By J. Fatima Martins Worcester, Mass. - Worcester, Massachusetts-based abstract expressionist painter John Pagano, who was featured in Artscope's March/April 2013 issue, has his next solo exhibition, “Accentuated Gestures,” this September 4-27 at the Sprinkler Factory Gallery in Worcester. Earlier this summer, I visited with John on a muggy evening at his Worcester studio to view the new paintings. I decided that it would be fun to photograph him casually in process of "curating" his show. At the time of my visit, John did not have a title for his show, and was engaged in selecting which paintings to feature. Many works remained unframed. We talked about the challenges and rewards of organizing an exhibition exclusively without gallery support. I didn't take interview notes, at the time, because it was not suppose to be a "formal interview." Later, recalling everything we … [Read more...] about Artscope revisits: John Pagano
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Artist profile: John Evans
By Rhiannon Leigh South Natick, Mass. - Boston-based painter John Evans incorporates art into all aspects of his life. His Natick home is adorned with work, old and new, by both himself and his wife, Carolyn. Although his studio only had two current pieces, both works-in-progress, there was an abundant quantity of drafts of many of his works, emphasizing the amount of time and effort he spends on one piece. In 1987, a young Evans was motivated by pleasing everyone else rather than pleasing himself — as well as a fear of failure, which in turn led to his rejection from a potential show in New York. Although this was disappointing at the time, Evans also acknowledges that he felt a sense of freedom. He continued to paint, and because he was now only painting for himself rather than for others, “there was no sense of failure, just an adventure,” Evans said. He also speaks of the … [Read more...] about Artist profile: John Evans
American Impressionism: The Lure of the Artists’ Colony
By John Paul Stapleton Springfield, Mass. - Impressionism was the dominant art style in late 19th century France, but America quickly followed with a movement all it’s own. Springfield Museums has recently acquired a traveling exhibit that displays a wide range of pieces from the art colonies that fueled that American Impressionism movement. The exhibit was organized by the Reading Public Museum in Reading, Pennsylvania to be separated by the American colonies that range in location from Provincetown up into parts of Canada, all the way down to New Mexico. This method of installation gives more of a historical background on the movement and the art colonies themselves. The 75 oil paintings and 30 works on paper are displayed with a wall text highlighting the artist and their particular relevance to their colony and their contemporaries. John Henry Twachtman’s “The Coast … [Read more...] about American Impressionism: The Lure of the Artists’ Colony
Nora Speyer and Sideo Fromboluti at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum
By John Paul Stapleton The Provincetown Art Association and Museum is currently host to an exhibit displaying the works of husband and wife, Nora Speyer and Sideo Fromboluti (1920-2014). Art historian Mary Abell curated this exhibit which is the first to focus solely on the work of the two artists. Included are works on paper and oil paintings created between 1975 and 2008 that show the similar styles the couple worked in and the influence they’ve had on each other’s work. While being Wellfleet artists, the couple had much involvement with the Provincetown arts community by appearing in exhibits and having been founding members of the Long Point Gallery. The standouts of the exhibit are the oil paintings the both created that make heavy use of texture. Fromboluti’s paintings in the exhibition are of more realistic scenes such as landscapes, flowers and common objects. His … [Read more...] about Nora Speyer and Sideo Fromboluti at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum
Summer Members’ Show: As Expected at the Copley Society of Art
By John Paul Stapleton. Boston, Mass. - The Copley Society of Art is currently displaying their annual Summer Members’ Show in the Upper Gallery. This year, Richard Baiano & Stephanie Bond, president and vice president of the neighboring Child’s Gallery, juried the show. “Aphrodisiacs” by Shell Eager took first place, followed by “In The Well of Katherine by Kat O’Connor. “L’Oeuf I” by Debby Krim took third while “Bounty” by Matthew Miller received an honorable mention. Aside from these great pieces, there are many other works in the show that deserve attention — and are for sale. Wendy Hale’s watercolor painting, “Running Late,” is a colorful city street scene. A rainbow created by the lights flooding into the image replaces the normal grays and mundane colors. The people in this image take on this rainbow as well, making them silhouettes that are equal parts to the … [Read more...] about Summer Members’ Show: As Expected at the Copley Society of Art
Jim Shaw: Entertaining Doubts at Mass MoCA
By John Paul Stapleton North Adams, Mass. - In one of the biggest exhibitions Mass MoCA has ever installed, Jim Shaw’s multi-faceted talents and wide range of mediums come together in “Entertaining Doubts,” his biggest exhibition to date. The Los Angeles-based artist has taken over multiple galleries within the museum with his 115 pieces including backdrop paintings, video art, sculpture and even furniture. The whole exhibit teeters on the line of irony while still having a serious message within each piece such as with the ‘70s mom-styled wig on a tank crashing through a brick shopping mall wall in “Delilah.” The main attraction of the exhibit was his work with Superman as the subject, such as his huge installation “Not Since Superman Died,” which takes up a high ceiling room in the museum where strips of his backdrop are arranged throughout showing different stages of the … [Read more...] about Jim Shaw: Entertaining Doubts at Mass MoCA