"Color Moves Me" - Artwork by Robin Manning

Artwork by Robin Manning will be on display at the Maser Gallery at Falmouth Community Television from May 1 through May 26, 2016. The public is invited to attend the Opening Reception, Sunday, May 1, from 3:00-5:00 pm.

Robin Manning grew up in West Springfield MA, but spent most summers in Wellfleet. She has always been interested in art, gravitating toward electives like painting, pottery and woodworking in school. Robin and her husband Jimmy moved to Falmouth in the late 1980s and now have three grown children. When the kids were young, Robin enjoyed doing creative projects with them, like taping paper up on the walls and painting murals. She also volunteered for the Arts Alive program at their school, learning a lot about art history.

In her late thirties, she started to have trouble walking and struggled with the active lifestyle she was used to. In 1998, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and the condition continued to get worse with time. Within two years she became wheelchair bound. Robin thought about painting every day but it seemed too daunting a task. Luckily, one day she told her artist friend Mindy Reasonover (of Color Your World) about her dream and the next Monday Mindy came over with great enthusiasm and they painted together, motivating her to keep moving. Things started slow because Robin had trouble opening the paint and getting it onto the palette herself. However, surprisingly, with more disability came more assistance and she had helpers to move canvas, squeeze paint tubes and clean up afterward.

Robin now paints almost every day and intends to keep moving forward with her art. She also enjoys being with her husband, kids, granddaughter and the many Chinese students that she shares her home with.

Maser Gallery Exhibit Hours: Sunday 12-8 p.m.; Monday 2-10 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 10-10 p.m., Friday 10-6 p.m.; Saturday – Closed