Well over 250 old friends and relatives, art lovers and collectors, and others curious to know more about two of Andover’s best-known artists paid a visit to The Andover Hub during the Oct. 19-21 weekend to view the art and sculpture on display in a ‘Retrospective’ exhibition mounted by the Andover Historical Society.
Featuring the artwork of Annaleida van’t Hoff (1909-1997) and the sculpture of Winslow Eaves (1922-2003), the 110 exhibited works filled the main hall and dance studio of The Hub, once Andover’s town hall. Smaller rooms offered biographical information, showed how the two artists created their work, and presented TV interviews of Eaves made in the 1960s and 1990s. An illustrated catalog containing additional biographical information and photographs of selected works was available for purchase, and remains on sale at a price of $15. Contact co-curator Gail Richards at 498- 6439 for details on how to obtain.
About the ‘Retrospective’
In the catalog introduction, co-curator Patty Eaves, Winslow’s daughter-in-law, writes:
“In 1952, Winslow Eaves, fresh from studying at Beaux Arts in Paris and starting a job teaching sculpture classes at Dartmouth College, moved his young family to a large, drafty colonial in Andover, NH.
At the same time, Annaleida van’t Hoff was also looking for a fresh start. With years of studying and showing her art under her belt, she moved from New York City to a quaint farmhouse on a quiet road in East Andover. Soon she began teaching art classes at the local school.
“It wasn’t long before Winslow and Annaleida became friends. Through their shared love of and enthusiasm for their art, they worked with other local artists and art lovers to establish the Andover Creative Arts Association in 1966. The Association was active for over 20 years and presented an annual 4th of July arts and crafts exhibit at Proctor Academy featuring professional and amateur artists alike, and drawing thousands of visitors to the area.
“Winslow’s sculptures range from the whimsical to the monumental, in bronze, marble, granite, wood, metal and clay. He once said, ‘I want people to enjoy my sculpture, to study it from all sides, touch it, think about it – I think people should try to experience the work directly.’
“Annaleida’s paintings, on the other hand, ‘…should say what cannot be said by any other means – not by words, nor music, nor by touch.’ Her work in oil, enamel, pastel, watercolor, acrylic, charcoal, pencil, print and mixed-media includes portraits, landscapes, still-life, animals and abstracts.
“This exhibition is designed to create awareness of Andover’s historic tradition of art in the community through education, exhibits and interpretive materials by spotlighting these two notable Twentieth Century Andover artists.
“May it inspire us all.”