The opening of the Beasts series at the Hanover Theatre was a big success ...or at least that is what the Curator and Board at ArtsWorcester tell me. I was too overwhelmed and over joyed to pause long enough to take it all in. My daughter surprised me by flying in from Colorado and my dear friend Karen from Chicago. My aunt and uncle and cousin flew in from Denver. My sister-in-law and niece and nephew came from Vermont. Many, many local friends and friends of ArtsWorcester and the community arrived to celebrate the evening with us as well. My reaction to my far flung relatives making such expensive efforts to come lend their support was, "It's just a bunch of paintings on the wall!"

It's a surreal experience to welcome a crowd into the previously intimate relationship between myself and "the zoo". It's wonderful and exciting to share the experience of the work with strangers and long time friends. It feels miraculous when someone shares their insight into the work and it hits the nail right smack dab on the head.

"The portraits remind me of the regal portraits that hang in great halls"

"I find myself being sucked into the little worlds you have created in each piece"

*photo credit  - Natalie Ackerman — *photo credit - Natalie Ackerman

I am grateful for the opportunity to share this series with the community of the Hanover Theatre and I look forward to hearing more about what people come away with.

Please contact me @ janemhoughton@gmail.com or the staff at ArtsWorcester 508-755-5142 to make an appointment to view the series which will hang until the end of February 2015.