The public is encouraged to come enjoy an opening reception on January 16th from 5pm-7pm at The Mill District Local Art Gallery. The exhibit features rarely seen paintings by Mabel Loomis Todd, created for a book of her father’s poetry published over a century ago. Provisions wines and charcuterie will be offered. The exhibit will remain at The Local Art Gallery through April 27th.
Gallery Coordinator Shannon Borrell explains, “This exhibit celebrates the art and community contributions of Mabel Loomis Todd, who’s most famous for editing and publishing Emily Dickinson’s first posthumous collections of poetry. Mabel Loomis Todd was a prolific writer herself, and a founder of our town’s Historical Society, Woman’s Club, and Wildwood Cemetery.”
Ten postcard prints of Todd’s exhibited paintings will be sold as a set for $20. All proceeds from the sale of these prints will benefit the Emily Dickinson Museum.
Later this year, in celebration of Todd’s 170th birthday, the Emily Dickinson Museum will produce an exhibition of eighteen botanical oil paintings. “The Mill District Gallery exhibition of this touching father-daughter artistic collaboration is a wonderful precursor to showing more of Mabel Todd’s renderings of the natural world in the fall,” said Museum executive director Jane Wald. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to team up with community partners in showing more of Todd’s artistic talents and interests.”
Mabel Loomis Todd was an artist, musician, actor, writer, editor, world traveler, civic organizer, founder, and environmental activist. She chased solar eclipses, climbed one of the most famous peaks in the world, and perhaps contributed most to cultural enrichment in Amherst.
The Gallery exhibit will include AI-enhanced images of Todd and selfie opportunities for gallery visitors.
While visiting The Mill District Eats, Arts, and Entertainment destination, visitors are encouraged to get their favorite charcuterie and spirits at Provisions; stop in Carefree Cakery for sampler packs of cupcakes; visit Herrell’s ice cream for seasonal flavors and enjoy dinner out at The Harp and Three Amigos. Don’t forget to browse The General Store and check out Herrell’s nearly completed ice cream parlor next door to Provisions and Carefree Cakery.
The Mill District Local Art Gallery is located at 91 Cowls Road, North Amherst, MA and is open Tuesday – Sunday 10am-6pm.