WASHINGTON VILLAGE — The Gibbs Library presents a collection of oil paintings and a quilt, of one its residents, Anne Marie Manson. The exhibit will open, Thursday, May 2, and closes Tuesday, July 6.

Anne Marie Manson grew up in Newburyport, Massachusetts where she became an accomplished artist and quilter and sewing master.

Manson began studying oil painting in 1960 with renowned artist, Aida Tedford (1910- 1999). Aida was “the first and most accomplished” student of artist, Sam Sargent (1889- 1959), who founded the Newburyport Art Association, to which Manson became an active member.

During the years that Manson studied under Aida, she prolifically produced oil paintings. She drew her inspiration from her travels abroad, local landmarks and still lifes of her own composition. Many of her paintings remain in her family.

After moving to Alna, in 1976, she turned her attention to quilting and other artistic needlework. She was a member of The Clamshell Quilters in the Midcoast area, The Pine Tree Quilters Guild of the State of Maine, New England Quilters Guild and the American Quilters Society.

Her “Friendship Quilt,” completed in 1996, lists the names of the members of her local quilting group.

Manson also spent an enormous amount of time on family genealogy. Combining that interest with quilting resulted in her magnificent historical quilt “Tignish” in memory of her ancestors who arrived, in Canada and America, in the early 1600s. She started that quilt in 1992 and completed it in the summer of 1998. Tignish was the centerpiece of the 1999 Bicentennial Exhibit of The Acadian Museum, in Miscouche, Prince Edward Island, where it will soon return as a permanent piece of the Museum’s collection.

Manson, now retired, resides with her daughter Debbie in Washington, and enjoys life on the farm.

The Gibbs Library is located at 40 Old Union Road, in Washington Village and is open Monday, 4-7 p.m.; Tuesday 9- Noon and 4-7 p.m.; Thursday 3-6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; and Sunday 2-5 p.m..

For more information contact Gibbs Library  (207) 845-2663