Chabot Fine Art Gallery
379 Atwells Avenue
Providence, Rhode Island
Through August 11
Thoughtfully curated and beautifully arranged by Chris Chabot, the exhibition “Made in America” presents a diverse group of nationally exhibiting artists, all of whom work primarily in well-established, traditional modern modes including collage, abstraction, assemblage sculpture and wood design, portraiture and landscape. The exhibition theme explores an American patriotic sensibility in an elegant and fluid manner, and the collection features bold, skillful arrangements evoking the tone of strength, accomplishment, cooperation and renewed freedom. The group includes Lee Chabot, Ken MacDonald, Kelli Berry, Brian Hibbard, Domine Vescera Ragosta, Robin Wessman and Jim Grabowski. Each artist created several
thematically specific works that visually communicate their understanding and appreciation of American life.
While depicting well-recognized American iconography and popular
subjects, as expected, the selected artists push their work into the contemporary arena by touching on the esoteric and commenting on
the serious, yet never alienate the viewer, as is often done in many contemporary exhibitions. This is an exhibition of traditional art by artists
whose dedication to their craft is evident in the technical quality of the final pieces. Important cultural, economic and political dialogue is
on display in “Made in America” in a manner that is compelling, yet respectful and welcoming.
Bold and colorful billowing sails
arranged as powerful geometric shapes dominate Lee Chabot’s compositions; these monumental and optimistic symbols of adventure
and freedom are the signature characteristics of his regionalist paintings of sailing vessels on the Atlantic Ocean. Although his work, as
he described, is mostly influenced by traditional landscape, his new images depict life on Narragansett Bay and Newport’s seacoast, referencing
America’s seafaring culture and its continued prominence. Skillfully blending the rules of realism and abstraction, focused on the dynamism
of color theory and geometry, Chabot recreates engaging ocean scenes documenting action-packed activities specific to the Atlantic geography.
.jpg)
