Newburyport Art presents Drawing Newburyport History: Ethel Reed and the Gilded Age

Newburyport Art (NAA) presents Drawing Newburyport History: Ethel Reed and the Gilded Age, a pop-up drawing event in the Hartson Gallery. Come celebrate the most famous Newburyport artist you’ve never heard of! 

Join us on Saturday the 8th from 3:00pm–5:00pm for a free, pop-up drawing event where the cast of Theater in the Open’s Lady Windermere’s Fan will pose in costume, while Sierra Gitlin, Administrative Assistant at the Museum of Old Newbury presents a brief history of the work and life of this enigmatic Newburyport native. This event is open to all, whether you want to draw, observe the drawing, learn about Ethel, or experience costumes evocative of the Gilded Age.

Ethel Reed’s impoverished upbringing on Kent Street gave no hint that she would one day become the leading female poster artist of the Gilded Age. At the age of 21, Reed made her debut as an artist and achieved international acclaim, running in the same circles as Oscar Wilde and Aubrey Beardsley. Then, she all but disappeared, but left a huge legacy of her poster art behind her. 

Viewers are encouraged to visit our other exhibitions, on view until Sunday, July 9th. On display in the Hartson Gallery is Life Drawing: The Figure and Coloring Our World by the Watercolor Interest Group on view in the first floor Sargent and Hills Galleries. Elisa Vanelli’s Artist Spotlight show Deep Blue can be found in the Mural Gallery.

The galleries are free and open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00am–5:00pm and Sunday from 1:00pm–5:00pm. Newburyport Art is closed on Mondays. The ground-floor Hills Gallery has an accessible entrance. More information, as well as an online gallery is available at newburyportart.org.