Published: 01/31/2008
An opportunity for creative expression
By The LookoutSonya Vartabedian
The adults of Newburyport's Opportunity Works demonstrate their creative side in the form of "Color Blocks," an exhibit of vibrant contemporary canvases and other paintings at the Newburyport Art Association, 65 Water St., Newburyport.
The pieces are the result of OpArt, a collaboration between Opportunity Works and the art association. It is designed to encourage and train adults with disabilities to develop and further their creative abilities by providing increased opportunities to experiment with different media, techniques and materials.
The program is run by art association volunteers Monica Welch, Richard Johnson and Alex Richards, and supported by the Newburyport Five Cents Savings Charitable Foundation.
This is the group's first show of 2008. It runs through Feb. 6 in the art association's Laura Coombs Hills Gallery. The OpArt participants will also be exhibiting their work in other Newburyport venues throughout the year. All artwork, which is professionally framed, is for sale, with the majority of proceeds going directly to the artist and the balance reinvested in the program.
For more on OpArt or the exhibit, call the art association at 978-465-8769 or visit www.newburyportart.org.
Super Bowl Sunday Spectacular at sports park
Don't have tickets to the Super Bowl? Amesbury Sports Park is promising plenty of excitement for its second annual Super Bowl Sunday Spectacular.
Co-sponsored by the Amesbury Chamber of Commerce, the event doubles as a benefit for the McKeon family of Amesbury. Half of the day's proceeds will be donated to the family to help defray the cost of medical bills as Jeff McKeon battles cancer.
There will be a football toss contest with a Mercedes Benz up for grabs, flag football games, a chance to win $25,00 for those who guess the half-time and final scores, raffles for Boston Celtics tickets, ski passes and more. Six Red Sox tickets will be auctioned, and other promotional giveaways are planned.
The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism benefited from last year's event, when 25 percent of the proceeds, or $3,000 was donated to the organization.
Doors at the sports park at 12 S. Hunt Road open at 2 p.m. A $10 cover includes free pub fare and discounted drinks. For more, call 978-388-5788.
A baroque afternoon with North Shore's Tres
The North Shore baroque ensemble Tres takes listeners into the London theaters, parlors and concert halls of the period for a performance on Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. at First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist, 26 Pleasant St., Newburyport.
