May Artist of the Month

LINDA ZUG OF SHERBORN IS MAY ARTIST OF THE MONTH AT THE DOVER LIBRARY

The Friends of the Dover Library is pleased to announce that Linda Zug of Sherborn is the Artist of the Month for May, and her works will be on display at the Dover Town Library for the entire month. Zug’s work is based on her experiences at monastic retreats over the years. She painted the 12x12 oil paintings on board while there, and the larger paintings were done in studio following last year’s trip.

Zug will soon participate in her fifth such retreat to a Benedictine monastery in San Gimignano, Italy. The retreats are organized by Michael Dowling, artistic director of Medicine Wheel Productions in South Boston.

“What I appreciate so much about the retreat is the solitude and the focus on the work in a daily way without the interruptions of normal routines and chores,” Zug said. “I have five grandchildren who occupy a lot of my energy and attention, so the chance to allow the painting to happen in a concentrated span of time devoted only to work is a gift.”

Continuing her reflection, she added, “The monastic ethic of hospitality and rhythm of the prayerful day are inspiring to me. I have been studying Italian, which makes the trips more fun and which enables me to join the sisters of the order in their evening worship. I hope that the beauty of the timelessness of their daily devotion to prayer and work is evident in the paintings.”

At an October show at Medicine Wheel, titled, "Paintings from the Monastery", Zug’s work was described as “a response to the Benedictine sisters' aesthetics of hospitality and to their devotional work and ethic where the artist has created a space for self. Linda's work reflects the beauty of Italy with the theme of sky and word where heaven and earth meld together. It captures the senses and speaks of a physical presence, timelessness and spirit.”

Zug began painting after she retired from teaching high school French 15 years ago. She began in watercolor with Sherborn artist Bill Ternes, and 10 years ago she took some studio courses at Wellesley College as a post-bac student. It was five years ago that she met Dowling and soon began going on the retreats. Zug lives in Sherborn and paints at her home studio.

The Artist of the Month program is sponsored by the Friends of the Dover Library. Each month, a different local artist’s work is displayed in the library.

The Dover Town Library is located at 56 Dedham Street in Dover. Current library hours are: Monday – Wednesday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; and Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. It is closed on Sunday.

For more information, please visit the library’s web site at www.dovertownlibrary.org.