Arts and Culture
ARTS & CULTURE
Inspiration drawn from the island ’ s unparalleled physical and spiritual beauty is expressed in a multitude of media . From a cornucopia of visual arts – photography , sculpture , paintings , glassworks , scrimshaw and more — to theater productions and lectures , Nantucket is truly a mecca of arts and culture , boasting an eclectic array of art galleries , classes , entertainment ,
festivals and theater to suit every interest and spanning the entire year .
In the heart of maritime Nantucket , an Art Colony sprang forth in the early 1920 ’ s among the shacks , shanties , boathouses and other “ relics ” of the island ’ s storied reign as “ Whaling Capital of the “ World .” A group of artists dubbed the “ waterfront artists ” arrived at about this time to study with Frank Swift Chase , the renowned “ dean of Nantucket artists .” Thus , the island was transformed from a defunct whaling port to a haven for the arts , engendering a rebirth of the waterfront and an exciting new period in the history and identity of the “ Grey Lady of the Sea .”
Longtime islander Reggie Levine is to be commended for his significant and multi-faceted contributions to the arts on Nantucket . Levine was the recipient of the Nantucket Arts Council ’ s prestigious – and occasionally presented – Merit Award in 2015 for excellence in arts leadership and numerous and diverse accomplishments on Nantucket . A true “ Renaissance man ,” Levine formerly owned the Main Street Gallery and fostered the careers of numerous artists represented in his gallery , served hundreds of island arts patrons and has been instrumental in a number of local arts initiatives . During his extended tenure at the Nantucket Arts Council , Reggie cofounded an annual baroque concert , now in its 6th year . A marvelous painter and collage artist , Levine is also a professional art conservator and restorer , set designer , actor , lecturer and private collections consultant .
74 • 2017 Official Guide to Nantucket Inset photo © Michael Galvin