By Nancy Nesvet Manhattan, NY - Organized in collaboration with the Calder Foundation, “Calder Shadows,” a beautiful and masterful showing of the mobiles and stabiles of Alexander Calder (1898-1976), is on view through December 21 at the Venus Over Manhattan Gallery in New York City. The exhibition arranges stabiles and mobiles on the periphery of a large circle in the center of the floor, and provides low lighting so the central hanging mobile and the surrounding mobiles and stabiles on the floor created shadows on the background white walls and floor of the gallery. The resulting two-dimensional moving and still shadow images present angular forms indicating strange animals, and imaginary creatures, while the very peaceful jazz music adds to an otherworldly panorama. The 10 mobiles and stabiles in this exhibition, of painted sheet metal, brass, wire rods and wire range from … [Read more...] about Calder Shadows at Venus Over Manhattan Gallery
Exhibits
Carol Wintle: Port of Entry at Habitat Art Gallery, Belmont, Mass.
By Cole Tracy Belmont, Mass. — “Port of Entry,” Carol Wintle’s solo show at the Massachusetts Audubon Society of Belmont, is eclectic and surprising. An artist, psychologist and writer, Wintle incorporates this and many more facets of life in her emotional style of collages. Unlike most people who produce art, she is not tied down by the singularity of one style, concept or approach. The show is didactic in a celebratory way; the collage medium was tested in all facets in this two-room exhibit. The pieces were selected from over five years of work, and do not have an overarching theme. Arriving at the first wall, going clockwise (the artist’s husband informed me) are four pieces created throughout a cold spell (“Today’s Outlook”). In each, she uses a specific color to get at her emotional and physical state; she paints over the cutouts and creates intimate indoor spaces, which … [Read more...] about Carol Wintle: Port of Entry at Habitat Art Gallery, Belmont, Mass.
Cambridge on Canvas at Copley Society
By Cole Tracy Boston, MA - The Copley Society of Art and Harvard Club of Boston’s “Cambridge on Canvas” event celebrating the Head of the Charles, Harvard University and the City of Cambridge on October 17 made Cambridge’s Harvard Club an exciting space to be in. A small jazz band worked in the corner while the extremely well dressed patrons tapped their feet and munched on hors d’oeuvres, examining the art placed on easels around the room. The group show was very thematic. Except for a few exceptions — notably several still life works and one of a ballerina in motion — the paintings all focused on the beauty of Cambridge. There were many paintings of the Charles River, Harvard Square and iconic Harvard buildings surrounded by beautiful foliage and students milling about. The vibrant culture of rowing surrounding Harvard was covered well. Kathleen Breeden used extreme clarity … [Read more...] about Cambridge on Canvas at Copley Society
Chawky Frenn’s “We The People” at The Hess Gallery
By Cole Tracy Chestnut Hill, MA - Arriving at Pine Minor was a shock, finding such a beautiful place in proximity to Boston, I felt like a man in the desert arriving upon an oasis, after my long bike over. The Quaint campus was very tight-knit; the security guard was surprised and inquisitive at finding an outsider. In the central hall of the library is a small gallery space; the art is not representative of the small peaceful place surrounding it. Within this utopian-esque campus is an art show addressing very real topics: Chawky Frenn's "We The People" is based around social justice, the point he is getting across is honest and bold, the issues addressed seem more pertinent than the art itself. With over a page long artist's statement declaring what the painter's political viewpoint is and his desire to fix the broken system. He addresses the disappearance of Democracy within … [Read more...] about Chawky Frenn’s “We The People” at The Hess Gallery
Cornered: Laura Evans
By Brian Goslow Boston, MA - More artscope writers asked to make sure we covered Laura Evans’ current “Not One Thing” exhibition at the Boston Sculptors Gallery than any other show in our existence. Their enthusiasm is based on having followed a two-decade career that has resulted in an ever-changing series of work that always leaves you with a series of responses while pondering the meaning behind its creation – and a smile when you finally catch on. Artscope managing editor Brian Goslow caught up with her in an email exchange just as she was installing her new show. THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU, YOU WERE TIDYING UP AROUND YOUR “BAG LUNCH” SCULPTURE AT CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PLAZA, WHERE IT’S PART OF THE “CONVERGENCE” EXHIBITION. WHAT HAS BEEN THE REACTION TO THE PIECE AND HOW DO YOU THINK THE PUBLIC HAS REACTED TO THE SHOW AS A WHOLE? I’ve had such positive responses to this work. I was … [Read more...] about Cornered: Laura Evans
Artifact and Underlying Harmony
Elif Soyer: Artifact Paul Andrade: Underlying Harmony At the Kingston Gallery By Cole Tracy Boston, MA- The current exhibitions at the Kingston Gallery are certain to catch some intrigued glances. Both artists have a strange, and fitting harmony between them. Elif Soyer’s body of work, “Artifact,” is an intensely personal exploration of how the artist navigates through the everyday. By using cement, she calls to mind all sorts of commonplace objects, through her use of texture and items exploding out of masses of grey. A fist is the only recurrent image throughout the work, reminding us of the artist’s hand, and our relationship to a material that surrounds us through much of our life. The viewer also questions preconceived notions about art; it’s not everyday that one sees hanging blocks of cement in a gallery space. They stand on their own successfully, and reward … [Read more...] about Artifact and Underlying Harmony