At the open air market in Oak Bluffs last Sunday, Billy O’Callaghan sat in a lawn chair at the back of his tent crafting a small gray whale out of clay. A woman moseyed into his tent and examined the small clay figurines and the charming driftwood furniture. “These are fantastic,” she exclaimed. “Just beautiful.” The artist, an Irishman with graying hair and kind blue eyes, nodded in appreciation. A construction worker by trade, Mr. O’Callaghan has lived on the Island for 26 years.

Oak Bluffs Art Stroll

On Saturday, August 11, this month’s Arts District Stroll in Oak Bluffs takes place. The stroll is from 4 to 7 p.m. and is an opportunity to check out all of the galleries along Dukes County avenue as they roll out the welcome mat, not to mention snacks and drinks.

The Alison Shaw Gallery is hanging a show full of brand-new work as well as celebrating The Chappy Ferry Book by author Tom Dunlop with photographs by Alison Shaw.

Gay Head Gallery

This weekend the Gay Head Gallery is hosting a reception on Sunday, Aug. 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. for its latest show entitled Endangered Lands and Water: The Intrinsic Value of Wild Nature. The gallery seeks to promote conservation and environmental education through its artists, and this show is no different. The exhibit is a benefit for the Vineyard Conservation Society and the Moshup Trail Project — an ongoing conservation effort to protect globally rare habitat.

Multicultural Art Show

The Harlem Fine Art Show (HFAS) will present a multicultural art show at Island Inn in Oak Bluffs on August 9 through 12. This is the first time the show has traveled to Martha’s Vineyard from its usual home in New York city. It has also teamed up with Pathway to Your Success, an Island non-profit dedicated to helping parents and their children plan future career choices.

Washashore Art

One clever way to clean up a beach is to collect trash and turn it into art. That’s what artist and art teacher Wendy Shalen did, using found floating debris from beaches on the Vineyard, Long Island and Florida as subject matter for her handmade paper seascapes. The series is called Washed Ashore, and was recently exhibited at the Pound Ridge Library in New York.

The images show the closeness of nature and material culture. Garbage can be collected on some beaches as easily as drift wood.

Stone Wall Show

Photographer Mariana Cook first noticed the timeless beauty of stone walls when her neighbor’s cows broke through the one that separates their properties in Chilmark.

“I realized how beautiful the wall was, and started wondering about who built it, and how the stones [were put together],” she said.

The Shaw Cramer Gallery of contemporary fine crafts and paintings is presenting a Drawing Invitational: A Sense of Line through Dec. 31.

More than 20 Island artists plus off-Island artists will show their drawings, a genre that is close to their hearts but seldom exhibited.

Maritime Art Show

Sail Martha’s Vineyard’s Maritime Art Show is receiving an enthusiastic response from the community. The open house reception this past Sunday night welcomed more than 60 guests to the Sail MV building on Main street in Vineyard Haven, where gifts and work produced by 21 artists are on display.

More than 14 pieces have been sold, raising funds for Sail MV to continue its sailing and rowing programs on the Island. The show will run through Dec. 22.

Works from Viet Nam

Works from Viet Nam, Chantal Legare’s mixed media exhibition on paper and wood, opens tomorrow, Dec. 1. at the West Tisbury library and will continue through Dec. 31.

Small Wonders Show

Louisa Gould Gallery will opens its annual Small Wonders show the day after Thanksgiving, on Friday, Nov. 23, with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. This show features Marjorie Mason’s new oils, Robert Jewett’s ceramics and pottery and Louisa Gould and Thaw Malin’s new small paintings. This event is free with refreshments and entertainment.