Op Art

works from Full Palette 2012

  Gerry Bouchard                                             Ashley Bishop                                              Emery Johnson

 Maggie Lee                                                Lori Butler                                                   Johanna Strong

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Larry and Sherry Pearl of  Newburyport Framers. They have been longtime friends of the NAA and supporters of the Op Art program. They have very generously donated the framing for the upcoming NAA Op Art show, Full Palette.  

Thank you also to our friends at 

Omega Moulding for donating the framing materials for the Full Palette show

and

Institution for Savings and the Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank

for their generous support

Volunteers Wanted

OpArt, a partnership between Opportunity Works and The Newburyport Art Association, is immediately seeking responsible, positive and enthusiastic volunteers. The OpArt program encourages adults with a variety of developmental and physical disabilities to enrich their lives through the art making process.  Experience in Education, Art Education or Special Education preferred but not necessary. Volunteers must have some experience or strong interest in Visual Art. For scheduling and further information please call Program Director Sara Connor at 978.270.4622 or email.   

The History of the OP ART Program

A collaboration with the Newburyport Opportunity Works, OpArt provides individuals with disabilities hands on art instruction using different media, techniques, and materials, and the chance to realize their life’s ambitions through the creative process in the visual arts.

In 2004 the NAA started an art training program for the associates at Opportunity Works in Newburyport, MA.  An NAA volunteer and staff member facilitated the program on a weekly basis in an open classroom environment using very basic art materials, such as crayons, poster paint, and construction paper. Program funding was provided by the NAA, and the first exhibition of the associates' work was held at the NAA in February of 2005.

  

Today, this critical art education outreach program - OpArt -  is managed by a coordinator on the NAA staff, Sara Connor, with the help of several volunteer NAA Members. The program has grown to include the participation of talented associate artists working with advanced art supplies and techniques, such as acrylic paints, pastels, water colors, charcoals, photography and sculpture.  The artists have enjoyed growing recognition at the regional and state-wide levels for the quality of artwork created.  The program is now widely known for the positive impact it has had on artists with special needs over the years.  Sales of the artwork in various retail venues support the artists and Opportunity Works, Inc. in Newburyport. The program would not be possible without the support of our local funders, The Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank Cahritable Foundation, the Institution for Savings Charitable Foundation, and The Provident Bank Community Foundation.

Several successful exhibitions are held during the year in the surrounding areas , including at the Lowell's Boat Shop in Amesbury, MA, at the NAA itself and  at The Carry Out Cafe in Newburyport, MA.

For further information, please contact Elena Bachrach  or Sara Connor  at the Newburyport Art Association