Art Discussion and Demonstration with Folk Artist Jean Dewey

Sturbridge, MA – On Saturday, April 24, Showcase Antique Center, located on Route 20 at the entrance to Old Sturbridge Village, will host renown folk artist Jean Dewey. Dewey will be at the antique store from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. to discuss her extraordinary career along with painting demonstrations throughout the day.

            Dewey’s interest in painting began as a hobby fifty years ago. Her initial studies were with a master craftsman in the Esther Brazier Guild of Early American Decoration. Although she found the teacher’s style limiting, she continued to hone her skills.  It was not long after when Connecticut artist Don Roberts discovered Dewey’s talent and, with his encouragement, her unique style blossomed.

            Dewey hand paints furniture, wicker baskets, tin ware, and a wide-variety of wooden objects. At the height of her career Dewey would paint as many as 5,000 pieces a month.

            In the 1980s, the famed Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, MA commissioned Dewey and her daughter Charlotte to decorate a three-room suite, from ceiling to stairwell. The onsite work took them two weeks. In addition to painting the suite, the duo painted the suite’s furniture at Myrifield, Jean’s twelve-acre hilltop home in Charlemont. The Inn named the rooms “The Jean Dewey Suite” in her honor.

            “We are very fortunate to have Ms. Dewey give this talk and demonstration at our shop,” said Stuart Brody, owner of Showcase Antique Center. “Her items are highly collectible and we are pleased to have several items available for one’s home or private collection.”

            Despite her age and health challenges, Ms. Dewey remains passionate about her work. In an interview with Richard Matthews several years ago, Dewey said, “I like to think that what I’ve come to do is create something that can be a family keepsake. Art, in some form, should be accessible and affordable to people. It should bring joy.”

            The event with Jean Dewey is free of charge. “We encourage people to come by and have this opportunity to meet and talk with this American treasure,” said Brody.

            Jean Dewey will be at Showcase Antique Center, located on Route 20 at the entrance to Old Sturbridge Village, on Saturday, April 24 from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. For more information call 508-347-7190.