As a young artist on Jamestown, still in high school, I joined the Conanicut Island Art Association. The CIAA was formed in 1974 as an artist's collaborative for Jamestown residents and has ever since been actively promoting creative diversity of their members through special arts markets, most notably around the holidays, and seasonal shows offering members an outlet to display and sell their work. The organization also has a commitment to promoting art in education, before I started my first year at Roger Williams University I received a CIAA financial scholarship that was beneficial certainly for me, as it has been to countless others. While I am active in several organizations for the arts, I am proud to retain my membership in the CIAA.

On display now through September, the "Images of Conanicut" members show held in the chambers of the Jamestown Town Hall features a variety of media works each sharing views and iconic representations of the island. Much like my choices in glassworks, the island of Jamestown continues to influence artists and solicit sentiments from its residents. For my contribution, I went to a prominent point of interest, Beavertail Lighthouse.

Beavertail represents Jamestown now, and then. It has survived as a figure of strength through storms, and has continued to offer knowledge and serenity to the many visitors it receives each year. I have produced several variations in stained glass, but for this CIAA show I went further than before to produce a one of a kind variation in both design and scale. It certainly must be seen in person and I encourage those interested to visit the show and see for yourself.

Full details on the CIAA and "Images of Conanicut" may be found on http://www.artinjamestown.org