Exhibition: Just Passing Through
Friday, February 6 through Saturday, March 14, 2026
Opening Reception: Friday, February 6, 6 to 8 pm
The James Library & Center for the Arts, 24 West St., Norwell
Admission is free, on view during business hours
jameslibrary.org/tickets/just-pass-through
Our exhibit “Just Passing Through” features paintings by Artists Lisa Daira Kennedy and Paula Villanova. Kennedy grew up along the northeast edge of the Hockomock Swamp in Massachusetts. She holds a BA in Graphic Design from Roger Williams University, a BFA in Illustration and an MFA in Painting from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston, where she is an Associate Professor. She lives with her Wheaten Terrier, Olive, in an old fishing camp at World’s End. When she’s not painting, she’s paddling.
Villanova grew up in a time and place where seeing original art and spaces in which to make art almost seemed like a rarity and luxury. “There was no internet, weekly art class felt like an oasis, and most of the people we knew were not artists and didn’t seem to have original art in their homes. Gratefully, with parents who recognized my clear drive to make art and even thought I could draw (kind of a big deal to them), they decided that they would support my desire for an art school higher education.
Villanova earned a BFA in Visual Design from Southeastern Massachusetts University (now UMass Dartmouth), with a concentration in painting. She worked in several art related jobs in advertising agencies and design studios, and as a freelance artist early on, then later decided to follow a different path to concentrate on her studio work separately from her employment. She continues to win exhibition space in juried shows, and has been the recipient of multiple awards, including a “Best In Show” for the North River Arts Society “Festival of the Arts” poster contest in 2023.
About The James Library & Center for the Arts
Housed in a landmark 1874 Victorian building in the heart of Norwell Center, the James Library & Center for the Arts (the James) is a non-profit cultural hub dedicated to inspiring the community through the arts. As a unique hybrid of a lending library, a professional concert hall, and a contemporary art gallery, the James provides high-quality cultural experiences that are educational, entertaining, and enriching for all ages.
The James Library is located at 24 West Street, Norwell and is open to the public Tuesday through Friday, 1 to 5 pm, and on Saturday, 11 am to 1 pm. For more information, call 781-659-7100, visit jameslibrary.org, or follow The James Library on Facebook and Instagram.