max.bowen@northstarreporter.com
Attleboro artist Michael Perry will be among 60 artists from across the Northeast who will be featured at the second Annual Wickford Art Association Fall Art Fair.
The fair will take place on Saturday, Oct. 24, and Sunday, Oct., 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Gooseneck Vineyard in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. Now in its second year, the fair is expanding to two days. Admission to the fair is free and open to the public.
Artists who will be featured work in painting, photography, ceramics, jewelry, glass, fiber, mixed media and more.
“We are so excited to expand this event to a second day and showcase a larger number of artists,” Festival Director Heather Schold said. “These artists represent exceptional quality, originality, and creativity.”
In this interview, Perry talks about his medium, his experience at past fairs, and what inspired his work.
Tell me about the work that you will have at the art fair?
I’ll be showing ocean-themed monotypes. For anyone unfamiliar with the process, a monotype is made by painting or drawing on a smooth, flat surface then transferring that image onto paper. Each print is one of a kind.
It has some of the spontaneity of a painting. There’s room in the process for things to happen that were not entirely planned on, making the result a little bit of a surprise, even for the artist.
Is this your first time at the fair? If not, what was the last experience like?
I’ve done a number of art fairs over the summer and the experience is always fun — provided Mother Nature cooperates. It’s a chance to get out of the studio, show what you’ve been working on, talk with people. Those conversations are a big part of the experience.
What’s your take on the fall art fair?
I think it’s a great opportunity. An artist can get a lot of eyes on their work in a relatively short amount of time. It also brings together people who share an interest in art. You can look at what other artists are doing, talk about ideas and processes, and have conversations you might not otherwise have working on your own.
Are there any artists that you’re looking forward to seeing?
I don’t really know the other artists at this event, so I’m looking forward to meeting some new faces and seeing their work.
What does it mean to have a group like the Wickford Art Association?
Having an organization that promotes art and gives artist a place to connect with people who appreciate it — that’s hard to beat. Making the work is one part, but having opportunities to share it also matters and a group like this helps make that possible.
I’d like to learn more about your background. How did you get into making your art?
Art has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. I’ve always enjoyed experimenting with different materials and techniques and that curiosity has kept me making things.
What styles have you done?
Photography has been a big part of my work, especially black-and-white photography. I’ve also done drawing and painting in different mediums. The current focus is printmaking, specifically monotypes.
What would you say inspires your work?
The ocean and coastline are the inspiration for the monotypes I’m making now. I’ve always been drawn to the ocean. I used to be an avid scuba diver, so that connection goes beyond the perspective of looking at things exclusively from the shore. It’s a subject I keep coming back to.
What pieces are you working on right now?
I’m beginning work on a large monotype commission of a humpback whale. Working on a large piece has its own set of challenges so it’ll be interesting to see where things land.