It’s that time of year again – the Nantucket Fair is back – bigger and better – planned for September 11 and 12 at Tom Nevers.

The fair combines competitive competitions, creative games, and activities for the whole family. It’s brought to you by a host of island organizations including the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Strong Wings, The Children’s House, Nantucket Bee Keepers, The Loring Foundation, Nantucket Disc Golf, The Rebecca’s, The Sons of the American Legion, Foods for Here and There, and The Nantucket High School Art Club and Shop Class. Get in touch now if you’d like to volunteer to help and get free lunch, free admission, and it counts toward community service hours (Nantucket High School requires 20 hours of community work to graduate).

New this year is the “Best ACK Apple Pie Contest.”  The best bakers of the island will go head-to-head, as they bring their scrumptious pies to the judges to see who will be awarded the greatest pie baker of all Nantucket.  Who knows, it could be you.  Tired of those deer or crows munching on your garden?  Then come build a scarecrow, all tools and materials are provided. Zodda added, “You just have to bring your imagination.”

The pumpkin growing contest, a crowd and contestant favorite, is back this year. “The pumpkins are massive and the people growing them are very competitive,” said Zodda, “They have to bring them in on trucks, you wouldn’t  believe how big they get.”

The theme of the fair is A Celebration of Our Island Community. Organizer, Parks & Recreation Commissioner Maria Zodda“It’s a restful, fun day after a hectic August.  We have some wonderful talented people on Nantucket that people who attend can learn from.  We’re on an island 26 miles out at sea so it’s up to us to take care of each other.”

Post from: Nantucket Art

Nantucket Fair

Another great day was had by all at the annual Nantucket beach art competition. Some of the designs included a mermaid, an octopus, sharks, feet in beach flip flop sandals, alligators, a bedraggled female surfer and a huge grinning face.

You can check out the pictures here

Post from: Nantucket Art

Nantucket Beach Art

Nantucket resident Artist Gail Sharretts is running an 8 day workshop of intensive study and painting en plein air in coastal France in the Fall of 2010.

This workshop is for those who would like to become more interpretive with their work through the medium of landscape painting and through various methods of abstraction. Beginning and more experienced painters are both welcome. The course will progress in terms of the individual needs of each student. Instruction will take place for three hours each morning for six days. Afternoons and evenings will be dedicated to one’s own study and exploration. Individual and group critiques will be offered as the course progresses. Cost includes accommodations and meals at our beautiful renovated stone farmhouse in the Brittany countryside and tours of the area. This is an opportunity to experience France as more than a tourist, to discover its beauty, history and culture in an authentic way.

Please visit the link to find out more about the Brittany workshops.

Post from: Nantucket Art

Plein Air Painting Workshops

“Create”, the new exclusive/speciality Art store has just opened its doors on Amelia Drive. The store will be open year round and fills a large gap in the Art supplies market on ACK. Pop along and lend your support…

Post from: Nantucket Art

New Art Store ‘Create’ opens its doors on Nantucket

Next month sees the highly anticipated lauch of Elin Hilderbrand’s new book The Island. This latest Nantucket-based (we should really say Tuckernuck-based…) novel goes on sale July 6th, and Nantucket Bookworks are opening early to celebrate! Join them for coffee, mimosas and doughnuts and toast our charming and bestselling author. THE ISLAND is a great read and an absolute must for your beach bag!

More About The Book

Birdie Cousins has thrown herself into the details of her daughter Chess’s lavish wedding, from the floating dance floor in her Connecticut back yard to the color of the cocktail napkins. Like any mother of a bride-to-be, she is weathering the storms of excitement and chaos, tears and joy. But Birdie, a woman who prides herself on preparing for every possibility, could never have predicted the late-night phone call from Chess, abruptly announcing that she’s cancelled her engagement.

It’s only the first hint of what will be a summer of upheavals and revelations. Before the dust has even begun to settle, far worse news arrives, sending Chess into a tailspin of despair. Reluctantly taking a break from the first new romance she’s embarked on since the recent end of her 30-year marriage, Birdie circles the wagons and enlists the help of her younger daughter Tate and her own sister India. Soon all four are headed for beautiful, rustic Tuckernuck Island, off the coast of Nantucket, where their family has summered for generations. No phones, no television, no grocery store – a place without distractions where they can escape their troubles.

But throw sisters, daughters, ex-lovers, and long-kept secrets onto a remote island, and what might sound like a peaceful getaway becomes much more. Before summer has ended, dramatic truths are uncovered, old loves are rekindled, and new loves make themselves known. It’s a summertime story only Elin Hilderbrand can tell, filled with the heartache, laughter, and surprises that have made her page-turning, bestselling novels as much a part of summer as a long afternoon on a sunny beach.

Post from: Nantucket Art

Elin Hilderbrand – The Island

Work copyright Zoe Brookes

We loved stumbling upon this blog and finding the exquisite doodles of Zoe Brookes. Of her Nantucket inspired sketches she writes “Lanterns, flags, sea shells, some harpoons mixed in there, plus some general nautical imagery for good measure. Plans? Definitely a strung up lantern pattern for maybe fabric application (I’m thinking a skirt?) and maybe play the old school metal ones against a more vibrant, playful paper lantern design. Also I want to play with the flags more! Results to come!”

Post from: Nantucket Art

Nantucket Inspired Art

Work copyright Sarah Laurence

Great to see that the Arts and communities based website Your Town Performs has turned the spotlight on the Art Community of Nantucket, featuring our “incredibly vibrant art scene, particularly in the theatre and visual arts” this month.

They go on to warmly endorse features past and present including The Nantucket Film Festival, The Gaslight Theatre, Theatre Workshop of Nantucket, Nantucket Dreamland Theatre, The Artists Association of Nantucket and The Sailor’s Valentine Gallery.

Post from: Nantucket Art

Great Art Towns: Nantucket

Gene Mahon has posted some great photos from the Artists Association of Nantucket’s Sidewalk Art Show this weekend.

You can see them on his blog Mahon About Town.

Post from: Nantucket Art

AAN Sidewalk Art Show 2010

Michael Rich is showing some stunning landscape works inspired by Nantucket at the A.R.C Gallery in Fairfield, CT from January 14 – February 10, 2010.

Sea, Sky and Land: Abstractions of Nantucket

A•R•C Fine Art, LLC

Fairfield, CT

Michael was kind enough to answer some of our questions regarding his work and it’s links to Nantucket. Click to read our Michael Rich interview. Michael exhibits on island at The Old Spouter Gallery

Post from: Nantucket Art

Michael Rich – Abstractions of Nantucket

Nantucket Bookworks have published their bestselling books of the year. Don’t hesitate top pop in there if you are short a present or two or need some holiday reading.

Here’s a sneak peak at the top 10 – for the full list visit Nantucket Blogworks

1. In the Heart of the Sea

2. Olive Kitteridge

3. Castaways

4. Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

5. Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society

6. Jennie’s Pennies

7. Elegance of the Hedgehog

8. Nantucket Reader

9. The Help

10. Summer Affair

Post from: Nantucket Art

Top 10 Best Nantucket Holiday Reads