Art Gallery Salutes Fenway Park

By Kevin Beese
Updated: September 26, 2012

A multi-media salute to Fenway Park, the Boston Red Sox and baseball is on

Chris Speakman’s “Fenway 100” painting is one of the pieces of artwork on display at the Bunker Hill Community College Art Gallery.

display at the Bunker Hill Community College Art Gallery in Boston.

More than 30 artists and collectors, most from New England, provided oilpaintings, quilts, watercolors, drawings and cartoons for “Take Me Out To The Ballgame: Celebrating Fenway@100.”

The exhibit features black-and-white photographs of the Red Sox from the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s, captured by former Boston Herald Traveler and Quincy Patriot Ledger sports photographer Laban H. Whittaker. Twenty-five of his images have never been displayed in a gallery setting.

Images are also provided by veteran Boston Globe photographer Bill Brett;

“Fenway” by Rick Friedman is one of the photos on display.

Justyn Farano, the official artist for the Ted Williams Museum in St. Petersburg, Fla.; Lou Jones; Russell duPont; Mara Aspinall; and John Kennard.

Brett’s work chronicles the 2004 championship “rolling rally.”

Paintings ranging in style from loose painterly to photo realist by Chelsea painter Arnie Casavant, Loretta Feeney, Kaitlin Thurlow, Michael McCauley, Paul Lempa and Anthony Padula honor players and salute the park.

Casavant provides impressionistic renderings of pre-game crowds on Yawkey

Justin’s Farano’s portrait of Jim Rice, Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski

Way.

Illustrations and prints by Elaine Ostrander and Chris Speakman, and centennial and championship quilts by Rosemary Bawn are also part of the show addressing all things baseball.

An artists’ reception will be held for the general public from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, with Fenway Park-inspired fare and music. Frances Botelho-Hoeg, winner of the 2005 Boston Pops competition, will perform the national anthem and several American songbook standards. Josh Kantor, the official Red Sox organist will provide sing-along versions of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” and “Sweet Caroline.”

Wally, the Green Monster Sox mascot, will also make an appearance.

“Fenway” by Justin Farano

“With this year’s team, shall we say, underperforming on the field, there is always next year for Red Sox Nation to look forward to,” said Laura Montgomery, Bunker Hill Community College Art Gallery director and exhibit curator. “The fans’ die-hard spirit; the team’s illustrious past; and the storied history of the park, its personalities, industry and allure are all worth celebrating as this centennial year comes to a close.

“This is no doubt the definitive Fenway@100 exhibit of the season, with its large array of baseball-, Red Sox- and Fenway Park-themed art (and) memorabilia, and the super line-up of artists on deck. It is a hit right out of the park!”

Lou Jones’ photo “Just Married at Fenway”

“Take Me Out To The Ball Game: Celebrating Fenway@100” continues through Oct. 20.

The gallery, which is free, is located on the MTBA Orange Line and in handicap accessible. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The gallery is located at 250 New Rutherford Ave.

Also scheduled at the gallery is “Take Me Out To The Ball Game: Poetry and Readings on All Things Baseball” at 6 p.m. Oct. 3.

Luke Salisbury will read from “The Answer is Baseball” and “Cleveland Indian.”

The event will also feature Cynthia Duda, Doug Holder, Jean-Dany Joachim, Lindsay Naggie and Laura Rancator.

An open-mic session will also be conducted.

For information, call Montgomery at (617) 228-2093 or email [email protected].