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Artscope Magazine | January/February 2023

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PREMIER OF J.C. PAKRATZ’S EAT YOUR YOUNG OPENS 2022-23 BOSTON PLAYWRIGHTS’ THEATER SEASON AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY

// Artscope Online, Theatre

by James Foritano

It must have been coming on six o’clock, after a short Green Line ride from Comm. Ave. I alighted at the corner of our Public Garden still beautiful with greenery, water, flowers and people strolling about. Perhaps more gorgeous as the fall season was about to glow with last colors then drop to ground. It looked especially significant to me because I was heading for Park Street to catch the Red Line home to Cambridge with thoughts to chew on, thoughts of a play I’d just seen at Boston University’s Boston Playwrights’ Theater that was also full of both hope and angst, just like the towering elms, rooted deep, but heading towards winter — would they make it to another spring? “Eat Your Young,” a Boston University New Play Initiative production, and a new play by J.C, Pankratz, directed by Shamus and produced by Boston Playwrights’ Theatre and the Boston University College of … [Read more...] about PREMIER OF J.C. PAKRATZ’S EAT YOUR YOUNG OPENS 2022-23 BOSTON PLAYWRIGHTS’ THEATER SEASON AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY

A FALL COLOR SPECTACULAR: HOWARD BARNES RETROSPECTIVE AT MILLER WHITE FINE ARTS

// Artscope Online, Exhibits

“The Colors of My Life: Paintings in the Washington Color School Tradition,” a comprehensive retrospective exhibition featuring works from the atelier of former MWFA artist Howard Barnes (1943-2020) is on view through October 28 at Miller White Fine Arts, 708 Route 134, South Dennis, Massachusetts. “Charles Beaudelaire once said, “Colourists are epic poets.” The elegance, warmth and introspection of Barnes’ artworks indeed underscore the truth of this statement. The Washington Color School, an art movement that emerged in Washington, D.C., and flourished in the 1960s, promoted a form of abstract art that developed from the Color Field movement of the 1950s, itself a response to the abstract expressionism of the New York School. “Styles of many of the prominent colorists in that movement, such as Ken Noland, Morris Louis and Helen Frankenthaler, are clearly referenced in Barnes’ earlier … [Read more...] about A FALL COLOR SPECTACULAR: HOWARD BARNES RETROSPECTIVE AT MILLER WHITE FINE ARTS

CORNERED: LILIANA FOLTA MEADOWS — THE GARDENING — REVOLUTION AT DANFORTH MUSEUM

// Artscope Online, Cornered

by Brian Goslow

In my review of the “Danforth Annual Juried Exhibition 2022” that runs through September 18 at the Danforth at Framingham State University in our September/October issue, I mentioned that it feels like “at least a dozen smaller shows thanks to the assemblage of the works, either right next to each other or in approximate view,” and that included a selection of fiber artworks. One that especially caught my attention, after a long summer of work in the backyard in which I had gotten to know each leaf and stem of each vegetable, was the finally detailed “Meadows — The Gardening — Revolution” piece by Liliana Folta that was made from repurposed textiles, found objects and ceramic pieces. I wasn’t able to fit her email responses to questions I had about Folta’s work into the article, so I’m happy to share them here: YOU MADE THE WORK IN 2021; WAS IT SOMETHING THAT THE SOLITUDE … [Read more...] about CORNERED: LILIANA FOLTA MEADOWS — THE GARDENING — REVOLUTION AT DANFORTH MUSEUM

CORNERED: LORI MEHTA XMARKSTHESPOT AT DANFORTH MUSEUM

// Artscope Online, Cornered

by Brian Goslow

Our 100th issue (September/October 2022) includes a review I wrote of the “Danforth Annual Juried Exhibition 2022” that runs through September 18 at the Danforth at Framingham State University along with interviews with some of the artists about their work. Due to deadline restraints, I wasn’t able to include my exchange with Lori Mehta, whose wonderfully detailed “XMarkstheSpot” oil painting was one of my favorite works in the show, so I share our email exchange here. I FELT A BIT OF THE RELAXED WEST COAST STYLE OF THE 1960S AND '70S AND WAS WONDERING IF THAT WAS AN INFLUENCE? “Without a doubt, I am influenced by several artists of the 60’s and 70’s, however the first two who come to mind are from the East and West Coast, Katz and Hockney. I am curious who you see in my work? Sometimes being truly influenced by another artist might not be evident, even to the artist … [Read more...] about CORNERED: LORI MEHTA XMARKSTHESPOT AT DANFORTH MUSEUM

PHILIP GUSTON’S TRUE COLORS AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON

// Artscope Online, Exhibits, Visual Arts

by Elizabeth Michelman

In this era of re-examining our values in the face of increased social tensions and existential threat, Philip Guston’s sour yet exuberant late paintings promise to tell us who we are and what beliefs we must cling to in order to go on. Guston, a giant of 20th Century painting, scandalized the New York art world in 1970 by turning his back on the prevailing trend of pure abstraction. He embarked instead on an inspired journey creating politically-infused, tragic-pop canvases that exploited a wacky cartoon-style imagery. Although these works failed to sell in his lifetime, they changed the dialogue of painting. He stood by his vision, supporting his family by teaching at Boston University, and produced the bulk of his oeuvre in this new style until his death in 1980. The retrospective “Philip Guston Now” displays 100 works at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts through September 11. … [Read more...] about PHILIP GUSTON’S TRUE COLORS AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON

Kim Bernard, “Treehugger,” 100 plastic sustainability words, made of upcycled #2 plastic milk, water and juice jugs, on view at Highfield Hall & Gardens in Falmouth, Massachusetts till October 30 in the Boston Sculptors Gallery 30th Anniversary exhibition.

HIGHFIELD HALL HOSTS BOSTON SCULPTORS AT 30 IN FALMOUTH

// Artscope Online, Current Exhibits, Exhibit Openings, Exhibits, News, Visual Arts

by Lee Roscoe

Showing at Highfield Hall and Gardens in Falmouth as part of the Boston Sculptors Gallery’s 30th anniversary is an exhibition of 50 pieces of the genius of these artists, diverse in race, class, gender, styles and media. (Many of the pieces are for sale.) It’s a mind-boggling burst of talent almost too much to take in at one go. You can take an hour’s stroll outdoors through enchanted wild woods and formal gardens, and then cool off indoors for part of the exhibit — which is on two floors of the high ceilinged, antique 19th century Queen Anne mansion. The indoors exhibit ends August 21, the outdoors one on October 30. Starting with an homage to a fallen ancient beech tree by Ed Andrews, constructed of a tower of rusted laddered steel, with live sapling atop, the path takes you past a centerpiece of story-high white aluminum structures by Andy Zimmermann, “Seven Sprouts.” It, like … [Read more...] about HIGHFIELD HALL HOSTS BOSTON SCULPTORS AT 30 IN FALMOUTH