A Breath of Fresh Air
TOUR ANNUAL ART CONTEST
Air itself is a vital element of life. The air of our shared atmosphere connects us globally, through the life sustaining breath that passes through each of our bodies. Artworks in this competition promise to be an imaginative journey through the invisible, kinetic, ethereal, and freshness of air. An open window, cloudy skies, a windy day, fresh laundry on a clothesline, a child’s balloon, the atmosphere/environment, our lungs, or perhaps an abstract painting that feels as fresh and new as “a breath of fresh air.”
We have invited artists who are registered for the 2025 Open Studio Tour to submit their best work that captures a breath of fresh air.
Kevin Gilmore, 2025 Annual Contest Juror
ABOUT THE JUROR: Kevin Gilmore is an interdisciplinary artist, working as a painter, experimental sound composer, and educator. Originally from Rhode Island he spent over a decade exploring the landscapes of Wyoming, Oregon, Italy, and Brooklyn. As an abstract visual artist working with collage, acrylic and oils, the sense of place becomes the subject of his abstract canvases. Gilmore works with sound as a medium, composing experimental soundscapes from field recordings, acousmatics through contact microphones, digital instruments and analogue synthesizers. His teaching philosophy has developed through a similar intuitive process, with experience leading workshops and teaching undergraduate art classes. After starting a family in NYC, Kevin returned to his native state... as Rhode Islanders often do. His interdisciplinary art practice is located close to the sea where he also lives with his wife, two children and his dog.
Congratulations to the Awardees!
First Prize
Amy Thurber
Woodland Whistle
16" x 4.5" x 2"
Ceramics
Juror Comments:
“I found myself returning to this piece again and again. The intrinsic potentiality for ‘Woodland Whistle' to create new art(sound/music) beyond, but also within, its own form takes the functionality of many clay pieces to the next level. By that I mean that while a beautiful clay vessel can function as a receptacle for another art form, say the artful preparation and ceremony of tea, ‘Woodland Whistle’, through its functionality produces another art form entirely. A song, a melody, a sound object. This process only activated by breath…air.
In New England, by late winter/very early spring, we yearn for color. Tired of the brown and grey hues we are awakened by the emerging green. The buds on Woodland Whistle embody that hope among the earthy brown glazes. The fresh green buds, positioned at the bottom, where the musical notes would emerge, is the poetry I am always looking for in my top choice.
The finger holes themselves seem musical, organic, perfectly imperfect. Even in a picture, I can imagine holding and playing this instrument. I can hear the way breath would resonate within the clay structure. The woody bark and textures along with the values in glazes and shadows of the mouthpiece and finger holes speak to the excellence in artisanship.”
Second Prize
Kim Barry
Summer Nocturne
36" x 48"
Oil on canvas
Juror Comments:
“Once in a while, the full moon is so bright, songbirds bewilderingly pop out and sing their daytime songs at night. The experience is very different from a dawn chorus; mysterious. These are the sounds I hear as I continue to enjoy ‘Summer Nocturne’.…
There is a dreaminess to this landscape, with an almost otherworldly presence of plants, night blooms, and hidden creatures. The colors, warm red-violets and purples contrast with the yellowish hues of the moon and moonlight. On one hand, it feels like sitting at the edge of the woods along the coast of Maine, yet it could easily be some distant lush planet in an alternative timeline, a place Ursula K. Le Guin might write about, or in contemporary world-building animations such as Scavengers Reign, where EVERYTHING visually pulsates and breathes.
While the magenta underpainting pops through the foliage of the trees and flowers, it is subdued, controlled. The paint strokes are visible and speak to the medium. Acrylic can’t help but self-level the artist’s brushstrokes, while as seen here, oil paint retains all the subtleties of the artist’s handling of the paint and brush. There is a balance between precision and remaining loose, lush and painterly.
Finally, this artwork does what (for me…) most successful paintings do - it makes me want to see more work by the artist!”
Honorable Mention
Taylor Smith
Nauset Rising
16" x 20"
Oil
Juror Comments:
Ahhh, Cape Cod. It is simply a vibe. Unparalleled. Different from all the others. If you know, you know. ‘Nauset Rising’ is it. 100%. That sprawling stretch of coastline is perfectly articulated here. The wind, the smells, the seagulls, the sand whipping the shins as it blows down the beach…but it is that sea-spray…you can taste it! Tiny droplets of salty sea suspended above the sand. The use of value and sfumato draw the eyes into the distance. All of it contained here in this painting. While I draw from my many memories traveling to the Cape, what I find most compelling is that if a viewer has not been to the Cape, the artist has provided such an accurate, generous depiction, one really can understand what it is like to be on that beach! Sublime.
The composition of ‘Nauset Rising’ is noteworthy. The criss-cross diagonals of the clouds and the shadows of the dunes brings the eyes right, left and back again, while the expanse of the coast pushes the eye from the foreground to the background. The field of view is depicted perfectly using the figures as they get smaller and smaller. You can imagine each story. A couple walking together, another couple staring out at the horizon (maybe searching for a great white shark), a person reaching down for a washed-up treasure.
Last, the rope fence is beautifully rendered. It is such a difficult task to paint linear human-made objects with such subtlety among the beauty of the landscape. Here, it becomes a perfect contrast to the rolling sandy hills dotted with footprints and speckled with grass. As Paul Klee mused, “A line is a dot that went for a walk.” The rope fence becomes another path for the eye to wander around.”
First Place, Amy Thurber
Second Place, Kim Barry (center) Stephen Remick, SCA President (left) Kevin Gilmore, Juror (right)
Honorable Mention, Taylor Smith
View all of the entries from our artists below:
Robert Abele Catching Crackers 14" x 11" OilIn "Catching Crackers," I invite viewers to pause and reflect on the beauty of life's simple pleasures. The scene of a man feeding seagulls by the ocean serves as a metaphor for the passage of time and the importance of slowing down to savor the present moment. The man embodies a sense of mindfulness, encouraging us to embrace the fleeting beauty of life and the moments that often go unnoticed. This painting is a celebration of stillness, inviting us to take a breath, appreciate our surroundings, and reconnect with the world around us.
Cali Almy 3 Air Current Vessels 4" x 11.5" x 4" ClayThese pieces were created as part of a series called "Elemental". The series included a collection of vessels which explored visual themes of the elements (earth, water, fire and air) on the surfaces. The three vessels I have submitted are part of the "Air" collection. Each vessel was created with porcelain clay and thrown on the wheel. The forms are carved with a pattern of holes to encourage a sense of air movement. The outside of each remains unglazed, while the inside is glazed with dark blues and greens to provide a contrast to the exterior allowing the pattern to seen more clearly.
Kim Barry Summer Nocturne 36" x 48" Oil on canvasMy painting, “Summer Nocturne” was inspired by cherished memories of sensations I have stored from many nights I Lingered in the moonlight to savor a warm breeze rich with the perfume of blooming flowers and the sounds of moving trees and plants. In my painting fragrant iridescent blossoms of moon flowers and night blooming cereus attract pollinators. A sphinx moth darts among the flowers and off into the summer sky. My memories carry me to experiences of warm, moist air surrounding my body and brushing my face. All my senses are in tune with nature. I am at peace.
Dot Bergen Pride 22" x 6" x 5" Encaustic and FiberPride references an undervalued ocean community to ask the question: What value do Immigrant and LGBTQ Communities add to our shared human existence? This ocean community has been undervalued because these animals are located in remote areas of the ocean. A recent study suggests that these animals can remove 33% of the atmospheric carbon dioxide emitted by human activity. Thus, this community could mitigate climate change. Due to a shortage of fish food, nations are beginning to fish in this area. If these animals are over exploited, the extra carbon dioxide remaining in the atmosphere will cause a significant increase in atmospheric temperatures, rendering many places on earth uninhabitable. What other important roles does this marginalized community play? Pride is built on a wooden box. The vertical orientation refers to the vertical migration of these creatures. The hollow tubes of encaustic paint refer to the animals. The intertwined pieces of lace, saturated in wax, reflect the movement of the water, and refer to their algae food source. Carbon-removal is the value-add asset of this ocean community. A value-add asset of Immigrant and LGBTQ communities is a strong economic engine driven by ingenuity, invention, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to survive. They seek basic human rights such as food, water, shelter and an education. Can we learn the value of marginalized communities while building a more compassionate future for all, or are we destined to mourn the loss of their value after a mass extirpation event?
Marianne Boucher Just Hanging Around 15" x 30" Oil on canvasThe oil painting of a dress explores the theme of air through movement and lightness. The flowing fabric appears to drift, as if caught in a breeze, capturing the unseen force of air as it lifts and shapes the form.
Dianne Burns High Sky Flier 36" x 24" OilI was 'taken away' by this scene as the storm was approaching. You could not see the people on the beach or around the water, just the parachute dancing on the breeze.
Robert Dec Horizontal Resonance 20" x 24" Acrylic and Photo Transfer on CanvasThis, like many of my pieces transcends the realms of realism and abstraction. I aim to express the landscape and atmosphere with paint, using surface texture, glazes and color but still retaining the organic elements of the original photo. My recent Photo Transfer/Paintings are both painterly and photographic, based upon nature but also process-driven by the results of the transfer technique. My intent in this and much of my work is to reflect the energy changes caused by the Sun, the clouds and weather, combining the familiar with the unexpected.
Cecilia DelGaudio Osprey Approaching Nest 12" x 18" Soft PastelsThis painting was inspired by a drone image which offers fresh perspective on a much loved spot I like to photograph for painting references. By super imposing an image of an osprey as she approaches the nest, I tried to give the painting a sense of her ownership of the skies and the area in general. Because it was such a clear and gorgeous afternoon, I took several photos with my phone as well and have developed a series pastel paintings of this tranquil spot of the river. Being somewhat new to painting and pastels, I am still
Iria DeValles-Vieira A Pleasant Day 14" x 18" AcrylicWhen I view this abstract painting it reminds me of being at peace. I enter into it and my breathing relaxes . It gives me the same feeling when I meditate, I am taking a new breath every time and it refreshes and calms me. Others that have viewed this have verbalized to me the same type of feelings… calmness.
Peter Dickison Putti Playground 18" x 24" Oil on linenThis painting caused me to wonder on how solid, animated, and even dangerous cloud forms seem to us as we are rooted firmly upon the ground, when in fact, clouds are mere percentage point differences in the moisture that our atmosphere contains. Artists of earlier eras have imagined putti climbing upon clouds as if they were sand dunes, whereas we routinely ride airplanes through the skies as if clouds were nothing but an inconvenience of the air. It is my perceptions of the air that I can feel, hear and see, materializing as solid form and vapor, upon which I ruminate in this painting.
Kris Donovan For the Beauty of the Earth 36" x 48" OilThis painting was inspired by a beautiful, clear day at the Town Landing in Little Compton..... the sky, the sea, and the crisp air was intoxicating! It reminded me of one of my favorite hymns, For the Beauty of the Earth, for the glory of the skies....... hence the title.
Charles Eastman The Clothes Line, Bascara, Spain 12" x 18" Black & White PhotographyAfter days of rain, the sun came out on the first day of spring. I spotted the fresh laundry in the breeze getting their benefit. Bascara, Spain.
Heidi O'Donnell Eastman Morning 20" x 20" Oil on canvasWarm and cool air meet on a summer's morning in Westport. The rising sun, mist, and movement induced by the mixture of air temperatures produce stunning gold and rose tones.
Lindsey Epstein Celebrating Spring 26"w x 11.5"h x 10"d ClayThis entry is celebration of the simple, yet profound moments of life, capturing the essence of "a breath of fresh air." Each piece begins with the rhythm of the wheel, where the act of shaping clay is a grounding reminder of the natural world around us. The soft, flowing forms of my vessels are designed to evoke a sense of calm and openness, offering a space to pause and breathe deeply. The hand-painted tulips that grace each piece reflect the vitality and beauty found in nature's fleeting moments. The vivid colors and delicate details of the flowers bring a burst of life to the pottery, as if inviting the viewer to take in the fresh, crisp air of spring. These tulips represent renewal, growth, and the joy that comes with embracing nature's breath—its endless cycle of change and beauty. Through this work, I wanted to create pottery that serves a functional purpose but also acts as a reminder to slow down, take a breath, and appreciate the refreshing simplicity of the world around us. The combination of wheel-thrown forms and colorful hand-painted designs serves as a metaphor for the balance between stillness and movement, inviting a sense of peace and renewal with every glance.
Nadine Flowers Earth's Exhale 10" x 10" mixed media collageEarth’s Exhale speaks to the deep connection between nature and life’s cyclical breath. The collage evokes a sense of bursting energy and renewal. The robin’s egg blue background is a visual anchor and a symbolic representation of the air and sky — the breath of the Earth itself. The piece incorporates various natural elements, including shells, roots, bark, seaweed, and sinew. It pays homage to the forest and ocean floors and the life that springs from them. Feathers delicately fan out on the surface, suggesting the ethereal nature of air and flight. At the heart of the assemblage, roots, repurposed netting, and lichen weave together, and a bird’s nest emerges as both the physical and symbolic core. Acorns become eggs — hinting at cycles and seasons, growth and renewal. The nest represents home, a place of nurturing, protection, and continuity. It suggests that Earth, in its exhalation, breathes life into all things — small and large, fragile and resilient. The piece invites the viewer to feel nature’s fullness and to experience the gentle hum of new life as Earth exhales once again, welcoming spring.
William Gajda Picnic on the Cliff 20" x 40" x 28" WoodThe Penny Table was based on inspiration of a Historical Penny rug that I have seen at the Little Comption Historical Society. I made the Penny Rounds the same diameter as the rug rounds. The wooden 4" diameter rounds are Walnut with six 1" diameter Maple plugs. The four plugs adjacent to the rounds is Purple Heart. The spalted Maple is the wood utilized on the table top and the drawer. I made the drawer knob using Purple Heart with a Maple plug. The base of the table is pine which I painted a historical Newburg Greene, which actually looks like a historical blue.
Vidar Haaland Brisk 20" x 39" WatercolorEarly morning swim and the freshness of the air are depicted in this large scale watercolor. Great to be alive.
Peter Halpin Lincoln Circa 1832 10.5" x 13.25" PastelAs a lover of art and history, Mr. Halpin chose Lincoln's first law book read in the "library of the time" -- under a tree.
Barbara Edlund Healy Gallivanting 30" x 30" OilGetting out on the water connects me with nature, and the summer season in New England. Capturing the joy of the day on canvas, I can share with my viewer.
Mark LeSaffre Road to East Beach 31" x 41" Oil on canvasMy approach to painting on location is a synthesis of conscious and intuitive choices. I work rapidly attempting to capture the essence of the subject in the most simple and direct way, applying the paint very thinly allowing the white of the canvas to breath through, the way one would paint with watercolor.
Eric Lintala Rainbow Man 48" x 4" x 24" SteelIn our sky's long ago it was believed a breath of fresh air would come after the Rainbow Man delivered his pallet of color's, rainy mist and sunshine across the clear blue sky, which he still does.
Karen Melanson Carlsbad Fields 9" x 10" PastelSmell the soft scent lingering in the air at the flower fields at Carlsbad, California. The acres of vibrant bands of color inspired me to capture their beauty by painting them loosely and freely.
Kelly Milukas Every Color of Air 9" x 9" Gouache AcrylicFresh air exists as different colors for the many environments and peoples of our world.
Vania Noverça-Viveiros Nature Boy (smelling blue bonnet flowers) 16" x 20" Oil on CanvasThis painting is of a little boy enjoying nature, he is set in a field of blue bonnet flowers and he is not only captivated by the beauty of the flowers but he stops to smell them. I am always filled with joy when I see children enjoying the beauty of the earth; there is something about the innocents of children experiencing nature and the air we breathe that sometimes we as adults take for granted. To me the moment between this child and nature is a breath of fresh air!
Serena Parente Charlebois Spring Storm on Almy Creek 5.25" x 7.25" Alternative Process PhotographyThis piece was inspired by my time spent in childhood on Almy Creek. This piece was photographed in b&w just before a spring storm, printed on archival cotton vellum, hand colored and gilded with a 12K white gold leaf to accentuate the late evening light that glides across the marsh grasses and reflects upon the water.
JP Powel A Southwest Breeze 9" x 12" Oil on PanelA southwest breeze off the beach signals the beginning of summer.
Kadie Salfi Winged Beauty 14" x 8" x 1.5" Cyanotype, acrylic on plasterWinged Beauty Grace my darling grace. The innocence lost with your first breath and now now you must undo what has been done you must trust trust in your future and just be. You will be your glory and break barriers. You will be a bridge from here to there today to tomorrow. So trust my love trust you will shine they will see you in the future but not now and that is grace.
Carol Scavotto Beach Ball 36" x 24" Oil on canvasConnecting to the ocean and sky on a day at the beach is one of the most soul fulfilling endeavors for me. Growing up on the beach I remember a specific teenage day of struggle. I sat on the beach at sunset and knew at that moment the ocean would always be my grounding touch stone. My breath of fresh air.
Melynda Schudrich Underwater Clarity 14" x 4" Fused glassI created this fused glass piece because I was inspired by the life beneath the water's surface. Having gone diving in the past, I find the bubbles, the breath of underwater creatures, exhilarating and refreshing. Living in this area, surrounded by water and its vibrant life, continues to inspire me.
Kris Shaffer Vigilance 18" x 24" Oil on CanvasThis vigilant mama cow protects the calves from perceived danger. However, the powers that be are far greater than she can know. Currently, herd mentality has led us down a very dark path that is also very dangerous.
Michelle Smith Water, Air, Light 9" x 12" Color photographyThe subject of air brought me to so many places. Air is life. The air we breath existed at the beginning of life on earth. The act of breathing is our connection to life; to the divine. So many connections! I chose an image that combines air and water to form a rainbow. On the day the photo was taken, the ocean was wild. The wind was blowing off the land hitting the tops of the waves as they broke. Everyone once in a while the wind the waves and the air created rainbows. The power of the ocean and wind created a peace and joyous beauty I will never forget. The photo was created with a 500 ml zoom lens. I love macro photography and sometimes use this lens to create in a similar way as I do with my macro lens.
Taylor Smith Nauset Rising 16" x 20" OilThe air defines this painting from the wind swept clouds and thick atmosphere to the blowing sea grass. The turbulent seas in the upper left leave no doubt what kind of day it was like for the people walking on the beach. Air in combination with moisture gives us a visual template.
Stephanie Stroud Sun Painted Sky 24" x 10" Felted Wool“A breath of fresh air” is a phrase we use when we see something new, unique or particularly exciting. The air we breathe gives us life but is also a source of great beauty just waiting for us to look up. I love to watch the sky and how it changes constantly. Affected by the weather, particles suspended in the atmosphere, and the position of the sun, the beauty of air surrounds us. A sunset is a truly magnificent blending of science and artistry. We watch the process unfolding, changing minute by minute, magnificent vibrant colors in the sky above as the sun scatters light through the atmosphere like a painter scatters paint on a canvas. There for only a few moments before the curtain of darkness descends. “Sun Painted Sky” is a wool felt painting created with carefully layered, fluffy bits of un-spun, dyed wool to capture a fleeting moment of natural beauty as the sunlight paints the sky.
Amy Thurber Woodland Whistle 16" x 4.5" x 2" CeramicsClay is musical. Depending on the thickness, density and shape, it can produce a variety of ringing tones. My challenge was to birth the resonance of breath, caressing clay, while evoking the energy of spring growth. This whistle is in the form of a branch, caught between the transformation from winter dormancy to bud break. Is it the music of the wind in the branches? No, this Spring song is the result of the sigh from my mouth as I watch the land wake.
Raquel Valcourt-deCosta Cuttihunk 11" x 11" Mixed/contemporary frescoThis piece was created by layering tinted plasters and "painting " it while wet.
Michael Walden He is Filled With Things You Don't Know 36" x 36" Oil on board“All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” -Blaise Pascal As I began to make work for this show, my focus was on figuring out my place in the current socio-political environment. It seemed like the best thing for me to do was to take a seat, and listen, and quietly observe. To become a human still life of sorts, watching life around me slow to stillness. And then I started to paint. To see where it would bring me. After a long period of painting through darkness, color and light started working their way onto the canvases. I wondered where it was coming from? Why was it coming now? I wondered if these moments of illumination were an escape or an act of self-preservation as the world around us self-destructs. Maybe the paintings were trying to tip over the negativity that seems to be consuming us. Maybe beauty, in whatever form it may take, is an answer to all the world's complications. The people and objects I have painted– a chair, a provocateur, a pair of shoes, a motivator, a sheet on a laundry line, a searcher– maybe they too are waiting for the moment when we move back into a life in motion. To restart. To recalibrate. To reconnect. Maybe the optimism in these paintings is my eagerness to get on with living. For me, they celebrate color, light and surface, and most of all, humanity.
Pat Warwick Low Tide 30" x 40" Oil on PanelOn my daily walks along the trails of the East Bay, I've come to know the beaches and marshes well.
Nancy Whitin Beach Run 9" x 12" PastelI have painted the sandpipers many times, each time trying a different technique to capture their running through the shallows.
Carol Way Wood Hare in the Air 9" x 12" WatercolorNothing better in the warm Spring Air than a celebratory frolic.