Art Reception: Nancy Shaw Cramer

The West Tisbury Free Public Library is happy to welcome West Tisbury artist Nancy Shaw Cramer to the Community Room for the month of April. An accomplished weaver, Shaw Cramer is exhibiting her new work of beaded surface designs and monotype assemblages.

In returning to her studio, Shaw Cramer says, “I was looking for something different to create– something less highly planned and more about letting the materials inspire fresh new directions.” She began by experimenting with color, asymmetrical line and embellishments, and her direction became clear.

 “I cut my paper to size, splashed it with paint and began. The monotype paper is splashed, sprayed, embossed or rolled with dyes or luminous paints. The glass beads are hand sewn on the printed paper individually, in small units, in mounds, threaded on wires or stacked in grids,” she says. “The finished images are layered, floated and framed or mounted on box panels. The various materials and techniques continue to inspire new directions and designs, ever moving forward, evolving.”

As the owner/director of the Shaw Cramer Gallery in Vineyard Haven for 20 years, she has been a well respected participant in the contemporary fine crafts and art scene here. Her handwoven tapestries have been exhibited nationally, including the American Craft Museum (NYC); theTextile Museum (Washington DC), and craft shows in Philadelphia, Washington DC and Baltimore. Shaw Cramer taught workshops at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts (TN) and was an artist in residence at the American Craft Museum.

The show is free and open to the public during library hours, from 10am to 6pm Monday through Thursday, and 10am to 5pm Friday and Saturday, as well as on Sunday from noon until 4pm.  A reception will be held on Friday, April 3 from 3:30 to 4:30  pm and is open to the public.

For more information about the exhibition, images and sales, contact the artist directly through her website shawcramer.com or by email shawcramer@gmail.com