“Greek Myths”
Paintings by Ellen Cavanagh O’Sullivan through November 30, 2007

The Gallery of The Greek Institute
1038 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138
Gallery hours: Tuesday – Friday, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Phone: 617-547-4770, Fax: 617-661-9150

In an exciting show at The Gallery of The Greek Institute in Cambridge, MA, Boston artist Ellen Cavanagh O’Sullivan reveals her lifelong passion for ancient Greek philosophy, history, legend and myth in a series of 12 canvases.  Her intent is to be “provocateur, daring the audience to expand its horizons.” 

When Ellen Cavanagh O’Sullivan was 16 years old, she studied with American impressionist Emile Gruppe in Gloucester, MA.  Gruppe painted harbor scenes, fishermen, and boats, and ran a summer school for aspiring artists.  “His lessons”, Cavanagh says, “were pulsing with strength” and when the summer session was over, young Cavanagh refused to leave.  Gruppe hired her to “sit” the gallery and later to travel with him to Smuggler’s Notch, Vermont to paint and to drive other students around.  She credits Gruppe with having a lasting influence on her work.   

Her love of painting took her to New York where she studied with abstract-expressionist Theodore Stamos, Greek-American artist, at the Art Students League; and later she returned to Boston to work with Murray Reich and Conger Metcalf at B.U.’s School of Art. 

In Cavanagh’s paintings, light, darkness, and mystery intermingle in a rush of vibrant color.  Art work in the show was inspired by such themes and topics as Orpheus and Eurydice, Danae, The Fall of Troy.

—BH