Labor Day Weekend is here, and it means Provincetown is soon to lose a good majority of its summer population. For me right after Labor Day is a difficult transition for all the wonderful people I got to know over the summer are now preparing to leave.
This year will be the most difficult for me as my Assistant Gallery Director Ioana Motoarca has only about a week more here at The Henry Philips Gallery. She goes back to her home in Romania for a week, and then she is off to London for college.
Ioana has been nothing short of a wonderful dream. Her dedication and loyalty has been nothing but astounding. She comes to work each and every day dressed like a million dollars and looking like she should own the gallery. Also, she did one of the most amazing things, she put up with me!!
Someday she will probably be canonized a saint for making it this long and putting up with my difficult personality, my rantings, and ravings that occurred on a daily basis here at the gallery.
I have had many people come up to me with rave compliments about Ioana. She tells the Mud Head story better than me now.
The day before Hurricane Earl was suppose to hit Cape Cod, she and I were securing the gallery and a painting arrived from none other than Mr. RC Bailey who I am proud to have showing in this gallery. His paintings and personality have added something special to this gallery.
Now, I have seen many beautiful paintings in my last six years here in Provincetown, but when I unwrapped this painting I saw true beauty. This gallery now has its very own Mona Lisa.
To Ioana,
Lois, RC Bailey, and I wish you the best in your journey and studies in London. You will be sorely missed here at The Henry Philips Gallery. I look forward to your return next summer.
Hawthorne School Mud Heads - 100 Years Later
Show continues until October 31st
100 years ago the students of Charles Hawthorne were painting these class studies on the beaches here in Provincetown. The gallery has amassed what probably are the last of these studies.
The gallery will also unveil The Louisiana Mud Head by Henry Hensche, which is monumental in size and in brilliant color.
The Henry Philips Gallery Fall Salon
September 15th - October 31st
The Henry Philips Gallery 1st Annual Fall Salon will feature works by early and contemporary Provincetown Artists such as Sol Wilson,
Nancy Whorf, RC Bailey, John Choly, John Dowd, Gay Dickerson, International Artist Kevin Mulligan, and other well known Provincetown Artists.
Of course our extensive inventory of paintings by Charles W. Hawthorne, Henry Hensche, and Ms. Lois Griffel are always on display at the
gallery.
September & October are two of the most beautiful months of the year here in Provincetown for art lovers and collectors to discover
some of the most remarkable and fascinating art in America.
Gallery Owner & Director Philip Desmarais welcomes you to his gallery, the only gallery in the history of Provincetown Art
that represents The Three Directors of The Cape Cod School of Art, Charles Hawthorne, Henry Hensche, and Ms. Lois Griffel.
Charles W. Hawthorne - At Her Vanity
Oil on Canvas
30" x 24"
Price on Request
Henry Hensche - Wildflowers
Oil on Board
24" x 28"
Price on Request
Henry Hensche - Brewster Street, Sunny Morning
Oil on Board
20" x 16"
Price on Request
Gallery Hours:
July - August 2010:
Open 6 days a week 11 am - 10 pm
Closed on Tuesdays
Philip N. Desmarais - Gallery Director and Owner
Ms. Ioana Motoarca - Assistant Gallery Director
The Henry Philips Gallery is proud to offer three new seminal works, the first being the Charles W. Hawthorne Portrait, "At Her Vanity".
This painting was presented by Marion Campbell Hawthorne as a wedding gift to Henry Hensche & Ada Rayner in 1936. The painting is still in its original frame and is in excellent condition.
Painted by Hawthorne in the early to mid 1920's. It is one of the few nude paintings he did in his career and one of the most colorful and vivid.
The gallery is also offering two unique Hensche paintings. The first being the finest still life ever painted by Henry Hensche. Entitled "Wildflowers" this work was painted in the late 1970's and took Hensche a whole winter from start to finish to complete. It also retains its original frame and is in excellent condition. This painting is originally from the collection of Boyd & Hazel Lewis. Boyd Lewis was a wartime correspondent in the late 1950's and was sent to Provincetown to report on a US Submarine that had sunk off its coast. Boyd would meet Henry Hensche and Ada Rayner and they along with Boyd's wife Hazel would became long time friends. Boyd and his wife Hazel would throughout the years of friendship between Henry & Ada would amass a collection of Hensches that even today has still never be surpassed.
The second Hensche painting is entitled "Brewster Street, Sunny Morning". This painting done in the late 1960's is actually painted on particle board. It was painted inside one of the three Brewster Street living quarters Hensche had for his notable students such as Lois Griffel, Rob Longley, among others. If you notice in the top right hand corner, one of Hensche's famous waterpan paintings is shown.
These paintings are on display at the gallery at this time. If you require any further information, please contact me by email or phone. I am more than happy to assist you and or arrange a private showing of these paintings.
Please note the change of hours for the gallery during the months of September & October 2010.
I am a year round resident of Provincetown, and my gallery is open as such.
I am always available to arrange a private showing at any time for your convenience.