Burnett Gallery Virtual Exhibit

March 2023

Work by Olwen O'Herlihy Dowling and Agnes Zsigmondi McCraven



Olwen O'Herlihy Dowling
www.olwendowling.com

Olwen was born in Dublin Ireland and emigrated with her family to the United States. She grew up in Malibu California and Dublin Ireland. Her primary inspirations in art are Mary Cassatt, Richard Diebenkorn, Turner, Homer, and Joaquin Sorolla. Olwen paints images in oil and watercolor of the West of Ireland, as well as North Chester where she lives in the Berkshire mountains. She is also a printmaker in Intaglio, Drypoint / monotype and is a Member of the Zea Mays Printmaking Studio and The Monotype Guild of New England. Olwen has been a member of the National Association of Women Artists.

Olwen's paintings are in Private Collections in the United States and Europe. In recent years, she has exhibited at The James Joyce Gallery and The Hallward Gallery in Dublin, Ireland; Smith College Alumnae Gallery; Hosmer Gallery Northampton MA; The Watkins Gallery Northampton MA; Olwen’s intaglio artwork is represented by the Zea Mays Flat File Project and her recent print work has been represented in group shows at the APE Gallery in Northampton and The Ferrin Gallery Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The Lenox Gallery Massachusetts: Olwen received Honorable Mention in the Fem in Art Show. Olwen has also worked for over two decades in the professional theatre in production and has designed scenery and backcloths for theatrical productions. Olwen has been producer, managing director, production manager and stage manager for professional theatrical institutions, as well as director of The Northampton Center for the Arts. She graduated as a Studio Art Major with a minor in Biology from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. Olwen has also studied at the L'Ecoled'Art, Vallauris, France and the Sun Valley Arts Program in Hailey, Idaho. Olwen is currently represented by her own gallery in North Chester Massachusetts and works as an arts consultant. Olwen lived for ten years in Cleveland Ohio where she was Production Manager at The Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival and helped move the company to downtown Cleveland to Playhouse Square as well as guiding the first 8 ½ hour USA production of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby as it was presented in Chicago.

Olwen is a recent recipient of the Massachusetts Cultural Council Recovery Grant.

Olwen has been privileged to be a returning artist in residence at The Tyrone Guthrie Centre on many occasions and was delighted to be an artist in residence and Fellow at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts in autumn 2021. Her prints and paintings are personal and are placed where she has a close relationship, such as the Berkshires and Ireland.


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Agnes McCraven - Artist Photo

Agnes Zsigmondi McCraven
amccraven@hotmail.com

Agnes Zsigmondi McCraven was born and raised in Budapest, Hungary where she attended art schools as a pottery major. She later became an internationally touring and recording musician. She performed extensively in Europe with the Hungarian folk group Kolinda that became one of the favorites of the international folk festivals in Europe during the 70’s. In 1980 she left Hungary and started her solo career in Paris France where he met her husband Steve McCraven a jazz drummer who performed all over the word with well known American artists. They settled in New England with their son Makaya in 1985 where she received her music education degrees from the University of Massachusetts and had her daughter, Kinga. Agnes taught music in the Amherst and Pelham public schools for 25 years while continuing to perform and create arts and crafts. After her retirement she started to devote her time to painting and making greeting cards. Her CD’s are available on Bandcamp and her artwork can be purchased by contacting her at amccraven@hotmail.com.


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