Tides of Life - 14th Annual PEM Inspirational Exhibit 

Inspired by the exhibition "In American Waters" of the Peabody Essex Museum, local artists came up with imaginative creations showing how the sea is a reflection of American culture and environment and their own personal and psychological meditations on its beauty, violence, poetry and transformative power.

Our Guest Juror: Sarah Chasse - Associate Curator, Peabody Essex Museum

Sarah Chasse has worked extensively with PEM’s American art collections, including decorative arts, paintings and sculptures, since 2003. She has made significant contributions to many projects at PEM including Samuel McIntire, Carving an American Style, 2007; American Epics: Thomas Hart Benton and Hollywood, 2015; Ocean Liners: Glamour, Speed and Style, 2017; A Passion for American Art: Selections from the Carolyn and Peter Lynch Collection, 2019; and In American Waters: The Sea in American Painting, 2021. Chasse specializes in American and European decorative arts and design, American art and material culture from the colonial era to 1945She earned her BA in American Studies from Mount Holyoke College and an MA in American Studies from the College of William and Mary, with a focus on art history and material culture.

Award Winners

Inspired by PEM Honorable Mentions:

Diane Fawley, Beverly Harbor Night Moorings - This immersive harbor nocturne draws the viewer in on many sensory levels. The deep cobalt blue pigment, the harbor lights blurring in the moist air, and the unexpected orientation from the water all combine to create an immersive marine scene where you can almost hear the night sounds of the harbor. 

Janet Schwartz, Salty Dogs - No maritime themed show is complete without a depiction of ships. Through vibrant color and dynamic perspective the artist captures this quintessential mode of marine transportation in a compelling style. 

Dewa Raka-Goncalves, Waves in the Water - This work is impressive in scale but what really won me over was the intricate depiction of water and waves in motion.

An exhibition of images inspired by the landscape, cities and people of Massachusetts’s North Shore.   Subjects include but are not limited to seascapes, woods, historic buildings, local attractions such as diners, depictions of events and portraits of the people of the North Shore.

The North Shore Exhibit is filled with both prototypical moments that were captured from an unusual vantage point and with perspectives that are idiosyncratic of how we as artists perceive and represent our home as New England artists. It was difficult to choose ribbon-winners, as each piece was unique and authentic. - Annette Sykes, Guest Juror

Our Juror: Annette Sykes - President and Gallery Director, Galleries at Lynn Arts (GALA)

Annette Sykes is an objective painter who works in media ranging from oil to watercolor to pastels, especially when she is painting her favorite oceanscapes and cityscapes. She also works with a range of drawing materials especially when doing life drawing and portraiture.  She works mostly from direct observation. As an observational artist, Annette draws and paints what she sees. Annette has a studio at at the LynnArts building and is the Gallery Director for GALA (the Galleries At LynnArts). She has also been appointed to the Lynn Public Arts Commission. Annette studied fashion design in New York in the mid-90's but then transitioned to fine arts when she moved to to Boston. 

Award Winners