THE 2011 COLLECTION:
A Unique Offering by 21 in TRURO

by Michele Dangelo

In the Fall of 1999, 21 women held their first retreat. They've had exhibitions in the past, as observed and written about in CapeWomenOnline's Fall 2010 Issue. This September, they will come together for their 13th consecutive year.

The retreat is a time when they paint and support one another through sharing ideas and encouragement. They call themselves "21 in Truro" because that is where they gather; however, they are becoming known as simply "the 21."

As a group they are in demand to show their work Cape-wide. Over the years they have shown from Provincetown to Falmouth with many stops in between, including the Cape Cod Museum of Art in 2005. They are well known off Cape as well, and will be showing "over the bridge" in 2012 with an exhibit at the Art Complex Museum in Duxbury.

In addition to showing at the CCMA in 2005, many of the 21 have also had solo shows at the museum. For this reason and because its members are Cape Cod artists, they wanted to do something to support the CCMA as it celebrates its 30th anniversary.

Last fall "the 21" decided to create a work that represents the group, and would be offered as a single piece of Cape Cod artistic culture.

The collection is an assemblage of 21 original paintings, each 8"x 8" on a wood panel. Each painting is signed on the top by the artist, labeled on the back with the group logo, and ready to hang. The paintings are presented in a hand crafted archival box for safe keeping.

The 21 women who make up "21 in Truro" are mature professional artists, with gallery representation and works in collections all over the world. While they represent a range of backgrounds, education, and experience, they not only share a commitment to art, but also to Cape Cod. They are inspired by and care about our sandy peninsula.

THE 21 COLLECTION, a slice of Cape Cod artistic history, will be auctioned at the Cape Cod Museum of Art's 24th annual auction on August 20 at the Museum. The auction begins at 5 p.m. with cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and a silent auction. The live auction starts at 7 p.m., followed by a dinner at 8 p.m.

You can purchase tickets for just the cocktail portion of the evening for $80, or for the entire auction and dinner for $150. All proceeds will go to support the Museum.

For more information about the auction, visit the CCMA website at www.ccmoa.org

For more information about the 21, please visit www.21intruro.com

Michele Dangelo is a member of the 21 in Truro. Her works can be found locally at the Left Bank Gallery in Wellfleet and the Wynne/Falconer Gallery in Chatham. Visit her website at www.micheledangelofineart.com