Renowned Cape Folk Artist Elizabeth Mumford Unveils First Scene of Falmouth
WAQUOIT, MA – Hyannis. Sandwich. Chatham. Nantucket. Martha’s Vineyard. They all have been immortalized by Elizabeth Mumford, the Cape Cod painter whose whimsical style has set the bar for nautical-themed folk art. Her paintings depict harbors, seascapes, mermaids, dogs, lighthouses. And now, thanks to the Darlene and George Kohler family, Mumford’s work includes a scene of Waquoit, the historic village in East Falmouth.
The original painting, which depicts the iconic Waquoit Congregational Church and Waquoit Bay, will be officially unveiled Sunday, Oct. 11, 3- 5 p.m. at the Waquoit Bay Yacht Club. The painting currently is on display at The Write Choice at Mashpee Commons.
“I love painting different scenes and towns of the Cape,” said Mumford, who will talk about the Waquoit painting as well as some of her other work that will be on display that day. . “But what’s particular fun about the new Waquoit painting is how it all came about.”
Mumford’s Waquoit painting was the serendipitous meeting of fate and faith, and shared artistic interest. It started when the late Kohlers, Darlene and George, left money to the Waquoit Congregational Church, where they were long-time members. The fund was added to over the years after their deaths through donations by friends and family. It was left untouched until their daughter, Maggie Walsh of Marstons Mills, invited the Waquoit minister, the Rev. Nell Fields, to her house for a holiday party. It was there Rev. Fields discovered the family’s love of the artist Elizabeth Mumford…one of her favorite artists as well.
“It was one of those things,” said Walsh. “Nell saw Liz’s work in my house. She looked at me. I looked at her, and we knew instantly how best to use my parent’s fund…a Liz Mumford painting of the church and of Waquoit.” The original oil will be sold and the proceeds used to raise more funds for the church to assist in maintaining the historic structure – a structure that was near and dear to the Kohlers.
Mumford’s signature black border on the Waquoit painting has a quote attributed to St. Jerome – something Darlene Kohler often said. “Good, better, best. Never let it rest, until the good is better and the better is best.”
The Sunday, Oct. 11 event at the Waquoit Bay Yacht Club is free and open to the public. A limited number of signed prints for the painting will be available for purchase. Silent bids will also be taken for the original Waquoit oil. Wine and appetizers will be served.
For more information about the painting, prints and the artist event, contact the Waquoit Congregational Church at 508-548-5269.
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