Dorothy Andrews
American
American,
(1918–2008)
Dorothy, daughter of Chester and Marjorie Andrews, was born Oct. 18, 1918, in Springfield, Mass. She spent her childhood in Walpole, Mass. and went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Smith College in 1940. During her college years she spent time at the University of Mexico; New School for Social Research and Art Students league, New York and Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan. Following college she moved to New York City where she continued her painting career and taught art at the Dalton School from 1942 to 1957. She spent several summers at the family cottage on Hodgdon's Island, where she painted and did lithography. While on vacation in Greece in 1956 she made a decision that she would return and the following year arranged a six month sabbatical from teaching to live in Athens. While in Athens she started giving art classes in the yard outside of her home. This led to a job with the US Embassy teaching art to the embassy children for four years. She traveled to Crete many times during these years and in 1962 moved to Chania permanently only traveling back to the United States every few years to visit family and friends and show her art in New York. Her art work can best be described as abstract impressionism. Her early work of still lifes and abstracts was described by New York critics as full of energy and vivid color. In the early years she showed her work in several New York galleries including the Metropolitan Museum of Art - Young American Artists Show. When she moved to Crete her art work changed and reflected the natural beauty of the island and the effects of the elements on the land and sea. Many of her works are of winter on Crete. Critics described her work as startling, satisfying and unique. Dorothy's personal feelings for Crete and her zest for life is reflected in her art work which is full of energy, movement, form and vivid color. She had several shows in New York, Athens and on Crete over the years. Her last show, a retrospective, was held in October 2007 on Crete at the Yiali Tzami Mosque in her home village of Chania.