Dartmouth Cultural Center Hosting Annual Wet Paint Day

Wet Paint Padanaram is the busiest day of the year at the Dartmouth Cultural Center on Elm Street.

This year it happens on Saturday, September 21 starting at 9 a.m. The event is an annual celebration of local artists and what they contribute to our culture.

Center President Pauline Santos and volunteer Maura Nolan stopped by Townsquare Sunday to give us the rundown on Wet Paint Day.

"It's exciting. We expect to have close to 40 artists taking part again this year," Santos said.

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The artists report to the Cultural Center at 9 a.m. on the 21st. Their canvas is stamped on the back, and they are sent out in and around Padanaram to paint. At 3 p.m., the artists will return to the center with their paintings where they will be hung by Gallery Director Jill Law.

"The artists can put a price on their work if they want to sell them," Santos said. "We have a juror that will judge the artwork, and prizes will be awarded. A reception for the artists and the public will follow, and refreshments will be served. It's really a fun day."

Volunteers are always needed at the Dartmouth Cultural Center, such as Maura Nolan. She recently joined the volunteer staff, starting as a gallery-sitter and now branching out to other duties.

"With every new volunteer, there are fresh ideas, you know thoughts about what we can do, and that's really important as we go on," Santos said.

The Dartmouth Cultural Center will dedicate its new outdoor garden on Saturday, September 14 in memory of Elsie Haskell, one of the last librarians who worked at 404 Elm Street, the old Southworth Library, where the Cultural Center is now located.

"She not only was a librarian, she wrote a history of Dartmouth libraries, collected artwork and postcards, and very much was into education," Santos said.

Another highlight in late September will be an exhibit of animal paintings by artist Catherine Hafer.

"Oh, you look at the animals and you want to bring them home," Santos said. "It's just amazing."

That exhibit begins on Sept. 27 and runs through Oct. 26.

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