MaryEllen Hackett: Archives
I was raised to be a beach comber, a collector of pebbles and shells. As my passion for the natural world grew, so too did my understanding of the importance of treading lightly in it. As a collection, my works have become a map of the places pertinent to my story.
I begin with observational paintings and drawings. My education about image composition encouraged editing for the sake of emphasis. So while my paintings are based in life, they are not meant to be a photo of it. The scale is intimate; most days, my paintings travel tucked into the pages of the notebook in my pack. I predominantly use gouache and watercolor. The opaque gouache allows me to bring structure to both sticks and shadows. I do not take for granted that the “timeless” places I often paint are also time stamped. A single fire, storm, or experience in these places could change my future view of it.
When working in the studio, I use my plein air work as the references for new pieces. This allows me to focus more on the paintings without comparison to the landscapes that inspired them. I recently returned to oil paintings on wood panels using this process. I use a small amount of cold wax medium to turn down the gloss of the oil paint, further connecting the oil paintings to the style of the gouache paintings they are referencing.
Artist reception held on October 24 2–4 p.m.
The Dance Palace lobby gallery is open Monday – Friday, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Point Reyes Light profile printed October 14, 2026
Dance Palace Art Committee: Rich Clarke (Chair), Rudi Dundas, Ginny Felch, Douglas Gower, Stephanie Laufer, Mimi Robinson, and Lucy Vitali.
Recent In-Person Exhibits
September 2026: Gary Smith Point Reyes Light profile printed September 17, 2026
August 2026: Laurie Mahan Sawyer Point Reyes Light profile printed July 30, 2026
June & July 2026: Charlie Callahan Point Reyes Light profile printed June 10, 2026
May 2026: Marla Pederson Point Reyes Light profile printed May 13, 2026
April 2026: Bruce Fox
March 2026: Estella Mora-Lopez
January & February 2026: Jon Francis
December 2025: Richard Lang and Judith Selby Lang
November 2025: Voices of Tamal-liwa
October 2025: Rich Clarke
September 2025: Tomales High School Students
August 2025: Bruce Mitchell
June 2025: Rudi Dundas
May 2025: Mary Fassbinder
April 2025: Ginny Felch
March 2025: Will Felch
February 2025: Bolinas School of Botanical Artists
December & January 2025: Painting in the Family Line: Connie Mery and Maria Warton Bennett
November 2024: Student Works from the weaving classes of Marta Shannon
October 2024: Carlos Porrata
September 2024: Laura Riley
August 2024: Accordion Sketchbooks by 21 Bolinas School of Botanical Artists
July 2024: Gray Brechin
April/May 2024: Susan Hayes / The Raindrop Project
March 2024: Tess Felix
February 2024: Mardi Wood
January 2024: Cindy Davis
December 2023: Art Committee Group Show
November 2023: Ann Gessert
October 2023: Sally Fairfax
September 2023: Travis Meinolf
August 2023: Alex McLean
June 2023: Youth Art Show
May 2023: Nancy Stein
March 2023: Mimi Robinson
February 2023: Mary and Joseph Siedman
December 2022: Sarah Killingsworth
Past Virtual Exhibits
October 2020: Laurel Ann Riley
November 2020: Carol Whitman
December 2020: Sarah Killingsworth
January 2021: Sydne Bortel
February 2021: Shirley Salzman
March 2021: Sue Gonzalez
April 2021: Shelley Rugg
May 2021: Michael O’Shea
June 2021: Christine Cordaro
July 2021: Susan Brayton
August 2021: Nancy Stein
September 2021: Bruce Mitchell
October & November 2021: Patricia Briceño
December 2021: Carlos Porrata
January 2022: Prartho Sereno
April/October 2022: Ernesto Sanchez