The Sandwich Arts Alliance has expanded this year’s Members Show beyond the visual arts to include musicians as well as authors and poets. This showcase of the arts is free to the public and takes place at Sandwich Town Hall on Saturday, May 18th from 10 to 4, and Sunday, May 19th from noon to 4.

Works by dozens of local artists in almost every imaginable medium including painting, sculpture, prints and photography in addition to tile art, stationery, jewelry, and fiber art will be on display and for sale.

A returning exhibit of note at this year's show will be "Empowered Women", featuring works by women who are either new to art or are returning to their art after a significant absence, for example while raising a family or pursuing a career. Written statements by the artists will accompany their works, focusing on how the creative process behind the art has provided healing, hope, strength and a renewed sense of identity. All agree that last year's statements were often profoundly moving.

Another intriguing presentation features the pairing of visual art and poetry. Twelve artists have been tasked with creating visual responses to twelve poems by SAA members, a fascinating example of a multi-disciplinary approach to the arts. The poems and visual pieces will be juried prior to the show.

Filling out the show's rich artistic menu, many smaller items such as prints, cards, ornaments and tiles will be for sale at a "mini boutique", a kind of artistic bazaar.

On a musical note, local musicians and SAA members Greg Bar (Saturday from noon to 2 pm) and Norm Silver and Nils Soderberg (Sunday from 1-3 pm) will entertain with popular Americana and folk favorites.

SAA's Members Arts Show, now in its fourth year, provides a venue for people to browse, enjoy, and purchase a variety of art, thereby supporting local artists. Visit www.sandwichartsalliance.org for more details on this and other SAA events.