East Wing Gallery at Mount Wachusett Community College Kicks off 2026-2027 Exhibition Season with Alumni Doug Caves

Doug Caves, Sr., Cliff House, 2025, Oil on Canvas, 25 x 31 x 2 inches
Image courtesy of Nia Carignan, MWCC

GARDNER, MA - August 28, 2026 - Mount Wachusett Community College's East Wing Gallery will present Circumstantial Light: An Exhibition of Recent Paintings by MWCC alumnus and Central Massachusetts artist Doug Caves, Sr., from September 8 through October 15, 2026.

A closing reception will be held Thursday, October 15, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the East Wing Gallery on MWCC's Gardner Campus. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

An accomplished painter working in oil and acrylic, Caves explores the ways light, space, and familiar surroundings can reveal unexpected emotional and perceptual depth. His layered approach to oil painting begins with observational drawing and a warm underpainting, followed by controlled transparencies that allow earlier tones to remain visible and active within the finished work.

"My work explores how light, space, and everyday moments can reveal emotional and perceptual depth," Caves said. "While my subjects vary, my goal is consistent: to create paintings that offer clarity, stillness, and a deeper awareness of the environments we inhabit."

Caves is dedicating Circumstantial Light to the late Gene Cauthen, longtime MWCC art professor and founder of the college's sculpture program.

"His guidance and presence shaped the creative lives of so many students," Caves said. "It feels right to honor him through this new body of work."

Caves exhibits extensively throughout New England. His painting Cliff House, which is included in Circumstantial Light, was featured in the Fitchburg Art Museum's recent 90th Annual Regional Juried Exhibition, where it received second prize. His work has also been selected for previous annual juried exhibitions at the museum, and he recently exhibited at Creative Connections in Ashburnham.

Caves is represented by Portland Art Gallery in Maine, the Copley Society of Art in Boston, and Creative Connections in Ashburnham.

An alumnus of MWCC's art program, Caves earned a Master of Science in Professional Communications and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from Clark University in Worcester. An active member of the local arts community, he works from his studio in Central Massachusetts.

Caves' work can be found on Instagram at @dougcavessr.artist and online at dhcaves.com.

MWCC Foundation Receives $25,000 Grant to Support Child Watch Program

GARDNER, MA - September 1, 2026 - The Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) Foundation has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts (CFNCM) to support MWCC's Child Watch program. The funding was awarded through the Community Foundation's Career Readiness and Educational Access Grant Committee.

Child Watch provides on-campus childcare support for MWCC students while they attend classes and pursue their education. By helping address childcare needs, the program removes a significant barrier that can make it difficult for student parents to enroll in college, attend classes consistently, and complete their degrees and certificates.

"We are incredibly grateful to the CFNCM for this generous investment in our students and their families," said MWCC Director of Student Parent Supports, Ann Reynolds. "For students who are balancing college with the responsibilities of raising a family, access to childcare can make the difference between having to step away from their education and being able to continue toward their goals."

The $25,000 grant will help MWCC continue providing resources for student parents, including support through the Child Watch program. Student parent support is part of the college's broader commitment to reducing barriers to higher education and providing students with the support they need to succeed.

"Supporting student parents is an investment not only in their education, but in the long-term well-being of their families and our region," said MWCC President James Vander Hooven. "We appreciate the CFNCM's recognition of the role programs like Child Watch play in creating equitable access to higher education."

About the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts
The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, a non-profit public charity, is the leading community foundation in the region, managing charitable funds established by individuals, families, businesses, and other non-profit organizations. Learn more at cfncm.org.