Carney Gallery
Regis College Fine Arts Center
235 Wellesley Street
Weston, Massachusetts;/br>
Through December 20
THE EIGHT OIL PAINTINGS AND 10 DRAWINGS IN KATHLEEN CAMMARATA'S ENVELOPING "DEEP SPACE" SERIES FOCUS ON THE SHAPES IN THE FOREGROUND, FLOODING THEM WITH LIGHT, WHILE LEAVING THE SURROUNDING NEGATIVE SPACE DEEP, DARK AND UNCERTAIN.
Many of the works are impressive in scale, and all but two were created this year. The compositions were mounted on the dove grey walls of the Carney Galley by Steven Hall, Head of the Fine Arts Department at Regis College, who is experienced in set design. The gallery is located in the school’s Fine Arts Center which also houses two theatre venues and a beautiful atrium.
The focal point of the exhibit is an untitled installation piece, created in pencil and charcoal. Cammarata, one of Lowell’s most ambitious artists, frequently works with printmaking and oil painting, so I was a little surprised to see that this exhibit included drawings. As I got closer, I was intrigued by the detail and texture she achieved with pencil. I suspected some type of printing technique may have been involved in the process. Cammarata explained that the paper was embossed by hand in several areas before the drawing was completed: her sketch was transposed to a larger surface, then the paper was turned over and rubbed with a spoon over handmade designs and textures. The pencil drawing on the front of the paper enhances the embossed areas, while some of the drawings are enhanced with acrylic paint and one with colored pencil.
One drawing, “Soliloquy,” depicts vegetation, but in some alternate world;
a floating flower pod, wound like a spool of ribbon, is ready to burst open. Spiritual beings communicate with the viewer. A mysterious atmosphere, tranquil reflective pools, and dreamy shapes in slow motion suggest another world.
The oil paintings are also heavily textured, but with gesso on canvas. Raised lines were applied fluidly through a small tube. The shapes
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