In the depth of winter, the Cape Cod Museum of Art in Dennis is in full bloom.
          After declaring a snow day, closing up for safety's sake during Saturday's blizzard and postponing a Sunday event until the white stuff melts, the CCMoA doors are once again open and ready to welcome the community to a full slate of exhibitions, a winter music performance series and classes for adults and children in such variety that you're sure to find one you can't resist.
          The annual Members Juried Exhibition is on exhibit through April 10, with an opening scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 3 from 4 to 7 p.m. The exhibition's theme, Transparent, Translucent, Opaque: Layered Meanings, served as a starting point. Over 200 works of art were submitted by 120 artists, with only 91 works selected for the exhibition. Juror and CCMoA Director of Art Benton Jones called the exhibition a silver lining during the darkest days of the year.
          “We had a great outpouring of participation this year,” Jones said, praising both the quality and quantity of entries. “The resulting interpretations of the theme are impressive! I am certain that everyone who spends the time to absorb this annual CCMoA Members Juried exhibition will come away with an expanded understanding and delight in this multifarious collection.”
          On exhibit through March 13 is The Art of Wet Pulp Painting by Orleans artist Jane Eccles. Benton describes Eccles as a relentless artist, always pushing herself to master new mediums and subject matter. Her use of wet pulp was a natural evolution from her study of papermaking at a well-known papermaking studio in Lower Manhattan, Dieu Donne. From landscapes to pure abstraction, her artwork represents a deep understanding of subject, color and composition.
          “This holds true for Jane’s wet pulp paintings,” Benton said. “Working with the staff at the Dieu Donne studio, Jane familiarized herself with this unique process. She then took this knowledge to create her own wet pulp painting studio right here on Cape Cod.”
          Also on exhibit through March 13, Terra Form, a Cape Cod Potters juried exhibition, features 55 objects selected for the exhibition by James Lawton, former professor of ceramics and chair of the artisanry department at UMass Dartmouth. Benton said the exhibition reveals the diversity of exceptional ceramic objects, both functional and non-functional, created by members of the Cape Cod Potters. The CCMoA invited the Cape Cod Potters to exhibit at the museum in celebration of the group's 50th anniversary, which coincides with CCMoA's 40th. Remarkably, both non-profit organizations owe their existence in part to the same man – the late sculptor, potter and visionary Harry Holl.
          “The Cape Cod Potters (or the Cape Cod Cooperative as it was initially named) was formed to promote the professional growth of potters and cooperation between craftspeople on Cape Cod,” Benton said. “It is fitting that Cape Cod Museum of Art and the Cape Cod Potters celebrate their anniversaries together with this exhibition. The Cape Cod Museum of Art remains committed to Harry Holl’s philosophy of teaching ceramics and sharing knowledge openly.”
          In addition, on exhibit from the CCMoA permanent collection through March 6 is the collection of arts patron Ann F. Bengtson. Benton explained that Bengtson understood how she could be most impactful to the lives of our regional Cape Cod artists.
          “By purchasing artwork directly from artists and then subsequently donating the artwork to cultural institutions, she was able to both support the cultural community financially, but also give emerging artists a platform to grow their careers,” Benton said.
          Upcoming CCMoA exhibitions will include Through Young Eyes, a Cape Cod and Islands Art Educators Exhibition of K-12 artwork March 9 through May 8; First Look, Recent Actuations from the CCMoA Permanent Collection March 16 through May 15; and don't miss Ric Howard: Red White and Blue, an exhibition about a local eccentric artist and patriot, April 13 through July 3. This exhibit will feature many works never before on public view, donated to the CCMoA by Helen Pond, internationally known scenic designer and Yarmouth Port resident.
          Calling all 3D artists! Submit your work by March 1 for the Cape Cod Open Sculpture Invitational. The CCMoA and the New England Sculptors Association invite all 3D artists to submit to this inaugural juried sculpture exhibition on the 22-acre campus of the Cape Cod Center for the Arts. For more information visit www.ccmoa.org/submit.
          For the music lover, the CCMoA Winter Music and More series, now in its 19th year, is taking place in the form of in-person concerts at the museum each Sunday from 3 to 4 p.m. through March 27. The concerts also livestream on Zoom. In 2021, the popular Winter Music and More series was expanded to the summer, with the series now offering 26 weeks of Sunday afternoon live music every year. From classical to jazz, blues, Celtic and rock and roll, this series has something for everyone. Music and More brings talented musicians to you every Sunday at 3 p.m.
          After experiencing so much original art and music, are you feeling inspired? Ongoing classes are available for adults and children, including painting, drawing, mixed media, jewelry, as well as art history classes, demonstrations and workshops. Offering opportunities to learn and to develop skills is just one more example of the many ways the CCMoA enriches and gives back to the community.
          “One additional initiative for 2022 is to digitize our 2,500 piece permanent collection, making it available without any socio-economic boundaries to everyone globally,” Benton said. 'This will provide for research and discovery of the most significant artists and artworks in the region, a region recognized as having the longest ongoing art colony in the country.”
          As many people are struggling from the consequences and challenges of the ongoing COVID pandemic, Benton expressed pride in the CCMoA meeting the challenge with multiple layers of safety measures in place to serve as a destination that is as safe as possible for our community throughout this pandemic.
          “Our visitors express their gratitude for the steps we have taken to make our spaces safer,” Benton said. “I often hear people say that this is the first time they have been in a public space in a long time, or that they appreciate the option of attending our concerts virtually.”
          Face coverings are required for everyone inside public areas in the museum, including the classrooms, whether or not they are vaccinated. For all indoor classes and workshops, all students are required to provide proof of vaccination upon arrival at the first class, with the exception of children under 12 and those with a medical condition. For seated indoor events, the museum currently requires proof of vaccination. Visitors are asked to respect others and maintain a safe social distance when inside the museum. CCMoA reserves the right to limit admission to classes and special events for the safety of all. Daily cleaning and disinfecting of common surfaces is practiced, and plexi shield barriers remain at the reception desk and museum shop desk. An ultraviolet Reme Halo in-duct air purification system has been installed for safety, and the CCMoA currently limits capacity at seated events and will adjust this policy following CDC guidance.
          For more information about the CCMoA, including exhibitions, the Winter Music Series, classes, artist calls for submission and more, visit CCMoA.org.