Larkin Gallery, Inc.
405 Commercial Street
Provincetown, MA 02657
508.487.6111
Larkin Gallery, Inc.
586 Main Street
Harwich Port, MA 02646
508.487.3111
K E N N E T H H A W K E Y - TRADITIONS at The Truro Public Library - June 2024
Late Spring 18 x 16 oil/canvas
Spion Kop Cottage 20 x 30 oil/linen
Pond Village Ice House 20 x 20 oil/linen
A “seasoned veteran” in interpreting Truro, Massachusetts through painting, Kenneth Hawkey is presenting a number of his Truro paintings in this exhibit for the month of June here at the Truro Public Library.
When the scheduled artist for the month of June had to bow out suddenly, the Library Director asked Hawkey if he would fill in. Hawkey has exhibited work at the Library previously, having been awarded Cultural Council Grants for two of his exhibits and related books. The exhibits were hosted by the library. After this he continued presenting and administering cultural programs by chairing the Truro Cultural Council and volunteered at the library prior to joining the staff on a part-time basis. He was a member artist of The Post Office Gallery in North Truro where he continued with the “Truro cause” and helped organize very successful auctions that benefited both The Friends of the Truro Library and The Twine Field Conservation Project. He co-curated an exhibit at The Highland House Museum of the history of the Truro Libraries and created the visuals for the exhibit. He also was elected and served as a trustee on the Board of Directors at Cape Cod Museum of Art as an Outer Cape artist representative. Currently, Hawkey is still painting and his work is represented by Larkin Gallery in Provincetown and Harwich Port.
For this exhibit, Hawkey has selected both architectural scenes, landscapes and pieces that combine both. Like regionalism, his works are traditional in their approach and accessible to the viewer. They reflect an evident rural tone and a straightforward style. Current works are being presented as well as a few that highlight Truro’s recent past. For example, some of the paintings depict places that have changed since painting them, they are a memory to many and yet a mystery to those that have only recently discovered Truro. Short narratives for each of the pieces in the show are also included either describing the scene, the painting’s inspiration, the process used in creating the piece or some of the principles of design used in the painting.
Hawkey completed his first painting of Truro in 1987 and has completed close to 300 more since then, but his output is definitely not limited to simply this. He has since painted many other places, subjects, genres and used other ideas and formats to create art. In this exhibit he’s chosen to bring his portrayal and characterization of Truro to Truro, its representations, histories and love of the Town that has often been a motivational source for his creativity.