Monserrat program spreads art to public places

“We are proud and delighted to be able to showcase such amazing works of art,’’ said hospital official Gerald MacKillop. “The Art Connection is a unique community collaboration, and we are very grateful to the staff at Montserrat and the artists for affording us such an opportunity.’’

By placing original works - all donated by area artists - with community and public service organizations, Art Connection aims to enhance the number and quality of art experiences within the community.

The original Art Connection in Boston, conceived by artist Fay Chandler in 1995, has donated more than 4,900 works to more than 300 nonprofit agencies.

Building on and maintaining that momentum, Montserrat has opened a branch program locally. The project was spearheaded by Henrietta Gates, a trustee of the college.

Over the summer, art was chosen and installed in the Beverly Hospital cafeteria. An unveiling was held last month.

“It was a great experience installing the work and improving the aesthetic experience of being in the hospital,’’ said Maggie Cavallo, assistant curator of education at Montserrat. “It’s amazing what can happen when you enrich blank walls with original works of art.’’

Eleven works were chosen from 150 for the installation, including four pieces by Chandler; a series of photographs by recent Montserrat graduate Cecelia Pettigrew; a drawing by senior Georgia Bolender; and works by guest artists.

Artists or collectors interested in donating work or suggesting an appropriate venue should contact Cavallo at maggie.cavallo@montserrat.edu. For more information, visit www.montserrat.edu.

IT ALL ADDS UP: Gathering Change, a charitable organization that collects spare change from homes, schools, churches, and businesses to donate to local food pantries and social services programs, holds its third annual meeting Wednesday in Lynnfield.

The meeting highlights the past year and celebrates the group’s many volunteers. The meeting highlights the past year and celebrates the group’s many volunteers. Kerry DeSimone, a recipient of the Dare to Begin program at the North Reading Food Pantry, shares her personal experiences.

By encouraging people to collect and donate their extra change, the organization has raised $85,000 since 2008 and has made donations to 40 food pantries in Massachusetts. Approximately 40 towns have benefited from donations by their neighbors.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Lynnfield Meeting House, 617 Main St. Call 781-334-6773 or e-mail chanshaw@gatheringchangeinc.org. For general information, visit www.gatheringchangeinc.org.

MELTING POT: The YWCA of Greater Newburyport presents its fall forum, “Diversity and Housing: Enriching Our Community,’’ Tuesday in Newburyport City Hall.

The forum explores fair housing and the process of creating open communities. The positive impact of increased diversity in cities and towns, and policies and strategies that could be used to increase the number of people of color in area communities, will be part of the discussion.

For more than 125 years, the YWCA of Greater Newburyport has been a community resource dedicated to transforming the lives of women and their families. Programs include affordable housing, child care, summer camp, teen racial justice groups, financial literacy seminars, and health and wellness programming.

The free event begins at 6:30 p.m. Call 978-465-9922 or visit www.ywcanewburyport.org.

WHO’S WHAT WHERE: Denise Marien of Newburyport has joined Bond Brothers, an Everett-based construction company, as director of client development . . . Cynthia Merkle of Swampscott and John Kavanagh of Ipswich have been appointed to the board of trustees of Endicott College in Beverly. Merkle is an alumna of the college and has served on its alumni council. She is an executive vice president at Eastern Bank, where she has worked since 1992. Kavanagh is chairman and chief executive of the Danvers-based Kavanagh Advisory Group, a real estate development and consulting firm. For 22 years he was president of William A. Berry & Son Inc., which focused on large projects for hospitals, research centers, colleges, and major corporations, working nationally and internationally.

Items can be sent to wdkilleen@gmail.com.