Resident Birds of Cape Cod
Artist, Joan Flahive

May 1 - June 30, 2025

During the Covid lockdown, artist Joan Flahive’s only neighbors were the birds who frequented the feeders in her yard. Living in the woods, the feeders were busy. Eventually, as time went on, Joan began to identify many of the individuals: the differences in their personalities, their individual calls, and their appearances. She saw them not as little creatures flying around, but as residents of her yard and as her neighbors.

Ideas for the bird portraits first resulted in an oversized painting of a Chickadee, the biggest little bird around. They have an enormous presence as do Titmice and Flickers, each in their own way. One painting became many as she enlarged them, so their details were easy to see. All her paintings are based on photographs by Rodney Silvia taken in her yard or close by on Cape Cod.

After retiring as a high school art teacher in Western Massachusetts, Joan moved to Brewster which provided the inspiration and opportunity to transition from teacher to painter. Landscapes, sunsets, detailed architectural close-ups, and local birds comprise her usual subject matter. Joan graduated from College of the Holy Cross (BA, Visual Arts) and Our Lady of the Elms (MAT). Along the way, many of her paintings have won awards in both Western Massachusetts and the Cape, and her work has been juried on national exhibitions.

Tree-Book Sculpture
Artist, Sheryl Jaffe

February -December 2025

The Tree-Book-Sculpture was inspired by Sheryl Jaffe’s loving relationship with the trees and the poem “On the Pulse of the Morning” by Maya Angelou. Angelou’s poem features the profound process of reconciliation, acceptance of the past, and hope for the future. Trees have personality and spirit, they give generously of shade, oxygen and habitat, and they emanate profound beauty. The installation is meant to honor the dignity and express the oneness of all people, plants, trees, and the earth.

Sheryl Jaffee has been exhibiting her artwork throughout New York and New England for over 30 years. She works with organic materials, handmade paper from local and exotic plant fibers and found objects to create 2 and 3-dimensional works. Jaffe studied traditional hand papermaking in Japan and China and has taught papermaking at home and abroad with students aged 4-84. Jaffe was a resident artist at The Barn, Edward Albee Foundation, and at Yellowstone National Park where she explored fibers found in those unique locations. She now volunteers in the community with the ArtPeace Makers and with Delilah’s Healing and Educational Collective in bringing Wampanoag culture and education to the Outer Cape.

Steve Swain - Frying Pan Gallery

Healthy Food Chain
Long Term Exhibit - Generously Donated by John & Patricia Kenney 2022

Steel sculptor Steve Swain is an accomplished artist, architectural designer, craftsman, and boat captain. He is responsible for creating several notable local restaurants and buildings. His last project before switching to art full-time was designing and overseeing construction of the restaurant Pearl in Wellfleet and the restoration of Duffy Gardinier’s Tug Boat shack, saving the last of old clam shacks from the wrecking ball and creating The Frying Pan Gallery on Wellfleet Harbor Pier where Steve designs and hand builds steely renditions of marine life. In the fall of 2019, a second Frying Pan Gallery was opened in Orleans.

In his secluded studio Steve seeks inspiration in nature and credits the great outdoors for his creativity and compositions. His custom marine installation at the Museum is an amazing design and work of art highlighting the ocean world of bait fish, bass, and great white sharks.

For more information on Steve’s work go to: www.fryingpangallery.com

James Prosek

Award Winning Artist, Author, and Naturalist
Long Term Exhibit

CCMNH is proud to present the work of artist, author and naturalist, James Prosek. His book Ocean Fishes, is a collection of 35 Atlantic fishes, all of which were painted life size based on individual specimens he traveled to see, a journey that started right here on Cape Cod. Naturescape Gallery is exhibiting two of his life-sized Fine Art prints; a Swordfish and a Blue Fin Tuna. His work has been shown in numerous esteemed galleries.

For more information about James and his work go to: troutsite.com