"Familiar Pieces and Places" Evolves from Body and Soul Studio

The gentle, impressionistic still lifes and landscapes on display at the Southbury Public Library seem to be that of an artist who is at peace with the world. In fact, the story behind the art is that of an artist who has explored various aspects of painting, pursued different career paths, and found her way back to a melding of her art and spiritual life.

Ann Harriet Carew of Roxbury said her work is influenced by her studies in theology; which she started exploring because of her time in New York City in the 80s.

Originally a fine arts major, Carew had taken time away from painting for her five children and husband, Daniel.  She was trying to get back into the scene with classes under Frank Mason at the Art Students League.  But A turning point for her came as she rode into the city each day.

She had to travel through Harlem where she saw people crowding around fires in steel drums to keep warm. "This whole experience really changed the way I saw art," she explained. This awareness led her to earn a Master of Divinity at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, followed by several years of living in New Mexico.

Her painting continued along with training in spiritual direction and she now mentors students in the Yale Divinity Program. The painting and mentoring came together, she said, and she established the Art and Soul Workshop.

She took her workshops on the road, visiting retreat houses, parishes and private homes. When she met the artist, Edward DeVoe, another student of Frank Mason, she began to focus even more on her own work.

"I'm still doing still lifes," she explained, "but this show is mainly landscapes." And although the works are luscious landscapes — mostly of the Southbury area — Carew said that she also wants to place mysterious little figures in there somewhere.

"The paintings are my take of familiar places," she explained. "But there is a softness and serenity to them."

Her next move, she said, might be mother and child images — appropriate for a mother of five, grandmother, and theology scholar.

"I'm thinking of the larger metaphor there," she said, "but I don't know what kind of inner push I'll need to do it."

In the meantime, she's enjoying being in the limelight in Southbury's Gloria Cachon Gallery. Carew said one person came in while she was hanging the show and told her, "thank you for bringing beauty into the world."

That comment — plus a guest book full of praise — are all she needs to keep going with new work.

Carew has been exhibiting throughout the area for several years, in places like the Washington Art Association, where she is a member, the Burnham Library in Roxbury, the Gunn Memorial Library in Washington, and at the Kent Art Association where she is an "elected artist."

Carew likes to paint "inside and out" as she says in her artist statement.

"This does not just refer to where I set up my easel, the studio or the field, but also refers to the creative process of drawing from the spirit within, and then using skills honed since childhood to paint a picture that will be shared with others…I hope my paintings will be a source of pleasure and transport the viewer to a soulful place," she said.

Carew's paintings will be on display through Sept. 29 during regular library hours.