New exhibitions opening Jan. 17 will mark the start of another busy year at the Marblehead Arts Association, where contemporary works fill several galleries housed in the historic King Hooper Mansion, which is set to celebrate its tricentennial in 2028. The setting is as much a part of the experience as the art itself.
“You have the sort of juxtaposition of new art and old building,” said Executive Director Xhazzie Kindle. “So, whether you’re an art lover or an architect lover, we meet both needs.”
The association operates seven galleries across the colonial mansion, with exhibitions changing roughly every six weeks, giving visitors multiple opportunities each year to see new work.
While the organization maintains a full calendar of member and solo exhibitions, programs and a national juried show, Kindle emphasized that the MAA has “two separate but equal missions. One is to promote the arts and support our artists and the other is to preserve the King Hooper Mansion.”
January exhibitions
January marks the first exhibition cycle of the year, beginning with the annual “New Member Exhibition” in the ballroom gallery. The show introduces artists who were juried into the association in 2025.
Alongside the group show, several solo exhibitions will open across the mansion’s galleries highlighting a wide range of styles and media.
Among the January solo shows:
● “Images of Italy” by oil painter Peter Ziegler, whose work focuses on architectural subjects
● “Color Spectrum” by abstract artist Deborah Baye, featuring lots of color and texture
● “The Angle of No Repose” by landscape artist Connie Glore
● “Forever With You” by Francois-Xavier DeCosterd, an animation and digital artist whose screen-based work will include video and projections
The variety is intentional, Kindle said.
“One of our goals for each cycle is that we have a variety of different arts,” she said. “Each artist … will be very distinct and quite unique and very different from their neighbor.”
The MAA will also host a special invited exhibition by the New England Sculptors Association in the ground-floor dining room gallery, featuring small-scale works limited to a 12-by-12-inch footprint.
“We really enjoy having the artists from New England Sculptors Association just because it adds something fresh to us in a new dimension,” Kindle said.
President Jim Murphy said the collaboration offers both artistic and community benefits.
“It opens the door for people who may not have been to the Art Association to come in … that gives our whole program and our artists whose work is on the walls exposure that they may not have gotten,” he said.
Looking ahead
While January’s exhibitions highlight members and invited artists, Kindle pointed to “Variations,” the association’s annual national juried exhibition which runs from April through June, as a standout experience, particularly for first-time visitors.
“It’s so exciting to us to see new artists, new techniques, people from all over the country … international too,” she said.
Each year, roughly 800 submissions are whittled down to about 175 works, chosen by independent jurors, including museum curators and faculty members from across the country.
A themed member exhibition, “Through the Looking Glass,” will open in February and tie directly into the Spring Gala. During its six-week run, the MAA plans a series of related events which will include shamanic journeys and a fascinator-making workshop for gala attendees.
Programming beyond exhibitions
Music also remains a key part of the association’s cultural presence. The popular “Jazz at the Arts” series returns earlier than usual this year, opening Thursday, Feb. 19, featuring local favorites Debbie Larkin and Jeff Stout.
Murphy said the series reflects the MAA’s broader mission to support and promote arts and culture in town, highlighting other standout musicians in the lineup, including Marblehead resident drummer Dave Mattacks and folk artist Jeanie Stahl.
The concert series is one of many programs the association offers throughout the year, with additional events still in development.
Big birthday
Looking further ahead, the organization is laying the groundwork for the King Hooper Mansion’s 300th anniversary in 2028, Kindle said, with plans for a year-long slate of exhibitions, programs and events to highlight the building as a community asset.
“We’re really the stewards for the next generation,” she said. “It’s in amazing shape because of the people that came before us, and we really want to leave that kind of legacy for the next generation.”
As Marblehead prepares for the broader Revolution 250 commemorations beginning in 2026, the mansion is expected to play a role as a featured historic site — an opportunity, Murphy said, for new audiences to discover that the building is not only historic, but alive with contemporary art.
Ultimately, they both hope visitors leave with a deeper appreciation for local creativity.
“What we hope people will take with them is an appreciation of the amount of artistic talent that this small town has,” Kindle said. “We want people to understand the importance of art.”
Murphy echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the value of creating a personal, welcoming experience that draws visitors back.
“This is a place to come and visit and it’s a place to come and revisit,” he said.
For schedules, events and exhibition details, the MAA encourages visitors to check its website at http://www.marbleheadarts.org and attend opening receptions, held on the first Sunday of each exhibition cycle.
Editor Leigh Blander is an experienced TV, radio and print journalist.
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