The annual “Love, Lust and Desire” exhibit returns for its 10th year, but its first at McGowan Fine Art’s new location.
McGowan owner, Sarah Chaffee, said the show came to be after an artist backed out of an exhibit two months before it was set to be unveiled – a last minute change in the art world.
Chaffee said she recalled seeing a wall display elsewhere of all works less than $500 and thought she could do something similar to replace the canceled exhibit.
So, she sent out a call for art submissions.
“They just came flooding in,” she said.
The shows are different each year with some artists joining for the first time and others dropping out, Chaffee said. The current exhibit coordinator is a more recent art school graduate, Chaffee said, who has been skilled at soliciting contributions from new artists.
This year’s art show features about 400 juried works by more than 60 artists – some professional, some casual. All the pieces are priced at $300 or less and are 8.5-inches by 11-inches or less.
Each submission can contain up to 10 artworks, said exhibit coordinator Julie Hamel. McGowan tries to accept as many as possible.
The show includes paintings, prints, photography and mixed-media pieces.
The pieces are hung on the wall in plastic sleeves, which can be removed if you’re interested in purchasing. A new work will be hung to take its place.
Unlike McGowan’s other exhibits, which typically feature just one or a few artists, “Love, Lust and Desire X” will have more than 60 people represented.
Hamel’s personal favorites include Bert Yarborough and Lucy Mink, as well as Adelaide Murphy Tyrol and Shiao-Ping Wang.
Fan favorites include Michelle Motuzas, Mary Ann McNicholas, Judith Lampe and Maya Kuvaja.
There are Concord creators like Becky Darling and Kristin Selesnick. And people like Alyssa Mees all the way from California.
“It’s a really fun grab bag,” Hamel said.
The new gallery space at 2 Phenix Ave., Concord, is smaller than the former Hill Avenue location.
Hamel said they are still figuring out how to display all the work.
“There are brand new walls and lots of brick,” she said. Some work will be in boxes where art can be flipped through and there will be some lattice work to hang other pieces.
Once a piece is sold, a new work will be hung in its place for an ever-evolving display.
The exhibit will be on display Tuesday through Feb. 16, with a reception on Feb. 2 from 5 to 7 p.m. A snow date reception may be held on Feb. 9. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information, visit mcgowanfineart.com or call 225-2515.