From the Beginning: A Journey in the Visual Arts to take place in December at Milton Public Library’s Wotiz Gallery

The Wotiz Gallery of the Milton Public Library will show the work of two Milton artists during the month of December. This exhibit is called: “From the Beginning: A Journey in the Visual Arts.”  Painter and fabric artist Joyce Caggiano and photographer Owen Hartford are combining their talents in this enjoyable display.  he exhibit will showcase the relationship between photography and other forms of visual art.  It is intended to demonstrate ways that photography stands as its own work of creativity, and at the same time can inspire alternative expressions of the same scene created in other media.  Some artists insist that to begin an artwork with someone else’s photo is to “copy” rather than invent or create original art.

This display, which will run from December 3 through December 30, contains photos and completed paintings and drawings derived from those images. It demonstrates the process of one artist, Joyce, moving from an image (in this case a photographic image) to a complete art piece. Working in collaboration with Owen Hartford, an experienced photographer, the program shows the intricate relationship between photography and painting.

A section of the collection to be shown is called “Grief” which was completed by Caggiano after the death of her husband of 30 years in 2017.  She has been painting for over 60 years with many detours in between the decades.  Although her art has been primarily for her own expression, sometimes others enjoy the results as well.  Over the past 2 years, she has devoted 100% of her time to artistic endeavors, converting a garage into a fully functioning art studio. This is what Joyce says: “At the root of much of my work (not always visible to others) is a smile that comes from my soul.”  And she quotes John O’Donohue by saying: “The wonder of the beautiful is its ability to surprise us.

With swift, sheer grace, it is like a divine breath that blows the heart open.”  Photographer Owen Hartford is also a musician and composer, who started taking pictures as a teenager in San Francisco.  He taught photography at Boston University, and recently published From Icicles to Africa, a book showcasing the diversity of photographic subjects and styles.  There will be a free and open reception for this joint exhibit held in the Gallery on Thursday, December 5, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. which is free and open to all.

Questions? Email [email protected] or call the Reference Dept. at (617) 898-4964. We encourage you to come view some lovely art this month at the MPL!