The Dana Hall School Art Gallery proudly presents "Backward/Forward: 30 Years of Paintings," by Anne Leone '77. The show will run from September 17 through October 12, 2007. An opening reception is planned for September 18 from 5-6:30 p.m. The exhibit is open to the public.

After graduating from Dana Hall in 1977, Leone earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Boston University in 1981 and went on to complete her Master of Fine Arts from the University of Cincinnati in 1984. Leone was a tenured professor in the Fine Arts department at UMass Dartmouth for almost 20 years, announcing her retirement this past spring. She was Foundation Director of UMass Dartmouth's College of Visual and Performing Arts from 1992-1999.

Leone, who currently lives in Berkley, Mass., sees her retirement as a time to completely devote herself to painting. She has mounted more than a dozen exhibitions in the last 10 years and participated in more than 40 invitational or juried shows around the country.

When choosing the works for this exhibition, Leone selected small works for the Dana Gallery that could represent the major themes of her art.

"As I have always worked in series, I chose one or two paintings that demonstrate big shifts in my focus," Leone said of her upcoming show. "This show is an abbreviated version of my life's work."

The Dana Art Gallery provides a program of exhibitions by local and visiting artists throughout the academic year for the Dana Hall and surrounding communities. The Gallery is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is closed weekends and school holidays. Admission is free.