A NEW MEDIUM “Brilliant Flow,’’ a solo exhibition of alcohol ink paintings and handmade jewelry by local artist Liz Filipancic, is at Carry Out Cafe & Catering in Newburyport through mid-September.
After her daughter began taking watercolor classes at Joan Gessner Studios in Amesbury, Filipancic decided she’d also like to learn to paint.
“Five years later, my husband and I gave each other watercolor classes as Christmas gifts, and the love of painting exploded from there,’’ the Newburyport resident said.
“Liz’s art is so bright and evocative — it just makes you happy,’’ said Paula Simpson, owner of Carry Out Cafe & Catering. “Viewers can use their imagination, seeing different elements in the pops of color that flow throughout her work.’’
Filipancic’s recent work is in a new medium — alcohol ink on a synthetic paper called Yupo.
“This series is a great adventure for me,’’ Filipancic said. “The unpredictable reactions of the inks and their flow are inspiring. The paints work for me, rather than me working the paints.’’
Filipancic is also displaying her work in a booth at Art on the Bartlet Mall as part of Yankee Homecoming in Newburyport from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 31.
An artist reception at the café, 155 State St., is 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15. Call 978-499-2240 or visit carryoutcafe.com.
ON THE ROAD Kathy Mattea and guitarist Bill Cooley have been playing music together for more than two decades.
The Nashville duo presents an evening of acoustic music at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport on Saturday, Aug. 6, sharing songs and stories from their long careers.
The music includes Mattea’s classics such as “18 Wheels and a Dozen Roses,’’ “Where’ve You Been?’’ and others, reinterpreted for the duo format.
Her 18 albums, with bluegrass, gospel, and Celtic influences, have won multiple country music and Grammy Awards.
In addition to being part of Mattea’s band for more than 20 years, Cooley has toured and recorded with Merle Haggard, Reba McEntire, and others. A respected “sideman,’’ he’s also a songwriter and arranger who has released his own recordings.
The show begins at 8 p.m. at 37 Main St. Tickets are $49-$68. Call 978-546-7391 or visit rockportmusic.org.
CREATIVE QUILTS “Currents,’’ a water-themed, juried exhibition of art quilts, is at The Brush Art Gallery and Studios in Lowell Sunday, Aug. 7, through Sunday, Sept. 18.
The quilts are the work of members of the Massachusetts/Rhode Island chapter of the nonprofit group Studio Art Quilt Associates.
The national group puts together museum-quality exhibitions that travel the world and documents the art quilt movement through catalogs and a continuing series of publications.
It also provides professional development for its artist members to address everything from basic studio management to mastering current technologies.
A preview of the exhibit is from 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 4, during the Downtown Lowell First Thursdays series. An opening reception is from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7.
Brush Art Gallery and Studios is at 256 Market St. Call 978-459-7819 or visit thebrush.org.
BRUSH AND LENS Painter Phyllis Kaplan of Rockport and photographer Bruce M. White of Saugus present their work at the Hall-Haskell House in Ipswich Friday through Sunday, Aug. 5 to 7.
Following a career as a concert artist, Kaplan pursued another love — painting — and studied with many well-known local artists.
She’s known for her watercolors, as well as portraits of dogs and cats. Kaplan was recently commissioned to paint portraits of all the horses of the Boston Park Ranger Services.
White has photographed throughout the United States and abroad since 1977, during extensive travel for his job. Now retired, he enjoys sharing his photographs from around the globe.
The exhibition opens with a reception 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5 at 36 South Main St. Call 978-356-8540 or visit ipswichvisitorcenter.org.
Wendy Killeen can be reached at wdkilleen@gmail.com.
