"The Figure" at 93 Central St. (Former Neena's)

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/wellesley/2012/03/the_figure_in_the_window.html

Merrilyn Delano Marsh is a Wellesley artist and resident of 57 years. Elizabeth A. Visvis is a Wellesley artist and resident of 52 years. Both are members of the Wellesley Society of Artists. (Made possible by the artists and Linear Retail.) 

Merrilyn Delano Marsh

Butterfly Garden (Left), Bather (Center), Swimmer (Right)

 

Marsh (Left), WCAP Volunteer, Raina McManus (Right)

In 1946 Marsh was an art student at The School of the Museum Of Fine Arts, Boston. Her class took a field trip to a North Shore, Massachusetts beach. At the time Marsh was inspired by the figure. She found a large piece of driftwood from which she carved Bather. Her unfinished Bather was subsequently selected to appear in a performance at the Boston Opera House. Marsh completed Bather in the early 1970s.

Marsh's watercolors Swimmer and Butterfly Garden reflect her passion for the figure as well as for living things in nature, so often found in her work.

Two of Marsh's bronze sculptures are within short walking distance of the exhibit. Girl with the Butterfly is in Central Park at Central St. & Grove (between the Post Office and the Wellesley Congregational Church). Animal Lover is in the Cloister Garden at St. Andrews Episcopal Church on the corner of Denton Road and Washington Street.

Girl with the Butterfly

Animal Lover

Artist Bio 

Merrilyn Delano Marsh is a graduate of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusettts, and studied at the Academie de la Grande Chaumiere in Paris, France. Her works have been exhibited throughout New England and New York, and her work is contained in many private collections. Some examples of her commissioned works are: Seven Reliefs for the School for the Environment, Duke University; Bronze Statue for the Cloister Garden at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Wellesley, Massachusetts; Reliefs for the Houston and Sargent Awards of Tufts University of Medford, Massachusetts; a bronze portrait relief of Clarence "Pop" Houston, Houston Hall, Tufts University; and two large bronze reliefs for the Ellis Oval Athletic Field at Tufts University; also, a bronze portait relief of Rocco J. Carzo, for the Rocco J. Carzo Cage, Cousens Gymnasium, Tufts University.

Marsh was a teacher at the Choate School of Brookline, Massachusetts; the Brookline Community Center; the DeCordova Museum of Lincoln, Massachusetts, and has conducted private classes. She is a member of the Copley Society of Art, Boston, having achieved Copley Master status; a member of NESA (New England Sculptors Association) The Cambridge Art Association, and the Wellesley Society of Artists. Marsh is listed in Who's Who and Who's Who of American Woman.
 

Elizabeth A. Visvis

 

After graduating from Colby Junior College with a major in art, my painting was put aside for several years while raising a family and assuming other responsibilities.

Studying with King Coffin in 1975 using oils and acrylics renewed my interest and desire to paint. In 1977 I began working with Maxine Hegsted, and as a direct result of her encouragement began painting in watercolors, which is my primary medium to date adding gouache and pastels to some of the work. Also I enjoy experimenting with gesso and inks.

Elizabeth is well known for her still-life watercolors, often expressing the delicacy and fragility of flowers. Some years ago she became interested in the figure as well as incorporating elements of collage in her work.

"Elizabeth Visvis is not only a wonderful artist, but a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Her finished paintings have been shown throughout different places, but I have gotten to see the hard work and time that goes into them. There have been times when I've seen her finish a painting in a few hours, while other times it stays unfinished in her studio for years. No matter how long the paintings take to finish, I have been lucky enough to watch my grandmother through her artwork." 

Amanda Visvis 

Artist Bio 

Elizabeth is actively involved in several professional organizations and associations in Massachusetts and Florida. Her success has earned her the prestigious Designated Copley Society Artist title awarded by The Copley Society of Boston. She is an award winning member of the National League of American Pen Women (Arts), Washington, D.C. Elizabeth continues to build upon her impressive history of achievements, both locally and abroad. Over the past two decades, her water-medium still life paintings have been continuously recognized with the highest achievement awards from art association jurors. Select shows include a solo show at Regis College, and befitting to Elizabeth's subject, the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University exhibited her work.