An indication of an artist that excels in his or her field is their drive to grow, improve upon existing accomplishments and do it, “just that much better” next time. If you add on teaching and changing someone’s world view, all the better. Rockland, Maine artist Kim Bernard does all those things. Her creative expressions over the years are diverse — she said that they feed off each other and are ultimately connected. But how to capture a woman of unlimited passions and projects? Let me mention a few. Bernard is not one to be restricted. If she thinks it, she makes it happen. “One Woman’s Trash,” Bernard’s current exhibit at Nesto Gallery at Milton Academy in Milton, Massachusetts, was created by interacting with students at the academy — getting them excited about trash and turning it into art. She will return to the campus in early April as a visiting artist to create an … [Read more...] about TURNING TRASH INTO ART: KIM BERNARD ENCOURAGES HANDS-ON LEARNING AT MILTON
Reviews
MAPPING A FUTURE ESCAPE: BOSTON SCULPTORS HOST JESSICA STRAUS’ NEXT ADVENTURE
In “Packing for Mars,” Jessica Straus reminds us that taking planet Earth for granted can no longer be an option. Jessica Straus’s solo exhibition presents a captivating fusion of black humor, nostalgia, longing and regret, echoing the timeless wisdom of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s “The Little Prince,” which suggests that adults often lose touch with the essential innocence of childhood. Set against the backdrop of the Boston Sculpture Gallery, located in Boston, Massachusetts, from April 4 to May 5, Straus’s showcase invites viewers on a reflective journey, delving into themes of memory, human connection and environmental stewardship. Through a masterful blend of woodwork, mixed media and intricate craftsmanship, Straus imbues her pieces with a characteristic wit that opposes the more profound, sometimes melancholic narratives they convey. The exhibition is a futuristic reference to … [Read more...] about MAPPING A FUTURE ESCAPE: BOSTON SCULPTORS HOST JESSICA STRAUS’ NEXT ADVENTURE
NEWPORT’S UNFINISHED BUSINESS: CURATOR WEISS’ ACQUISITIONS SHAPED LANDMARK SHOW
“Unfinished Business” at the Newport Art Museum includes 40 works by female-identifying artists, depicting a full range of media and artistic intent, from angst to protest, concern for the environment, empathy and reverie. Exhibited on several floors of the museum’s John N. A. Griswold House, designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt and completed in 1864, the artwork both resonates and contrasts with the building’s soaring ceilings and heavily carved wooden interior. The exhibit title is a quote from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who stated: “the rights of women and girls is the unfinished business of the 21th century.” Curator Francine Weiss’ mission with this exhibit is “to share a diversity of art and experiences that spark reflection, inspiration, discovery and connections within our Newport community and beyond.” Weiss is responsible for the acquisition of 31 of the … [Read more...] about NEWPORT’S UNFINISHED BUSINESS: CURATOR WEISS’ ACQUISITIONS SHAPED LANDMARK SHOW
PAINTING THE PERSIANATE WORLD: SMITH EXHIBITION AN INVIGORATING HISTORY LESSON
In a world too often portrayed as exclusively fractured and discordant, there is an urgent need to counter this view, offering instead a clearer picture of the infinite ways humans have worked to create bonds of harmonious interaction, whether for pragmatic needs, such as trade and cooperative commerce, or prompted by moral and ethical imperatives. Behind the strife of war and conflict we are shown daily, there is and has been a constant underlay of social stability built on mutual agreement for the benefit of all. “Painting the Persianate World: Portable Images on Paper, Cloth And Clay” at Smith College Museum of Art brings societal collaboration to the fore through distinctive images from the Persianate world between the 13th and 19th centuries, sharing a living narrative of intercultural connection. Since ancient times, Persia as a region has been home to diverse populations and … [Read more...] about PAINTING THE PERSIANATE WORLD: SMITH EXHIBITION AN INVIGORATING HISTORY LESSON
POSITIVE AND JOYFUL PHOTOGRAPHY: EVERYDAY BLACK LIVES CELEBRATED AT DARTMOUTH
Nina Simone would likely be happy to know that her 1965 song, “Feeling Good,” along with other songs from that time period, inspired the Hood Museum of Art’s current exhibition “And I’m Feeling Good: Relaxation and Resistance.” Located in Hanover, New Hampshire, on the campus of Dartmouth College, the museum drew from its expansive collection of photographs to showcase photography that celebrates Black lives and community along with simple moments of beauty, and the importance of being positive and joyful. Songs performed during the Civil Rights Movement inspired Black Americans to have hope and to embrace the happy moments in their lives. The songs underscore the importance of maintaining positive feelings about life, no matter the circumstances and challenges. It’s no wonder they inspired photographers Gordon Parks, Kwame Brathwaite, Darryl DeAngelo Terrell and Chester Higgins, whose … [Read more...] about POSITIVE AND JOYFUL PHOTOGRAPHY: EVERYDAY BLACK LIVES CELEBRATED AT DARTMOUTH
A WELL-DESIGNED CAREER: GUILD OF BOSTON ARTISTS CELEBRATES “FRITZ” KUBITZ
Frederick “Fritz” Kubitz’s retrospective exhibition of oil paintings, “All About Boston,” will take place at the Guild of Boston Artists in their Newbury Street gallery, concurrent with the Boston Marathon and One Boston Day on April 15. Kubitz is also a distinguished architect who trained at MIT and worked for the renowned Eero Saarinen, and other firms, and then ultimately for himself. He was involved in the design of many institutional structures such as the avantgarde TWA Flight Center at JFK International Airport (recently repurposed into a hotel), the American Embassy in London, buildings at Harvard and Tufts universities and the remodeling of Fenway Theater/Biltmore Hotel into the Berklee College of Music — as well as the designs of airports such as Dulles and Logan. He talked about the latter as career high points because of the excite- ment of interacting with the president of … [Read more...] about A WELL-DESIGNED CAREER: GUILD OF BOSTON ARTISTS CELEBRATES “FRITZ” KUBITZ