Finding the perfect gift

By Ron Fortier

Another gift-giving season is upon us. Perhaps it will be different than in years previous as we continue to navigate our pandemic environment. It may never be as it was in pre-pandemic times.

But then again, as with anything these days, who knows! One thing is certain: for many, the concept of the holidays is now much more meaningful. The absence of friends and family due to Covid. The modified, scaled-down, or remote gatherings and celebrations all seem to carry more emotional weight and meaning. Gift giving has also been modified, altered, and adjusted for the times. Regardless of the situation, our need to come together and to give each other tokens of love and esteem has not changed. But what we give has changed. Massproduced items may not reflect how we feel about those we love and care for during. Instead, original, one-of-a-kind works are needed to convey our esteem and appreciation! The South Coast Artists Annual Holiday Exhibition, at the Dartmouth Cultural Center in the quaint and historic seacoast village of Padanaram, is the perfect resource in the perfect setting. This much-anticipated annual event, according to the organization’s president, Heather Stivison, “Continues to celebrate the unique and creative culture of artists living and working in our South Coast.” This event is one of the most popular on the group’s agenda. South Coast Artists has also been offering local residents and summer tourists their annual South Coast Artists Open Studio Tour Weekends in July and August for nearly twenty years. As with the Open Studio Tour, the South Coast Artists Annual Holiday Exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to step away from the one-size-fits-all mass consumer culture and support the ingenuity and creativity of dozens of local professional artists and artisans.

The exhibition will take place from December 3 to 19. An opening reception is scheduled for Friday, December 3, from 5 to 7 pm, as part of another holiday season tradition: the Padanaram Holiday Stroll. The exhibition hours are on Thursdays through Saturdays, from 11 to 3, and on Sundays, from 11 to 4. As an established nonprofit, South Coast Artists has encouraged, supported, and fostered the artistic growth and recognition of its member artists for nearly two decades. The organization represents the interests of their Massachusetts and Rhode Island artist members. It gives access to the work of approximately 150 visual artists who live and work in the townships of Dartmouth, Westport, Tiverton, and Little Compton.

It continues to provide residents many opportunities to view art made within their communities and offers access for interaction with their artists, especially during their annual South Coast Artists Open Studio Tour Weekends, in the artists’ creative working environment. South Coast Artists encourages a greater appreciation and participation in the arts throughout the community. This exposure both educates the community and raises awareness of the diverse artistic experience available in the South Coast. “Unlike mass-produced gifts, each of these artworks is a unique treasure. There is a story behind each one“ says Stivison. The exhibition offers a variety of original artwork to view and purchase. The annual Holiday Exhibition is a wonderful can’t-miss opportunity for holiday shoppers. For the safety and comfort of visitors and shoppers, even with relaxed safety guidelines, those attending who are not vaccinated are asked to wear a mask. Everyone is asked to be responsible for their actions during this still-unabated pandemic. For more information visit SCAvirtualtour.org or dartmouthculturalcenterinc.org.