, one of which is “O: Art at 33,” an exhibit running through October 7 at the Maria Mitchell Aquarium Building. The show brings together the work of four prominent but very different Nantucket artists, Jane Hilst, Jo Ann Welch, Sande Robert and Marsha Fader, under the common theme of celebrating the circle. The theme for the show was inspired by Maria Mitchell, the aquarium’s namesake, and her lifelong work in astronomy. Of the inspiration for the show, painter Jane Hilst says, “The circle has always been a unifying symbol to contemplate. Whether the principle is in inclusion, wholeness, or the moon, sun, womb and cycles of nature, the circle is a part of global myth and relationship.” Here’s a sampling of what you might find at “O: Art at 33.” Artist Jane Hilst works primarily in large scale oil and canvas.

Photo courtesy of Jane Hilst

Photo courtesy of Jane Hilst

Jo Ann Welch is a multimedia artist who works in a variety of mediums.

Photo courtesy of Jo Ann Welch

Photo courtesy of Jo Ann Welch

Sande Roberts works primarily in oil and canvas.

Photo courtesy of Sande Robert

Photo courtesy of Sande Robert

Marsha Fader, associate AIA, specialized in historic preservation and environmental installation.

Photo courtesy of Marsha Fader

Photo courtesy of Marsha Fader

Know before you go: The exhibition runs through October 7, but will be closed today, October 1, and Friday, October 5. “O” Art at 33 Maria Mitchell Aquarium Building 28 Washington Street Nantucket, Mass. Open Noon-4 p.m.