Bermuda House

Bermuda Custom House

TCAN's first solo exhibition honors the life of Harriet Elliston, multifaceted feminist, activist, wife, mother, community leader, anthropologist, horticulturist, and painter. Best known for her dedication to civil rights and her work with the Roxbury-Weston Programs in bridging the racial divide, Harriet Elliston's paintings reflect the experiences of a life spanning nearly a century.

Harriet Elliston: 95 Years of Family, Art, and Community is curated by Wayland artist Sue Memhard, who'd had the good fortune to befriend Harriet Elliston and view her previously unexhibited body of work. Fascinated by the knowledge and experiences of this remarkable woman, Memhard's vision for the show evolved from a desire to share the paintings along with the inspiring story of the woman who'd created them. Elliston's lifelong interest in art began early with classes at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. She went on to (naming just a few endeavors) study anthropology at Harvard, farm raspberries and peonies in Weston, raise a family, and march with Martin Luther King, Jr. Painted as time permitted, luminous naturalistic and impressionistic landscapes, ocean vistas, botanicals, and portraits in watercolor reflect a spirit of sensitivity and respect. Images of the works included in this exhibition, as well as a more comprehensive biography, are available on the Web at www.suememhard.com/harriet/