By Bonnie Adams, Managing Editor
Ed Turner with some of the Boston Marathon artwork now on display at Tatnuck Bookseller (Photo/Bonnie Adams)
Westborough – Each spring, Massachusetts residents know there is no surer sign of spring than the running of the Boston Marathon. Whether one is a sanctioned participant, running as a “bandit,” cheering from the sidelines or just watching from the comfort of home, everyone, it seems, is inspired by the 26 miles-plus trek from Hopkinton to Boston.
And from now through April 28, local residents can catch marathon fever in another way – by checking out a special art show at Tatnuck Bookseller, which will feature iconic posters from the personal collection of Tim Kilduff, a former Boston Marathon race director.
The show was coordinated by Ed Turner, the owner of the Art and Frame Emporium. Turner is also a well-known local illustrator, whose work appears weekly in the Community Advocate as well many other publications.
After meeting with Kilduff, Turner selected approximately a dozen posters and framed them before hanging them on the walls of the Tatnuck event room.
Many of the posters are historical in nature including one that notes information on the very first marathon, when the soldier and messenger Pheidippides ran to Athens to announce the Greek victory over Persia in the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC.
Also on display are a number of bronze sculptures created by Hopkinton artist Michael Alfano. Art work from several local artists including Westborough resident Ernie D’elia are also featured in the show.
Turner will be hosting an opening reception at Tatnuck Bookseller tomorrow, Sunday, April 7 from noon to 3 p.m.
The show is, he said, a way to generate excitement not only for the Marathon but for local art.
“There are so many local artists in our community,” he said. “I want people to know that they don’t have to go to Boston or another big city to see or purchase great art. There is a lot of it right here.”
With the recent closing of the Westboro Gallery, Turner is leading an initiative to find other venues for artists to display their work in town. One of those ideas is creating a suite of studios in the old Eagle Block building located on the rotary. He is also hoping to have artists temporarily display art work in the windows of empty storefronts in the Westborough Shopping Center.
“It will be a great way to not only show off their works but also make those spaces look alive until they are eventually rented again,” he said.
If all goes according to plan, he said, Alfano will also be a participant, not by just displaying his works, but also as a “working” artist.
“People will actually be able to see him in action and talk with him,” Turner said.
“It’s sad the Westboro Gallery closed but the news is not all bad,” he said. “As a business owner and artist myself, I know there is so much untapped potential here. That’s why I decided to devote my time and attention to this cause. I want to generate some excitement about all of this great local art.”
Turner is also working with Maureen Ambrosino, the director of the Westborough Public Library.
“We want to display art there as well and to feature different types of classes,” he noted.
He also hopes to work with the art departments in the local schools.
Turner encourages interested artists and supporters to contact him at artandframeemporium@verizon.net, call 508-366-5650, or visit him at his store located at 18 Lyman St., Westborough Shopping Center.