ABOUT THE ARTIST
I began my education in a one-room school in Maine – miles away from away museums and art supplies. Eventually I found myself in some wonderful art classes but the question I always dreaded was “what were your early art experiences?” As far as I could tell, I didn’t have any.
But at MassArt, in my late 40’s, we spent a lot of time examining our sources, why one person’s work is so different from another’s, and it was then that I understood. I had had early art experiences but they had happened outdoors. Watching the ants on warm afternoons, gazing at the Big Dipper on cold winter nights – these were my earliest art experiences. I was captivated by the intimacy of up close, drawn to the mystery of far away.
As an adult I continue to be drawn to the “near” and the “far” and to search for ways to include multiple views in each painting. Sometimes I paint bits and pieces and later assemble them into a larger work.
I have been blessed with some of the best jobs in the world; among them, teaching, farming and mothering - but through them all painting has been the truest of friends. It has been my grounding, my solace, my challenge. Endlessly difficult, always worth it.
– Margery Hamlen
ARTIST STATEMENT
Watching ants on warm afternoons,
gazing at the Big Dipper on cold winter nights –
These were my earliest experiences
I was captivated by the intimacy of “up close”,
drawn to the mystery of “far away”.
The blessing of a childhood rooted in the woods,
the gift of know intimately a piece of productive farmland,
gratitude for the experience of island living –
These are poignant and potent sources
as I watch the New England landscape disappear.
© Margery Hamlen, All Rights Reserved
MARGERY HAMLEN
EDUCATION
1995
BFA Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, MA, Departmental Honors
1968
MA Art Ed. New York University, New York, NY
1966
BA Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY
AWARDS
1998
Grant Winner, Somerville Arts Council
Artist Residency, Dorland Mountain, CA
1995
Faculty Foundation Award, Mass. College of Art
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS (Juried and Invitational)
2017
Dark Harbor Gallery, Islesboro, ME
2015
“Community of Artists”, Danforth Museum, Framingham, MA
“BLUE”, Cambridge Art Association
“Maine Icons”, Islesboro, ME
2014
Juried Members Show, Concord Art Association, (Juror’s Prize, Arlette & Gus Kayafas)
2013
“Off the Wall”, Danforth Museum, Framingham, MA
2012
“BLUE”, Cambridge Art Association
2011
“Maine Icons”, Islesboro, Maine
2010
“Looking Together” Brickbottom Gallery, Somerville, MA
2009
“Massachusetts Artists 2009”, Brush Gallery, Lowell, MA
2007
“Flora and the Country Green”, Ten High Street Gallery, Camden, ME
“Black, White, and In-Between”, Islesboro Historical Society, Islesboro, ME
Summer Gallery, Sandwich, MA
2003
”Plant Matter”, New Art Center, Newton, MA
“Under the Influence”, Brickbottom Gallery, Somerville, MA
2002
“9/11”, Pelham Art Center Gallery, Pelham, NY
“Artists Respond”, Rockville Arts Center, Rockville, MD
2001
“Island Paintings”, Double Door Gallery, Islesboro, ME (one-person)
2000
“Midwest Winter”, Center for Visual Arts, Wausau, WI (Award of Excellence)
“Small Works”, Attleboro Museum, Attleboro, MA
1999
“MPG at 1”, MPG Gallery, Boston, MA
“Time Fields: Four Grant Winners”, Brickbottom Gallery, Somerville, MA
1998
“Through a Glass Darkly”, MPG Gallery, Boston, MA (two-person)
1997
“Landscape”, Between the Muse Gallery, Rockland, ME
1996
“Pulse Points”, Women’s Causus, Tichnor Gallery, Harvard University
“Lemons”, Oliver’s, Islesboro, ME (one-person)
1995
“New Drawings”, Wang Center, Boston, MA (one-person)
“Mass. College of Art”, New Expressions Gallery, Boston, MA
“New England Art School Competition”, Copley Society, Boston, MA
1993
“Visual Contact”, Women’s Caucus, Tisch Gallery, Tufts University
Grove Street Gallery, Worcester, MA
Stebbins Gallery, Cambridge, MA
1992
“Modern Love”, Hera Gallery, Wakefield, RI
Double Door Gallery, Islesboro, ME
1991
“Eight Artists Respond to War”, Brickbottom Gallery, Somerville, MA, (curator)
PUBLICATIONS/MEDIA
Christine Temin, “Plant Images, Sprouting with Life”, Boston Globe, Sept. 26, 2003
David Cameron, “Two New Shows, the Beauty of the Frozen Image”,
Montgomery County Sentinel, April 11, 2002
Nancy Ungar, Art’s Powerful Response to Sept. 11”, Rockville Gazette, April 10, 2002
Gary Duehr, “These Fields Tell Stories: 4 Grant Winners Strut Their Stuff”, Somerville Journal, Jan.14, 1999
Cate McQuaid, “Through a Glass Darkly”, Boston Globe, Dec. 17, 1998
Betsy Moyers, “Now That’s Art”, interview and slide presentation, Channel 3 TV
Massachusetts College of Art School Catalogue, 1995
Meredith Fife Day, “Gulf War Inspires Sadness for Artist”, Wayland/Weston Town Crier 6/20/1991
“Paintings of Gulf War Hang in Dover,” Needham Chronicle, 3/18/1991
COLLECTIONS
Danforth Museum, Framingham, MA
Private collections: Boston, New York, Palm Beach, Washington, DC, Lancaster, PA,
San Francisco, New Orleans, North Carolina
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
1979-1988
Meadowbrook School, Weston, MA Art
1970-1975
DeCordova Museum School, Lincoln, MA
1968-1969
New York City Public Schools Art
1966-1967
Charlottesville, VA Public Schools Art
VOLUNTEER/COMMUNITY
Epiphany School Mentor art dept.
Island Institute Rockland ME Board member, executive committee
Massachusetts College of Art and Design Board member
Christ Church Dark Harbor Trustee and Vice-President
Mothers Out Front Strategy Team, Training Team, Development Team
CONTACT
Studio
Brickbottom C-513,
1 Fitchburg St., Somerville, MA 02143