Forty years of Marion native’s artwork on display

MARION — A new exhibit has commandeered possession of the walls of the Marion Art Center, a “40-year retrospective” featuring artwork made ranging from 1984 to 2024.

Every piece of art was created by the same person.

Marion native Nancy Dyer Mitton spent a lot of time in her childhood studying and practicing modern dance.

Mitton describes dance as her “first form of art.”

Eventually, Mitton decided that she wanted to focus on art in which she was the creator.

“The thing about dance is when you’re playing music, somebody else is the composer,” said Mitton. “Someone else was telling me where to move, how to move and what to do.”

Mitton said her perspective changed when she had her first child. “I thought, if I can be so creative to create human life, I can do anything.”

Soon after, Mitton moved to Boston from Marion and started taking painting classes at the Massachusetts College of Art.

“You’re taking a blank surface — there's nothing there — and you’re creating something out of nothing,” Mitton said of painting.

Forty years later, Mitton has had her paintings shown in exhibitions in New York, Chicago and France.

This exhibition is her fifth at the Marion Art Center over the last four decades.

“I do love that my paintings get out there — for some reason that means a lot to me,” said Mitton. “I really like making something that somebody else appreciates that goes to all these different places across the country.”

Mitton said that her artwork has changed a lot over the years, with her focus shifting from interior settings inside homes of friends and family to horizons.

She said that she liked painting horizons because of the “sense of infinity” that can be taken away from where a sky connects with a body of water.

Some horizons Mitton has painted are of places in Marion near and dear to heart, such as Planting Island, which she says is her favorite place.

“I always say that every painting takes me my whole life,” said Mitton. “I didn't just set up the easel and paint.”

Mitton said the Marion Art Center is also intimate to her. Her mother and daughter have both performed in plays at the Marion Art Center in the past and her son David Mitton, a saxophone player, has performed there as well.

Forty years of Nancy Dyer Mitton’s paintings will be on display until Aug. 9. The Marion Art Center gallery is open for viewing from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.