Arts on the Cape

From PAAM in Provincetown to the Falmouth Art Center, Cape Cod has so much to see and do in the arts.  Arts and crafts shows pop up all over during the summer - enough on some weekends to keep you hopping from morning to night.  There is no way one blog post can cover all of it - so we will just look at some of the more major spots to fill your heart with art.

The Provincetown Art Association and Museum (PAAM) was established in 1914 by artists Charles Hawthorne, Oscar Gieberich, William Halsall, Gerrit Beneker, and E. Ambrose Webster.  Provincetown had already been a major art colony and in the time after WWI, had become one of the largest around.  PAAM offers their collection of well over 2000 works by artists who at one point or another called Cape Cod home.  In addition, they have a robust schedule of exhibits from contemporary artists.  This summer they will be showing works from Carmen Cicero, Myrna Harrison as well as exhibits from a collection of artists in their Art of the Garden and Members' 12 x 12 exhibition (where there will be a silent auction to purchase the art).  PAAM also offers workshops all year long.  Why not sign up for a class in landscape painting, introduction to photography, woodcut, drawing, one of their several art lecture series, and more at the Museum School at PAAM.

If you are in the mood to purchase affordable local arts and crafts, check out the Artists' Shanties at Hyannis Harbor.  Part of the Hyannis Harbor HYARTS district program, the Artists Shanties give you a great opportunity to meet Cape Cod artists, watch them at work and buy their creations, all while not missing a moment by the water.  This year the schedule is weekends (Friday - Sunday) through June 17 then seven days a week from June 22 through September 30.  There are 3 full season artist shanties featuring six artists as well as several rotating shanties with new artists every week.  In addition, one shanty will showcase a featured artists for one month.  Check out the list of artists here.  In addition to the shanties, HyArts also offers art exhibits, performances and classes through out the summer.

The Cultural Center of Cape Cod in South Yarmouth offers a great venue for various artists to exhibit and sell their works.  Four gallery spaces are available for weekly rental by single artists or groups.  In addition to offering gallery space the Cultural Center has art classes, a summer arts camp for kids and is home to several great concerts.  This summer see photography by Amy Heller, art from students at Nauset Middle School, the National Juried Show of Pastel Painters and the 11th Annual Celebration of the Arts Festival.  Don't miss their annual Walk/Run for the Arts on June 16.  They are also home to the Bass River Farmers Market every Thursday from June - October.

The Cape Cod Arts Association in Barnstable has been around since 1948.  They have 3 art galleries that offer monthly exhibits and have two studio for classes, demonstrations and workshops.  Currently they have an exhibit with a title near and dear to our hearts "All Cape Cod".  Their Art in the Village show in Barnstable Village, June 30 - July 1, is in its 10th year.  Their participants are painters, photographers, fine art crafters, jewelry makers and more.  Classes this summer range from photography, watercolors, to life drawing.  Check out the classes for Teens and Tweens and their Art Summer camp.

The Truro Art Center at Castle Hill began in 1971 and offers classes and workshops in painting, mixed media, writing, photography, work in clay - including a Raku kiln firing,  printmaking and classes for kids and teens.  They also sponsor the International Encaustic Conference - held in Provincetown but pre and post conference workshops are held at the center.  While this year's conference is this coming weekend June 1 - 3, 2012 there are some post conference classes still open.  Castle Hill also offers several special opportunities for artists including an artist-in-residence program, a year-round ceramic cooperative, and a print cooperative. They have several exhibits of member artists work all summer long. 

The Falmouth Art Center is home to the Falmouth Artists Guild where they provide education and exhibit opportunities year-round.  Attend their fund-raising event of the season "Starry, Starry Night" - their annual gala on July 13, 2012.  This summer's exhibits include Monotypes and Monoprints June 5 - July 3 and their Summer Juried Exhibition July 6 - 29.  Like the other art centers, the Falmouth Art Center is offering a wide variety of classes for adults, kids and teens.  Some of the more varied classes include polymer clay bead making and encaustic painting as well as the usual painting and drawing classes for all skill levels.  For kids, they are offering an Art from Nature Camp for various ages throughout the summer.

We have barely scratched the surface of the art offerings on Cape Cod during the summer.  There are many art shows as well as fine craft shows all summer long.  Check out our events calendar on AllCapeCod.com and even download the google calendar to see what is happening in the arts scene.  Also "like us" on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @allcapecod_com for daily updates on what is happening on Cape Cod with more arts, crafts, performing arts, music and other fun things to do here on the Cape.