Tenth Annual Watercolor Show To Honor Founding Member Jerry Schwabe
Watercolor Plus, an art exhibition featuring local artists Kirsten Benfield, Nancy Brody, Barbara DiLorenzo, Laurie Hall, Beth Meredith and Janet Rojas will be held at Ashawagh Hall (780 Springs Fireplace Road, East Hampton) from Friday, September 25 through Sunday, September 27. An opening reception will be held on Friday, September 25th from 5 – 7:30 p.m.
Marking a decade of exhibiting together, this year’s Watercolor+ show will take on a new look, with the artists presenting their work salon style. The arrangement will bring works together in a dynamic, closely curated display, offering visitors a fresh way to experience the group’s individual styles and collective body of work.
This year’s exhibition will also hold special significance as the group pays tribute to their dear friend, fellow artist and founding member Jerry Schwabe (1946–2026), who passed away this spring. A dedicated wall at Ashawagh Hall will honor Schwabe, celebrating his work, friendship and lasting influence on the artists who painted alongside him for more than a decade.
An accomplished painter and sculptor, Schwabe was a founding member of water+color+works, an East End arts group whose members have gathered to paint together once a week for more than ten years. The only gentleman among a group of seven women, Schwabe was known not only for his singular and experimental approach to watercolor, but also for his generosity, humor and unwavering encouragement of his fellow artists.
His contributions extended well beyond his own artwork. Over the years, Schwabe helped make the group’s exhibitions possible in countless ways—from adjusting lights atop very tall ladders and hanging banners to securing the group’s preferred exhibition dates at Ashawagh Hall. He consistently gave his time and energy to the group while supporting each member’s development as an individual artist.
His friendship, artistic vision and contagious smile are deeply missed, and the special tribute at this year’s exhibition will celebrate the spirit he brought to the group and the important role he played in its history.
Who: Kirsten Benfield, Nancy Brody, Barbara DiLorenzo, Laurie Hall, Beth Meredith, and Janet Rojas
What: Watercolor+ Exhibition
Where: Ashawagh Hall, 780 Spring Fireplace Road, East Hampton NY
When: Friday, September 25 from 3 – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 26th from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, September 27th from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Opening Reception: Friday, September 25 from 5 – 7:30 p.m.
