A two-person art show, ‘Side by Side,’ featuring Nancy Jo Hoffman and Allen Freshler, opens Nov. 14 at The McAuley.

Submitted

West Hartford’s only Life Plan Community, The McAuley at 275 Steele Road, will exhibit “Side by Side,” a display of original oil paintings between Nov. 14, 2024 and Jan. 17, 2025.

The public is invited to the opening reception Thursday, Nov. 14 between 3:30 and 5 p.m. at The McAuley. Those planning to attend the opening should R.S.V.P. to Anabela at [email protected] or 860-920-6319.

Residents Allen Freshler, a listed regional painter of numerous New England and Florida scenes, and Nancy Hoffman, former president of the West Hartford Art League, are the two artists whose work will be featured. The McAuley will present more than 30 original paintings in its Abbeyleix Building Garden Gallery. This show will include recent paintings of New England, Florida, still lifes, people studies, and some florals. A second show within a show will offer small paintings and sketches.

Hoffman works in oils with an American Impressionist style. Her paintings have been juried selected by the New Britain Museum of American Art, the Jekyll Island (GA) Art Association, and others. Hoffman has also had numerous one- and two-person shows including at Duncaster in Bloomfield and the Town and County Club in Hartford. She has studied with many well-known artists including Shauna Shane, Frank Frederico, and Jim Wilcox in Jackson Hole, WY.

In 2018, Hoffman was awarded “The Lifetime Achievement Award” by the West Hartford Art League.  She continues to serve on the Art in Public Places Committee and The McAuley Art Committee.

Freshler was a jury-selected artist on numerous occasions. He was a resident artist of the historic Bonnet House property in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. His painterly oils link to the 19th Century style of the Rockport, MA art community. Freshler’s representational work often includes broken brush strokes and water scenes. His oils are in many collections, both private and public. Fresher operated Lafalce-Freshler Fine Art in Canton, CTm for many years and was involved in the Hartford Steam Boiler Art Collection when he was an employee there.

While largely self-taught, he did attend classes at the Institute Allende in Mexico and studied with several Copley Society instructors as well as with John Budicin of Carmel, CA. Fresher is active in The McAuley Art Committee.

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