Spring Marlborough • Directors’ Picks

The Paradise City Arts Festival in Marlborough, Massachusetts showcases 170 of the “best-of-the-best” of America’s most exciting independent artists, designers and master craft makers. This March, dozens of remarkable artists were selected to exhibit here for the very first time.

The brand-new exhibitors in this show selected for the Directors’ Picks are all New England artists, deserving of recognition for their accomplishments. They look forward to exhibiting March 21, 22 & 23 at the Royal Plaza Trade Center.

Sasha Azbel, known professionally as Sashoonya, is a Providence, Rhode Island-based artist specializing in natural dyeing and eco-printing. Her studio, located in the Valley Arts District, serves as a creative hub, while she sources dye materials from her farm in Seekonk, MA and forages seaweed along the New England coast. Originally trained as an architect with degrees from Texas A&M and RISD, Azbel transitioned to textile art in 2019, drawn by a deep connection to nature and sustainability.

Her journey with natural dyes began while studying abroad in Mexico, where she observed indigenous artisans practicing traditional dyeing techniques. This experience inspired her to experiment and develop her own unique methods. In 2021, she officially founded Sashoonya, creating wearable art that reflects the natural ecosystems around her.

Azbel’s work merges architecture and textiles, producing site-specific installations and immersive experiences. Her process incorporates eco-printing, resist techniques, and hand painting, with each piece capturing the essence of place and time. Beyond her studio practice, she teaches architecture at Roger Williams University and collaborates with environmental advocates, marine scientists, and artists to promote sustainability through art.

Sarah Hess is a passionate block printmaker from Barrington, Rhode Island. Growing up, she was surrounded by creativity, watching her talented dollmaker mother sculpt, paint, and sew. Art festivals and workshops became a way of life, shaping her dream of becoming a full-time artist.

Hess initially pursued a career in art education- earning degrees in both Art Education and Studio Ceramics. In 2020, she discovered her true passion: printmaking. Inspired by nature, she captures the beauty of flowers, fruits, and foliage in detailed block prints. Her process starts with a simple sketch, often inspired by a garden stroll, then evolves into intricately carved blocks and vibrant, multi-colored prints using techniques like jigsaw printing and the rainbow roll.

The artist’s work is collected worldwide, a testament to her dedication to preserving nature’s fleeting beauty. As she continues to refine her craft, she embraces the joy of artistic growth and storytelling through printmaking.

New Bedford artist Tim Lynch writes, “As a fine art painter, my work is an expression of my innermost thoughts, emotions, and experiences. I strive to create art that captures the essence of the world around me, while also exploring the depths of the human spirit.” Lynch found success as a commercial photographer over the years, but he always wanted to paint what he photographed and adapt it to his vision. 

That vision includes the graceful strength of horses, artists’ dune shacks on Cape Cod, swimmers, divers, and local city scenes – truly the world around him. He renders them in acrylics in a square format using a clear palette full of colors of the sea. He is self-taught as a painter. After attending the New England School of Photography he worked three jobs for a year, saving enough to spend three months in Europe visiting the great museums. Those three months stayed with him, influencing his future career as an artist. His work channels a bit of Edward Hopper and a dash of David Hockney with a whimsical approach to color and content. Tim Lynch is a true New England painter, and you will find familiar places and themes that resonate with you in all of his work.

Anju Rajani is a ceramic artist based in North Falmouth, Massachusetts. A lifelong maker, she discovered her passion for the medium six years ago at a local community arts center. Since then, her work has evolved from experimenting with glaze layering to focusing on bold, colorful surface designs inspired by cultural symbolism and the universality of pattern.

Rajani draws from her background in Southeast Asian religious studies, opting for motifs that transcend cultural and ethnic boundaries. A simple leaf motif, for instance, that might be found on an Indian block-printed sari or an ancient Indigenous rock carving- is a symbol that connects people across time and place. 

For Rajani, pottery is more than an art form, it’s where creativity and craftsmanship intersect. She finds joy in the process of making and in knowing that her pieces will become part of someone’s daily rituals. In that space, she sees herself as a treasure maker, crafting objects that hold meaning, beauty, and connection.