
“Used” is the intentionally provocative title for the 2023 National Juried Exhibition that’s on view at the Attleboro Arts Museum through July 14. The name for the show was conceived of internally at the museum a year ago, as a starting point to spark a dialogue of visual possibilities and pertinent aesthetic connections that charge the air currently.
The word “Used” implies material process and emotional connection and like a lot of four-letter words is exceptionally rife with connotations. It is a verb and a feeling. It is a concept rooted in some of the same unresolved conditions that caused Jack Kerouac, in a different historic moment but not dissimilar era, to suddenly label himself and friends as “beat” — meaning forgotten misfits — which was about identity, lack of identity, and later coined into the term “Beat Generation,” indicating scale of the discontent.
The selected artworks and the accompanying prizes were chosen by guest juror Russell LaMontagne, founder of LaMontagne Gallery in Boston’s SoWa Art + Design District. His flow of decision-making seemed to have centered on one of identity and memorable imagery. Considering the show in overview, it has some big statements, but it should be mentioned that subtle personal approaches don’t get lost. Rather, these add nuance and unexpected character to the perception of “Used” as a topic.
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