This past weekend at the Paul Creative Arts Center at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, the fifth Art Appeal was a huge success, raising $16,000 for the Art Gallery. The exhibition featured over 73 artists, both alumnae and locals, representing various media including oils, watercolors, wood etchings, ceramics, sculpture, weavings, jewelry and more. The sale is a "cultural respite" that splits the proceeds equally between the artists and the gallery, said Vicki Wright, director of the event. Choosing which artists to exhibit has grown into a six-month process conducted by the Art Gallery Members and Development Committee, to create an eclectic presentation shown every two years during alumnae weekend.

Among the exhibitors several clearly stood out in their categories. Mary Margaret Sweeney's hand-colored etching "Their Turkish Respite" frames a 20-something male and a gray tiger kitten coming in for a treat from a window that overlooks Moroccan rooftops. Len and Joan Weinstock's archival ink jet prints present a self portrait of Len painting a landscape that's entitled "En Pleine Aire." Ayn Lynch's watercolor "Around the Bend" shows the path less traveled in a classic New England countryside. Eve Corey's trinity of acrylic on wood uses bold beige, red and blue to emphasize the metamorphosis of twilight in "Orchard Dusk 1, 2 and 3." Jerry MacMicheal, class of 1965, presented a series of "Stoic Bobhouses" in oil on panel that captured the cold and brilliant sunshine of a January ice fisherman's day. Dustan Knight's floral watercolors on panel gush with femininity; in "Parrot Tulip #2," blood red pigment contrasts with soft yellow petals. Don Gorvett's reduction woodcuts featured a mighty sea-liner and the harbor view inverted from Penhallow and Bow streets in "Ionia, Snowed In."

Among the varied potters were artists Don Williams, class of 1977, Liz Finnegan, class of 1947, Thomas Kelly, and Tim Christensen-Kirby. There were ironworks by Peter Happny, class of 1971, and a beautiful basket weaving by Beverly Lussier, class of 1972. The most practical pieces of art were from Diane Jackson-Cole's collection of hand-woven throws, shawls and colorful plush pillows.

For more information visit www.unh.edu/art-gallery.