By Puloma Ghosh Boston, MA – Through the large windows of 127 Newbury Street, several impressive pieces of furniture gaze down at the street below. This is not a shop front; it is a unique artistic experience provided by the New Hampshire Furniture Masters Association, open only for a couple of weeks in this Pop-Up Gallery. Every piece stands out with the singular vision of each craftsman. The variety of furniture displays the range of skill that can be found in the New Hampshire Furniture Masters Association. The quality of work is impeccable with an apparent attention to detail each artist bestows on his or her work. The artists are both full members of the association and emerging artists who have been working for only three to four years (as opposed to a furniture master’s 10), showcasing both seasoned professionals and fresh talent in the industry. Emerging artist Greg … [Read more...] about New Hampshire Furniture Masters Pop Up in Boston
Exhibits
Paper-Made at Jamestown Arts Center
By Suzanne Volmer Jamestown, RI – Stewardship at Jamestown Arts Center operates as a think-tank of free flowing information to connect audiences with the power of ideas. This refreshingly transparent organization responsively adapts to link with motivated people utilizing very specific contacts drawn from its immediate community and from afar. Led by a group of individuals that have complimentary experience it is being organically molded like an entrepreneurial start-up. Its leadership profile vibrantly reflects intellectual curiosity innate within Jamestown’s creatively driven population. This group is accustomed to high quality art and cognizant of the benefits of exploring challenging concepts as catalysts for innovation. The media strategy firm that has recently re-designed the center’s website is Worldways Social Media, which specializes in developing identity for businesses … [Read more...] about Paper-Made at Jamestown Arts Center
Gallery spotlight: Voltage Coffee & Art
By Puloma Ghosh Cambridge, MA – Of all the hipster cafés and trendy study spots across Cambridge, Voltage Coffee & Art stands out as a spot that can be relied on for a good brew and a good exhibit. Stepping out of the “coffee shop art” stigma, Voltage curates quality artwork by local artists with rotating six-week exhibits to showcase the emerging talent around Boston. The artwork is as fresh as their coffee, incorporated seamlessly into the comfortable hangout spaces around the café. Founder Lucy R. Valena always noticed the connection between coffee shops and creative energy. A graduate of Hampshire College and a writer, she understood the inspiration a good cup of coffee or espresso could provide. She returned to Massachusetts and began Voltage, her own coffee and art project, in 2010, and curator Anna Schindelar soon came aboard as well. “We always intended on having … [Read more...] about Gallery spotlight: Voltage Coffee & Art
Dreaming Gardens at Suffolk University Art Gallery
By Puloma Ghosh Boston, MA – At “Dreaming Gardens,” the summery inspiration of a well-kept garden comes to life within Suffolk University’s gallery. Above the hustle and bustle of Newbury Street, the small space is like a quiet moment in a private garden, where you can stop and breathe some fresh air. Given the season, “gardens” seem to be a logical theme for an exhibit. However, curator Deborah Davidson takes it a step further by bringing the dreamlike quality of these hazy summer months into the gallery. “I wanted to do something for the summer,” Davidson said. “I landed on ‘Dreaming Gardens’. One of the things I was thinking about is the idea of a garden and the history of what a garden is: a kind of special, secret place. It’s a very ancient idea, like the Garden of Eden — in literature too — Alice’s garden, The Secret Garden. Since I’m very interested in the Boston area … [Read more...] about Dreaming Gardens at Suffolk University Art Gallery
Alex Khomski, Food for Thought
By An Uong Cambridge, MA – Drive down any highway in America and you're bound to come across the famed golden arches. They hover high above other businesses, striking a dark sky with their bright yellow light. In the stillness of midnight, McDonald's is not alone in its representation of the American appetite. It is accompanied by other brands, whether they fall under the category of fast food or processed food. Artist Alex Khomski, who immigrated to America from Russia, has an especially finessed sensitivity to the commercialized access to food. His work, which was exhibited until July 7th as part of “Being Touched” at the Touch Art Gallery in Cambridge, addresses the way that Americans worship products that are often pumped full of chemicals. His paintings and sculptures are humorous but laced with stark commentary on the current state of our relationship to food. Khomski's “A … [Read more...] about Alex Khomski, Food for Thought
Karen Halverson: Survey at Robert Klein Gallery
By Puloma Ghosh Boston, MA – In the neat and elegant Robert Klein Photography Gallery on Newbury Street, Karen Halverson’s “Survey” exhibit opens windows into the wide landscapes of the American West, with a smattering of Icelandic countryside. Each image depicts a vibrant natural vista with at times subtle, and at times very clear, indications of human influence interrupting the scene. Halverson’s exploration of the West dates back several decades, to 1983. Although her origins are eastern, she traces her fascination for the hot and often desolate scenery to a trip she took as a child. “When I was five years old, my mother was a widow, and she took her three children on a three month trip around the American West,” she recalled. “It was a unusual thing to do around that time. I saw a woman comfortable being almost alone in the landscape and it exposed me to another part of the … [Read more...] about Karen Halverson: Survey at Robert Klein Gallery