Tunnel City staff look forward to showcasing art to community

A handful of staff artwork –– photography, sculptures, paintings and other mixed media –– will make a home in the rotating gallery at 100 Spring St. this winter.

One of the more well known painters is Jean Bourn of Williamstown. She’s painted acrylic on canvas professionally for 10 years, but initially fell in love with it as a child during elementary school.

Tunnel City Coffee employee and local painter Jean Bourn will sell work in the winter art exhibit at 100 Spring St.
Photo by Makayla McGeeney

Formerly a receptionist at the Williamstown Savings Bank, Bourn’s animal and landscape photos of northern Berkshire County circled around the world over the years. In 2011,12 of her paintings were printed as part of the bank’s complementary calendars. Students and professors from Williams College brought the calendar on their travels to various countries such as England, Australia, and South America. Bourn said it was even shown to the Dalai Lama.

“I like making people happy,” she said. “The reaction they get when they see the painting… that’s the best payment right there.”

She also illustrated the children’s book “Thank You Harry, Love, Max.” in 2015 by local author Jennifer Holey.

Bourn’s winter gallery pieces will include one seascape and a variety of animals –– she paints mostly from images.

John Ryan, a jack of all trades, considers his style of art as illustrational expressionism with mild surrealism. His skills encompass puppetry, sculpting, writing, illustrating, performing and traveling the world.

“I want my work to come alive for my viewers. I mean that literally. Whether it is a sculpture, illustration, or puppet, my goal is to have the audience relate to the piece as though it were another living creature, if even for the briefest of moments,” Ryan writes in his artist statement.

For the winter gallery Ryan will display miniature sculptures and pencil sketches.

“If the piece makes someone’s day better and makes them think, it is a success,” he said.

Tunnel City’s employee art show runs from Jan. to March 2018 and can be viewed during store hours, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

An owl drawing by John Ryan