By An Uong Granville, NY -- In our daily lives, we are constantly surrounded by material that we overlook. Slate is no exception. It is used in roofing, walkways, tile-work, and even, at one point in time, electric switchboards. Its history is less prominent in our society, but the Slate Valley Museum makes the education of slate history its mission. Located in Granville, New York, the road to the museum is riddled with small mountains of collected slate. It is hard to imagine the slabs as anything other than rocks, but the museum brings to the forefront a history filled with rich stories. The museum’s latest ode to slate comes in the form of “Slate as Muse,” an exhibition that challenges artists to interpret the material through a more visually creative perspective. The show was put together in conjunction with Artful Vagabond Productions, and curated by Serena Kovalosky. The … [Read more...] about Slate Valley Museum: More Than Just Tiles
Exhibits
Artbeat 2014 Hatches in Somerville
By An Uong Somerville, MA – A day both sunny and cool is a rarity during a New England summer. Last weekend falls under that magical category, which was lucky for Somerville's Artbeat 2014, which has been occurring annually for 25 years under the direction of Somerville Arts Council (SAC). The festival ran Friday and Saturday in Davis Square, welcoming individuals to explore crafts as well as visual and performing arts. From eclectic vendors to colorful food trucks, nothing was amiss. This year's theme was “hatch,” which alludes to the nature of Somerville's arts activity. David Blakeslee, who designed the event’s logo and general aesthetic, fleshed the theme out. Another artist, Nicole Duennebier, SAC's featured artist for the month, is currently displayed in the windows of Davis Square's CVS – otherwise known as Inside-OUT gallery. The installation draws inspiration from the … [Read more...] about Artbeat 2014 Hatches in Somerville
Jamie Wyeth: Retrospective at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
By Suzanne Volmer Boston, MA - The acquisition of Jamie Wyeth’s “Portrait of John F. Kennedy,” announced by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, at the press preview for its recently opened Jamie Wyeth Retrospective, is a true coup. Their gain is a historically relevant portrait painted by the artist as a young man, and adds contemporary dimension to their Collection of American Presidential Portraits. Painters John Singleton Copley and John Singer Sargent are also represented in the museum’s permanent collection and are artists with whom Jamie Wyeth is regularly compared. The museum owns paintings by his father Andrew Wyeth and the permanent collection also includes the iconic portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart. Wyeth was present at the preview to speak informally about the process of his work and the Museum of Fine Arts retrospective. Heredity and environment … [Read more...] about Jamie Wyeth: Retrospective at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
CRLS Alumni Photo Show at the 344 Gallery
By Puloma Ghosh Cambridge, MA – At the Cambridge Arts Council’s 344 Gallery through July 29, the “CRLS Alumni Photo Show” showcases the achievements of former Cambridge Rindge and Latin School photography students. A part of Cambridge’s Art City program, the exhibit is not only about how far these artists have come individually, but a community experience that brings together art lovers in the Cambridge. The Art City program is a developing initiative committed to uniting the Cambridge arts community. What began as a one-month event series called “Art City August” soon grew into a full-time organization. “We created Art City to put on that event and to put on future events and become our own non-profit eventually that would elevate the art of emerging artists in Cambridge and Greater Boston,” co-founder Amyko Ishizaki revealed. “Our long term goal is to be a conduit for artists … [Read more...] about CRLS Alumni Photo Show at the 344 Gallery
Pippip Ferner: Sjø at Copley Society of Art
By Puloma Ghosh Boston, MA. – “Sjø,” sea in Norwegian, is Pippip Ferner’s exploration of the flora and fauna of the deep in detailed linear illustrations. The highlight of this exhibition in Copley Society of Art’s small back room Red Room Gallery is a sprawling, imaginative mural that, having been drawn directly onto the wall by Ferner in the days leading up to the exhibit, will disappear forever after its closure. Ferner’s love for marine animals can be traced back to her interest in insects. At one point, she realized that many of the ones she was most interested in came from the sea, and followed them down there to discover an entire world. Several years ago she spent time on a marine biology research vessel and found inspiration for a whole body of work. “All these creatures fascinate me. They are all important and they all have these shapes and colors,” Ferner explained. … [Read more...] about Pippip Ferner: Sjø at Copley Society of Art
Lynda Schlosberg: Zero Point Field at Kingston Gallery
By Puloma Ghosh Boston, MA – Walking into the Kingston Gallery on a hot day, Lynda Schlosberg’s “Zero Point Field” exhibit is like looking out at the surface of a lake teeming with activity. The front room of the gallery is full of her colorful abstractions that invoke the reflections of water, while playing with depth and space that establishes within each painting a contained world of its own. In quantum physics, “zero point field” refers to the lowest possible energy state — a vacuum. However, in contrast, Schlosberg’s paintings are alive and bursting with energy. Schlosberg’s exhibit explores the fact that no particle can exist in “zero point field,” because matter can never come completely to rest. Even the stillest of particles are still humming with energy in Schlosberg’s paintings. Each work is not intended to represent any particular shape or concrete object. Schlosberg … [Read more...] about Lynda Schlosberg: Zero Point Field at Kingston Gallery