Walking parallel along a two-dimensional timeline of the American South since 1845, tensions of the times are immortalized through still-life. A country’s whole is disseminated into parts that become a whole again, encapsulated in photographic images which reveal the expansion of rural farm towns and the pursuit of civil rights. The essence of humanity is revealed through the relationship of an object to its surroundings, forever tethered to the uprising and unsettlement that shaped its very existence. “A Long Arc,” on view through July 31 at the Addison Gallery of American Art, presents a documentation of a region’s pastoral landscapes over time. For all of its glassed transparency, Gordon Parks’ “Ondria Tanner and Her Grandmother Window-Shopping, Mobile, Alabama,” 1956, captures a moment of intimacy shared between two generations. Not only is the photo layered in its composition of … [Read more...] about “A LONG ARC”: PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE AMERICAN SOUTH, HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT AT ADDISON GALLERY OF AMERICAN ART
Reviews
THE ENDURING POWER OF ART: ART BASEL 2024: CELEBRATING CONNECTIVITY, DIVERSITY & GLOBALIZATION
WarningsignsaremissingatArtBasel,andtheyshould say that if you suffer from FOMO, FOBO, MOMO or ROMO, Art Basel might be a threat. There is something going on for everyone in every corner of Basel, and it is related to art-engaging. The week’s mood is a social experience blending excitement for renowned artists with curiosity about emerging talents and immersive experiences. The Switzerland-based event maintained a cautiously optimistic atmosphere, balancing market concerns with a more relaxed pace, allowing diverse art experiences beyond the main exhibition halls. The art fair experience is changing and adapting to welcome a new generation of buyers or just fairgoers. This year’s event, held on June 13-16, cultivated an environment that significantly elevated interest in contemporary artistic expression by drawing approximately 4,000 artists, 285 distinguished international … [Read more...] about THE ENDURING POWER OF ART: ART BASEL 2024: CELEBRATING CONNECTIVITY, DIVERSITY & GLOBALIZATION
A VIBRANT MODERN ART HAVEN: BIENNALE ENERGIZES VENICE’S RENAISSANCE GRANDEUR
In a city steeped in history, where the legacy of Renaissance masters still thrives, the contemporary art world finds a vibrant stage. Venice, the birthplace of Marco Polo, echoes with tales of exploration and cultural immersion. Today, diverse languages intertwine amidst its canals, bridges and medieval streets, reflecting a timeless spirit of discovery. The theme of the 60th Venice Biennale, “Foreigners Everywhere,” which continues through November 24, delves into the intricate dynamics of identity, belonging and cultural exchange in our increasingly interconnected world. This theme reverberates through the streets of Venice, creating an atmosphere that invites reflection on human migration and cultural diversity. Individual artists and collectives transform churches, palazzos and stores, introducing contemporary art into these centuries-old spaces, rich with the memories of their … [Read more...] about A VIBRANT MODERN ART HAVEN: BIENNALE ENERGIZES VENICE’S RENAISSANCE GRANDEUR
BRILLIANTLY PLACED IN FITCHBURG: DEL GUIDICE ENHANCES MASTERFUL 88TH REGIONAL SHOW
At the respectable age of 88, the annual Fitchburg Art Museum’s (FAM) juried “Regional Exhibition of Art and Craft” is a highly anticipated, competitive and well attended event. Boundaries are tricky for artists in general and FAM blurs the concept of a rigid geographic region to include members of other arts organizations including LexArt (the Lexington Arts & Crafts Society) and ArtsWorcester. As a result, this exhibit represents artists from 58 towns. This year’s juror, Gabriel Sosa, deputy director of the Essex Art Center in Lawrence, Massachusetts, selected a stunning array of 109 works that FAM’s new curator, Emily Mazzola, wanded into place like a Harry Potter wizard. Each is placed to be seen without interruption but also in combinations where color, material, gesture, surface treatment or shape may be echoed. Like the Everly Brothers close harmonies, Mazzola’s visual … [Read more...] about BRILLIANTLY PLACED IN FITCHBURG: DEL GUIDICE ENHANCES MASTERFUL 88TH REGIONAL SHOW
A HARMONIOUS MESHING: ART, SCULPTURE ENERGIZE WEST STOCKBRIDGE’S TURNPARK
TurnPark Art Space is a 16-acre sculpture park, gallery, event destination and architectural vortex situated in West Stockbridge in the Berkshires. There are many minds that have come together to bring TurnPark into fruition. It was created and manifested by Igor Gomberg and Katya Brezgunova in collaboration with architects Alexander Konstantinov and Moscow-based Ekaterina Vlasenko. The surrounding landscape, comprised of rolling hills, trails, snippets of wildflower habitats, serve to not only offer itself as a mooring for the gallery spaces and sculptures, but work in a partnership with the whole, becoming another interdependent art form. The landscape is interspersed with a performance platform, amphitheater style, as well as set-in stone topical designs within the grasses, and the trails meander in and out of sculpture areas. The light hits the sculptures acutely at important … [Read more...] about A HARMONIOUS MESHING: ART, SCULPTURE ENERGIZE WEST STOCKBRIDGE’S TURNPARK
NEW HAMPSHIRE FURNITURE MASTERS: WELL-DESIGNED, CAREFULLY EXECUTED & ULTIMATELY CLASSIC
Long before I went to graduate school to get my master’s in nonfiction writing, I got a degree in interior design from a school in Boston’s Back Bay. I loved working in the design field — creating residential and commercial spaces, and models for developers to show off their condos or senior housing. I even created a fun disco space where an antique MG graced the middle island of the bar. My love of writing eventually grew louder, and that’s when I went back to school to hone my writing skills. So now I write about beautiful spaces, art museums and fascinating artists. My love and appreciation for furniture with beautiful details and design — be they Danish modern or traditional Queen Anne or whatever — stays with me to this day. And yes, my home is decorated eclectically. I have a mahogany Queen Anne-Chippendale dining room set, abstract art, an Eames Chair and a minimalist sectional … [Read more...] about NEW HAMPSHIRE FURNITURE MASTERS: WELL-DESIGNED, CAREFULLY EXECUTED & ULTIMATELY CLASSIC