The Chatham Artists Guild presents a special show at the Carolina Brewery for June and July, a celebration of the life of Jacqueline Hammer, a longtime participant in the Chatham Studio Tour. Jackie lived for many years in Fearrington Village with her writer husband Robert. Her works, along with those of several of her fellow Guild artists who live and work in Fearrington, adorn the walls of the Pittsboro brewery and restaurant on highway 15/501 near the Lowes home improvement store. There will be a reception honoring Jackie on Sunday, July 12th from 4 to 6 PM. Join her Fearrington artist friends and colleagues for an enjoyable time of art and refreshment. Fearrington artists Vidabeth Bensen, Anne Bigelow, Forrest Greenslade, Claire Levitt, Roy Lindholm, Leslie Palmer, Deborah Sanks, Joan Sommers and Rita Spina will be present to meet with Brewery goers and share remembrances of Jackie’s life and work.
From the time that Hammer grew up in the Bronx New York, she was dedicated to her art. Educated at Columbia Art School, she was classically trained in oils, lithography and pottery. She worked commercially, doing line drawings for ads in newspapers like the Boston Globe. She had an expansive career of exploration and sharing her joy of artistic expression. Her son Gilbert recalls, “In 1967 during the time of the Greek revolution, mom spent a month in Greece, collaborating and taking in new ideas from a local artist.” He notes, “Mom preferred abstract design and embraced non-traditional expression. She always translated her own emotions into her work, and stayed away from anything derivative of popular artistic trends.”
Her daughter Leslie remembers, “Mom always had a studio of her own, and was connected with the arts community. People were continually visiting to see her work and learning from her. “She always involved me in her art. She was my teacher as well as my mom. Later, my son worked with her in the studio. Mom loved sharing her art with others.”
Fellow Fearrington artist, Rita Spina notes, “Jackie became my mentor when my life's dream of becoming an artist was beginning. My husband and I retired in Fearrington 20 years ago. Several artists got together here to read THE ARTIST'S WAY. I became a part of this group and some of us eventually became known as the Collection. We had our first show at Fearrington’s Gathering Place. From the time that Jackie and I met, she encouraged my artistic endeavors, and over the years told me to do what I love to do and keep the messages in my head and experiment in every way -- and to close off the world. Her words were always (and still are) in the back of my head. She also told me that as soon as I sold my first piece of work, I would recognize myself as a professional. And she was right on target. Jackie still stands at my shoulder as I ponder what comes next and I close everything else out and the work begins.”
Another friend and Fearrington artist Vidabeth Bensen adds, “In 1997, Jackie, Rita Spina, Fran Schultzberg, and I traveled to Japan. Jackie told me that her lifelong dream was to visit Japan. I am so glad we were able to fulfill that dream and share it with her.” Son Gilbert stresses, “she found the Japanese sense of minimalism within their culture and design to be an important aspect running through her work.”
The Collection helped start what today is the Chatham County Studio Tour (2009 is The Tour’s 17th year) and led to the development of the Chatham Artists Guild (www.chathamartistsguild.org). The Guild is a non-profit organization of regionally and nationally recognized visual artists. Each year, Guild members open their studios to the public through the Chatham Open Studio Tour. Visitors travel throughout lovely rural Chatham County to meet artists in their own work spaces, and share their ideas on art and the creative process.
Carolina Brewery (www.carolinabrewery.com) a locally-owned brewery and restaurant, has drawn international attention for its handcrafted beers and traditional bar fare in its Chapel Hill and new Pittsboro locations.
Caption: Jacqueline Hammer, 1922–2009
Jackie’s family would like any donations in her memory to be made to the Chatham Artists Guild or the UNC Hospitals.
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