Bayda Asbridge's “Children of War,” on view at Babson College’s Hollister Gallery from March 27 through May 18, is an emotionally moving and profoundly thought-provoking exhibition that sheds light on the often-overlooked realities of war's youngest victims. A Syrian-British artist based in Worcester, Massachusetts, Asbridge brings her extensive multidisciplinary expertise to this deeply moving body of work. Seamlessly integrating sculpture, mixed media, and textile techniques, she crafts an immersive and evocative experience that resonates on both an intellectual and emotional level. In modern warfare, children are among the most vulnerable. Stripped of their protective and secure environments, they are exposed to the horrific consequences of armed conflict. Displacement, the loss of home and family, and the separation from parents, on whom they depend for survival, leave lasting … [Read more...] about THE TRAUMA ENDURED

In all my years, I’ve never seen color used this way. Peter Batchelder is all about putting color where it shouldn’t be. The outcome is breathtaking and certainly not something you ever tire from. It’s not just me. Collectors and fans are effusive. Describing his work as “dramatic,” “provocative,” “vibrant,” “jaw-dropping,” “luminous,” “stimulating.” It borders on indescribable. Batchelder is a man of many talents. Each talent and experience are built on the previous, and the resultant growth is noteworthy. He owned a gallery on the Vineyard. He was a creative director and designer at an advertising agency. He co-founded a web design and software company — all the while retaining his studio work. The list goes on. But ultimately each skill acquired, each milestone accomplished, encouraged him to do something more. And he has. Batchelder sees what is and makes it more. Or less. He grew … [Read more...] about ABUNDANT LIGHT

The Cambridge Art Association's 2025 Members Prize Show once again offers a compelling showcase of artistic talent from its vibrant community. Open to all current members, the exhibition spans two locations: the Kathryn Schultz Gallery and CAA @ University Place. This year's juror, Shana Dumont Garr, brings a rich background in contemporary art curation and academic research, lending her expertise to the careful selection of works presented in the show. Garr's juror statement reflects her appreciation for the artists' trust in her selection process and her deep engagement with contemporary visual storytelling. She references her experience watching artists at work in the television series “Portrait Artist of the Year” as a guiding framework for jurying this exhibition, highlighting her appreciation for the creative process and artistic mastery. The selection criteria included the … [Read more...] about ARTISTIC VISION AND CONTEMPORARY DIALOGUES

There are always good reasons to visit the Art Complex Museum at Duxbury and the annual “Duxbury Art Association 52nd Winter Juried Show,” which continues through April 19, is one of them. Add a magnificent display of ceramic pottery by Needham, Massachusetts, master potter Steven Branfman, who works in the tradition of Japanese Raku and your pleasure will be complete. If you are unfamiliar with Raku, the museum’s permanent collection will supply you with first-hand knowledge of the ceramic teacups invented in 16th century, Kyoto, Japan. Branfman’s ceramics are discussed in detail at the end of this review. Juried exhibitions are fun to look at for their widely varied media, styles, subject matter and artist’s degree of skill and this year’s display has a few surprises. Breaking away from traditional use of these media, several artists explore art materials in unusual ways, some more … [Read more...] about MASTERS OLD AND NEW

How do you begin to engage with an exhibition of someone whose work you’ve followed for nearly 40 years, a period during which he documented many of your friends and, over time, as a reporter, had the honor of working with? In “Stephen DiRado, Better Together: Four Decades of Photographs,” on view through June 1 at the Fitchburg Art Museum (FAM), everyone seems to have been a friend of the Worcester-based photographer and Clark University professor. It’s one of those rare exhibitions that on any day, you’ll probably find one of the people captured on the walls standing next to you. Many of DiRado’s students were on hand for the show’s opening reception on February 8, searching for themselves in “The Classroom Series” that DiRado started in 2008 and continues today, documenting each new group of students; they weren’t alone. “So many people came to see it from my past, fans from afar … [Read more...] about A MASSIVE REUNION

When the original Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Gallery at the College of the Holy Cross, formerly in O’Kane Hall, was dedicated in 1983 Rev. John E. Brooks, S.J. president emeritus of Holy Cross declared: “An undergraduate liberal arts college is academically strengthened when its students and staff are exposed to works of art.” The current Cantor Gallery, on the third floor of the Prior Performing Arts Center designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro that opened in 2022, is a glass-enclosed space with a soaring ceiling, a capacious light-filled room where exhibits are installed with encouragement to wander. It is a perfect space for the retrospective of former 25-year faculty member Michael Beatty’s “Fabrications.” Beatty taught Sculpture and 3D Design in the college’s Studio Art Department. Having recently explored the Henry Moore and Georgia O’Keeffe dual exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts, … [Read more...] about BEATTY’S MELODIC WOODCRAFT