We were crawling along Mass. Ave. at such a slow pace from Cambridge to Boston’s SoWa Arts District on Harrison Ave. in the South End that I thought my wife, plus myself, driving, would surely disappear in frustration. Then, there we were, sitting in an audience at the promised roundtable discussion between wood sculptors Donna Dodson and Alison Croney Moses, moderated by Dr. Beth McLaughlin, artistic director and chief curator of the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, Massachusetts — an agile moderator, quick to highlight a revealing word or phrase of two mature artists/crafters at the top of their games. And what were their games? Well, as befits talent strenuously, lovingly nurtured with education, mentors and self-discipline not to mention that critical ingredient of all work in the arts and crafts, joy, Dodson’s sculptures evidenced both shining exteriors, first-hand, as well as … [Read more...] about TWO GALLERIES, TWO TELLINGS, ONE HISTORY: THE WOODEN MARVELS OF DONNA DODSON AND ALISON CRONEY MOSES
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PROVIDENCE’S LANDMARK CELEBRATION DEDICATION OF PRENTISS’ BANNISTER BRONZE OPENS FRESH DIALOGUE
A life-size bronze statue of painter Edward Bannister (1867-1901) created by Rhode Island artist, Gage M Prentiss, was unveiled in Providence’s Market Square on September 10 in the context of its city-wide celebration of PVDfest. As a figurative bronze with traditional patina, the medium harkens to 19th century monument. It engages controversy in relation to black experience because Bannister was Black and in the context of today “monument” within Black culture is a fraught area. Add to this that Gage M. Prentiss is a white artist, and it begs the question: What meaning is imbued? For insight, I contacted Leora Maltz-Leca: Professor of Contemporary Art, Theory & History of Art & Design at the Rhode Island School of Design and the Curator of Contemporary Projects at Redwood Library and Athenaeum. She has experience with this cultural dialogue and said: “In theory, the race … [Read more...] about PROVIDENCE’S LANDMARK CELEBRATION DEDICATION OF PRENTISS’ BANNISTER BRONZE OPENS FRESH DIALOGUE
A MODERNIZED ‘SHREW’ ACTORS’ SHAKESPEARE PROJECT SHIFTS THE NARRATIVE
“The Taming of the Shrew” is infamously difficult to adapt due to its violent misogyny, but director Christopher V. Edwards flips the script with Actors’ Shakespeare Project’s gender-bending production. The setting is modernized to a red-hued ‘70s Disco with fun and colorful costuming thanks to Ben Lieberson and Chelsea Kerl. The show stays faithful to Shakespeare’s text with only two major divergences that still manage to shift the entire narrative: the character of Sly and the ending. In the original’s often-cut introduction, the drunk Sly is duped into believing he is a nobleman for whom the subsequent play-within-a-play is performed. Here Sly, played by Michael Broadhurst, is instead convinced he is a woman and thrust into performing as Katherine, the titular shrew. Broadhurst has been cast as the only man playing against women and nonbinary actors. Sly is tricked by the Disco’s … [Read more...] about A MODERNIZED ‘SHREW’ ACTORS’ SHAKESPEARE PROJECT SHIFTS THE NARRATIVE
VARIED TEXTURES OF HOME LYNNE KORTENHAUS AT SCHOOLHOUSE GALLERY
Printmaker Lynne Kortenhaus is exhibiting 10 of her pieces at the Schoolhouse Gallery in Provincetown as an homage to her memories of the past. The theme she says is “homeward.” “It’s rare these days to hear someone say they had a lovely childhood but mine was idyllic,” the artist said. Her Kortenhaus grandfather, a land surveyor, farmed 26 acres of New Jersey land. Lynne helped him, picking (and eating) the fruits and vegetables. (She liked the raspberries best.) Her father ranched mink. She got to nurse babies rejected by mums, and with her father holding on to adults, pet their soft furry middles. The family would head into New York city for museums and to shop. On the way back they’d stop at a blueberry farm (eponymously named) where her mum would get oodles of berries for pies and pancakes. Her grandma and great grandma taught Lynne to crochet, which, with the animals, and the … [Read more...] about VARIED TEXTURES OF HOME LYNNE KORTENHAUS AT SCHOOLHOUSE GALLERY
EXPLORING NAT REED’S “BIKES MOVE US” IN HARVARD SQUARE
If you find yourself in Harvard Square any time before September 9, you may stumble upon multi-media artist Nat Reed’s striking yet simple new exhibit “Bikes Move Us” at the intersection of Mass Ave and Linden Street. Walk along the three windows, and you’ll notice found bike parts masquerading as furniture, wheels that both spin and draw themselves, and helmets protecting fragile lightbulbs. As part of the Behind VA Shadows project, Reed’s exhibit is the first of its kind hosted in 25/8 artspace and curated by Yolanda He Yang. It’s not only free to the public but open all day every day. At night, the blunt and mechanic pieces are bathed in a warm, almost romantic glow. Reed talked to Sonia Richter about her love for bikes and their role in her work in a similar way — warmly, almost romantically. WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND AS AN ARTIST/BIKER? I’ve been biking since I came to … [Read more...] about EXPLORING NAT REED’S “BIKES MOVE US” IN HARVARD SQUARE
CONTEMPORARY TAG AND SOUND PAINTINGS AT THE ART COMPLEX MUSEUM
The Art Complex Museum is a hidden gem tucked away off the winding streets of Duxbury, Massachusetts. Its striking, wave-like structure is nestled in a cornucopia of green that is impressive to all those who stumble upon it. The Art Complex houses the impressive collection of the Carl A. Weyerhaeuser family that includes paintings, sculptures, prints and furniture. Along with displaying this collection, they also prioritize contemporary art exhibits. Two of these impressive exhibits are on display now; “Aaron Norfolk: Audio-Visio” and “TAG: Contemporary Painters,” in which the artists were paired with the writings of local poets. Aaron Norfolk’s “Audio-Visio” exhibit focuses on the human form as well as his visual representation of sound. Inspired by the music surrounding him while he works, three of the pieces in this exhibit, “Nightsong,” “Echo” and “Empress I,” are dedicated to his … [Read more...] about CONTEMPORARY TAG AND SOUND PAINTINGS AT THE ART COMPLEX MUSEUM