Founders Show - Falmouth Art Center

Angelo Cangiamila | Tempus (c. 1960) | oil

Known as “Cangy,” Angelo Cangiamila (1913-1996) is considered the founder of the Falmouth Artists Guild. As an engineer and illustrator at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), he invited those interested in art to take classes with him at his home in Falmouth Heights. Students would set up easels in the Cangiamila garage. Eventually, the group moved to the town’s Recreation Center on East Main Street and then the Poor House next door.

William Littlefield | Architecture By Night (1953) | mixed media

William Littlefield (1902 – 1969) graduated from Harvard in 1924 and later studied painting in Paris. He was employed by the Works Progress Adminstration as an artist during the Depression. In the 1930s, his work was included in shows at the Whitney Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. He split his time between New York’s art world and Falmouth, inheriting his parent’s horse farm on Depot Avenue in Falmouth where he had his home and studio. He wrote a column “Art Corner” for the Falmouth Enterprise newspaper for the last 15 years of his life.

San Lyman | Saturday in Woods Hole (c. 2019)| oil

San Lyman has been involved with the Falmouth Artists Guild since the early years studying with Angelo Cangiamila. She continues to be involved as an artist exhibitor with her signature style working in oils.

Milt Williamson | Brant Point Light | woodcut

Milt Williamson began his involvement with the Falmouth Artists Guild in the 1960s, as an exhibitor painting with watercolors and printmaking. He is still involved today submitting his award-winning photography to shows. A graduate of Mass Art, he is retired from a career as an art director and graphic designer.

Phyllis Kendrick Howard (c. 1937) | Lady in Red |

Phyllis Kendrick Howard (1914-1992) graduated from Mass Art and studied at Harvard University. She later taught at Mass Art as department heard of costume illustration. She owned and directed the Kendrick Studio in Boston, specializing in creative display and advertising layout; and she was also art director for a Boston advertising agency. She was one of the founding members of the Guild, serving on the board as both secretary and treasurer, exhibiting her award-winning watercolor paintings. She was inducted in as a member of the prestigious New England Watercolor Society.

Charmay Hayes | Italian Hill Town | watercolor

Charmay Hays was president of the Falmouth Artists Guild 1964 to 1965. She was involved in the beginning years of the Guild. Her husband Earl Hays worked at WHOI and that may have been how she came to take classes with Angelo Cangiamila, who offered art classes at his home in the beginning years of the Guild.

Zada Clarke | Portrait of Jan Elliott, age 3 | watercolor

Zada Clarke (1917 – 1987) was an early participant in the Falmouth Artists Guild as an exhibitor. She was well-known in town for her skill at portraiture, which she would do at town events such as the annual Nurses’ Fete. Zada Clarke lived with mental illness throughout her life and suffered a number of tragedies. But her brilliance as an artist shone through.

Bud Cary | Red Motion | ink, oil, watercolor

Burton “Bud” Wolcott Cary (1921 – 2001) was an early and active member of the Falmouth Artists Guild, serving as president of the Artists Guild in 1966. A high school English teacher, he moved with his family to Falmouth in 1964 and became involved in the local art scene, especially the Artists Guild. He was an award-winning exhibitor at the Guild all the way to 1999.

Bud Cary | untitled | mixed media

Beverly Edwards | Nude Study | acrylic on canvas

Beverley Edwards (1934 - 2021) was involved in the early years of the Falmouth Artists Guild as an artist and art teacher. In the 1960s, she served at the Artists Guild as project coordinator, promotion, art instructor for drawing and printmaking, and on the board of directors. She received her early art training at the High Museum of Art, Emory University, and the University of Georgia. After moving to Cape Cod in 1959, Beverley began to teach at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston as well as the Falmouth Artists Guild. She served as Museum School Director at the Fuller Museum in Brockton from 1972-1984, President of the Falmouth Artist Guild in 1973, and founded the Monotype Guild of New England in 1985. Her work is in numerous museums, corporate, and private collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, Duxbury Art Complex Museum, the Christian Science Church of Boston, and Tufts University in Boston.

Ann Downs | Low Tide | watercolor

Anne Downs (1942 - ) was an art teacher in the Falmouth Public Schools for many years. She first got involved with the Falmouth Artist Guild in the 1966 as an exhibitor and later as a teacher. She continues to participate at Falmouth Art Center as an exhibitor and student.

Mary Mavor | Tuscany | pastel

Mary Mavor (1925 – 2005) was an active volunteer with the Falmouth Artists Guild beginning in the early years of the organization in the 1950s and 60s. According to her daughter, Salley, Mary enjoyed the camaraderie and community the group offered. She took and taught classes, as well as volunteered in a variety of roles, including publicity. In addition to pastel, she worked in watercolor, batik, enameling and pottery.

Jeanne Swan-Masch | Swan Bouquet (c. 2018) | acrylic

Jeanne Swan-Masch (1932 - 2024) was an exhibitor at the Artists Guild beginning in the early years. Her mediums were oils, acrylics and watercolor, as well as ceramics. She painted until two weeks before her passing, according to her daughter, Liz Swan.

Jean Ryther | Bourne Farm & Daisies | watercolor

Jean Ryther (1924 – 2013), an accomplished artist and devoted volunteer for the Falmouth Artists Guild, served on the board for many years and as president of the Falmouth Artists Guild from 1970-71. According to her son Chip, the Artists Guild “was her whole life.” She began her artistic journey by taking sketch classes with Angelo Cangiamila who worked at WHOI where her husband worked as head of the Biology Department.

Jean Ryther | Queen Anne's Lace | watercolor

Louise Lane | Release of Color | acrylic

Louise Lane (1932 - ) was one of the first members of the Falmouth Artists Guild, taking classes with Angelo Cangiamila, known as Cangy. She was an early board member and has continued to be involved over the years as an award-winning artist exhibitor.

Edie Bruce | Turbot's Creek, Maine | oil

Edie Bruce (1930 – 2017) was involved from the beginning in the Falmouth Artists Guild, as one of the founding members. She served as president of the Guild in 1967; 1974; 1976 (co-president); and 1977. Born in Chicago, Edie graduated from Norwestern University and also studied at the Ogunquit School of Art in Maine. She ran the Woods Hole Gallery on School Street for many years. Edie Bruce was instrumental in getting the town to lease the Poor House to the Guild in the early 1960s. The Poor House served as the home of the Guild for almost 40 years. Use of the Poor House as the Artists Guild home began when the group of painters studying with Angelo Cangiamila had moved to the Rec Center. One of the artists in the group noticed the historic building next door, the old Poor House that had been abandoned by the town in 1960. The artists asked the town if they could use the building. Town meeting granted the group a lease at $1 a year for almost 40 years. In 2000, in a split vote, Falmouth Selectmen voted to have the artists leave the Poor House so the town could use the building for town offices. The town’s Human Services Department moved into the building in January 2024.

Joseph A. Downs | Storm Coming | watercolor

Joe Downs (1934 – 2020) worked for the Falmouth Public Schools heading up the art department from 1961 to 1982.

John Bruce | Playmate (c. 1954) | oil/ink

John Bruce (1927 – 2021), who had been Edie Bruce’s husband, was also a painter who participated in Artists Guild shows. He was a staff member of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.