At a time where artificial intelligence (AI) threatened to take over the words we read and images we see, institutions like The Guild of Boston Artists are needed more than ever to show us what has been, what is happening now and hopefully, preserve pure human interpretation of the world in which we live. The Guild’s current show, its annual “New England Regional Juried Exhibition,” that runs through September 27, received the largest number of submissions in the organization’s history, with 225 artists presenting 531 works for consideration by jurors Christina Mastrangelo, Pamela Pindell and Mark Shasha, longtime Guild members. Director Alexander Ciesielski said that bringing the work of promising students, emerging and early career artists, and established professionals together under one roof is The Guild’s, “most meaningful and exciting program because of the exposure, recognition, … [Read more...] about HOLDING ON TO WHAT’S REAL

It’s simple, really. When you’re in a gallery, don’t touch the art. I worked at an art museum for a few years and I spent a lot of time keeping visitors from poking at canvases, smudging plexiglass, tripping on sculptures and sitting on things clearly labeled “DO NOT SIT.” Yet when I walked into the Art Complex Museum in Duxbury, Massachusetts to cover “New England Mosaic Society: Ten Years on the Cutting Edge,” I forgot all about my years of telling folks to “please step back from the artwork.” Textured and tantalizingly tactile works made of smalti glass tile, ceramic, rough-hewn rocks and myriad other materials drew me closer and closer until — realizing the brim of my hat was nearly touching the wall — I had to step back from the artwork. Representing the “cutting edge” of mosaic art with the work of 26 New England Mosaic Society members selected by Art Complex Museum … [Read more...] about FRAGMENTS THAT SPEAK

It’s rare that I find work that reminds me of why I take joy in being alive. Provincetown based artist Donald Beal does that, and hopefully as the honoree artist at Provincetown Art Association and Museum Annual Gala, and a show at Berta Walker Gallery, he will gain more of the recognition that he deserves. About a dozen works to be determined will appear at PAAM and some 14 at Walker’s. With delicious light and colors which leap off the canvas, his painting captures the grand chaos and entropy of humans and nature. It’s immediate, often dramatic — with humans, or dogs, dissolving into the body of the wild, joining the wild with tame; landscape is within beings, they are of it; it is of them. And conversely, constrained vases of flowers, or humans, stand out vividly against skewed backgrounds of wilder nature occasionally reminiscent of old masters. Landscapes exist on their own, … [Read more...] about BEAL BEAUTIFIES AND BEATIFIES

Tucked into the heart of its community, the stunning Greenwich Library is home to more than just books. On the second floor, you’ll find the Flinn Gallery, a vibrant, non-profit exhibition space with a strong focus on education and community engagement. Run by a dedicated committee of over 40 volunteers, the gallery presents a dynamic lineup of five to six contemporary art exhibitions each season, from September through June. The Flinn Gallery also offers engaging opening receptions, artist talks and related programming, all thoughtfully curated and always free and open to the public. Whether you are a seasoned art enthusiast or just looking for something new to explore, the Flinn Gallery is a welcoming space where art and community come together. The Flinn Gallery, in partnership with Hanoi’s renowned Art Vietnam Gallery, is presenting “Vietnam: Tradition Upended,” the season’s … [Read more...] about LINES THAT CARRY HISTORY