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Tommey - Artists at Large, Inc. Hyde Park

Tommey, patron of the arts

by Janice Williams

Thomas Segger aka Tommey is a serious and multifaceted man with a huge and generous mission. Tommey is the owner of Artists at Large Inc., an organization run by one man that serves a large community of artists and audiences. The mission statement says, ‘The overarching goal is to make connections that span race, class and generations and reinforce the deep artistic links that bind us together.”  Artist Paul Goodnight described Tommey’s nature perfectly when Goodnight signed and gave one of his posters to Tommey with the statement, “An artist and an artist’s best friend.” Tommey’s own art runs the gamut from photography to drawings and paintings. His gallery though is peppered not with his work but with the work of others. He has made friends with many artists in the Greater Boston area.

While this is not the first gallery that Tommey has overseen, he says he has found the personal space that he wants to be in and that he is eager to share all his experiences and skills with others.  He brings years of solo exhibitions and a passion for promoting art to the world. A graduate of School of Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University, Tommey has made a very comfortable and inviting space where people can do art and see art. The space lends itself beautifully to other art media such as music and video that is reminiscent of art salons at the turn of the century. Many groups have performed at the gallery and there are regulars like Nate who heads up the mim residency series (every Wednesday at 8 p.m.). Tommey says that the music series is a nice alternative to the club scene for people in the community.

Now celebrating its second anniversary, the open space has hosted multiple venues. Seeking out the new and the tried and true, Artists at Large has delighted the public with over 23 exhibits of artists near and far (as close as Hyde Park and as far away as Cuba).  So it is only fitting that the artists who have benefited from Tommey’s space are now giving back. Currently there is an exhibit of donated work in the gallery. The proceeds received from the sale of the artwork will go towards keeping the space open.  The exhibit is filled with work from a wide variety of media from such artists as David McDonnel, D’elia, Maria Consulo, Francesca, Mark Cote, Elaine Mann and Melissa Davenport. Work of Tommey’s is also available. The auction itself will take place at Artists at Large on Friday April 30 at 7 p.m. Bids can be made through April 30 at the gallery.

Artists at Large is a place to go and see art, hear music in the community and be in the company of people who have a passion for the creative in all its forms. There is workspace for artists and classes.  Located at 37 Everett Street in Hyde Park, stop by for a visit.  Call 617-710-3811 or visit .Web Site

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