By Rhiannon Leigh Cambridge, Mass. - There is still time to enjoy Lesley University’s current exhibition, “Black History Matters 365,” running now through March 5 at the VanderNoot Gallery. This exhibit will have you engaging with the artwork and leave you engaging with the world around you. “Black History Matters 365” is an exhibition you don’t want to miss. The show features seven artists of color including Paul Goodnight, Lawrence Pierce, Destiny Palmer, Cedric Douglas, L’Merchie Frazier, Shea Justice and a Lesley alumnus, Percy Fortini-Wright, who organized the show. Each artist has an extensive background in art and a decorated resume, including Destiny Palmer, who co-founded Traditions Remixed, an artist collective who strives to create an encouraging community for young artists and Paul Goodnight, who has traveled throughout the world in order to gain experience and … [Read more...] about BLACK HISTORY MATTERS 365 AT VANDERNOOT GALLERY AT LESLEY UNIVERSITY
Visual Arts
HIRO: PHOTOGRAPHS AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON
By Rhiannon Leigh Boston, Mass. - Staying warm this winter by stopping by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, to see their newly acquired Frida Kahlo piece? Don’t forget to continue to the photography gallery to see an exhibition featuring works by Manhattan-based photographer Hiro. Born to Japanese parents in 1930 in Shanghai, Hiro spent the beginning of his life in China until eventually relocating to Japan at the end of World War II. Hiro had begun looking at American fashion magazines and noticed photographers Richard Avedon and Irving Penn, becoming inspired by their work and completely enveloped in photography. After moving to New York in 1956 and working under Avedon, it was clear that he had a natural talent for the art. Hiro used this niche as a way to express what he had seen growing up in a war-torn area, bringing “his fear, his isolation, his splendid light, to film” … [Read more...] about HIRO: PHOTOGRAPHS AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON
OUT THE WINDOW & AROUND THE TOWN
CYNTHIA MAURICE & DAVID CAMPBELL AT THE BRICKBOTTOM GALLERY By Rhiannon Leigh Somerville, Mass. - Cartoons are not typically considered for the philosophical canon, but one New Yorker cartoon captioned “The meaning of life is having a spectacular view” gave meaning to much of the work featured in “Out the Window & Around the Town” at the Brickbottom Artist Association’s Gallery. Featuring work by David Campbell and Cynthia Maurice, the exhibition draws from the changing cityscape overlooking Boston between 1987, when the Brickbottom Artist Association first opened, through today. As I walked into the workspace of Cynthia Maurice, with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the room and the mid-afternoon light poured in from the large glass windows overlooking the city, I noticed several works of flowers not far away from a vase of daffodils on the countertop and it was … [Read more...] about OUT THE WINDOW & AROUND THE TOWN
ART PALM BEACH 2016
By Molly Hamill Palm Beach, Fl. - Someone says art, Florida, winter and you might think — Art Basel. But that’s not the Sunshine State’s only signature art event. Over 85 exhibitors from 21 countries were in attendance from January 21-25 at Art Palm Beach for an impressive show dedicated to contemporary, emerging and modern masters at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach. While a winter storm battered the mid-Atlantic and East Coast states, a bustling crowd of creatives and collectors met for the 19th incarnation of the fair. Works by big names like Picasso, Leger and Calder were interwoven with a multitude of contemporary names working in a broad spectrum of mediums — glass, photography, paint, resin and paper, just to name a few. Complimenting the work on view was a variety of talks spanning themes from "Aboriginal Masters of the Australian Western Desert" … [Read more...] about ART PALM BEACH 2016
CORNERED: ERIK HANSEN: SHE LEARNED TO SMILE LATER AT 6 BRIDGES GALLERY
By Brian Goslow Photographer Erik Hansen calls his “She Learned to Smile Later” exhibition now on view at 6 Bridges Gallery in Maynard, Mass., the culmination of five years’ work. “It is a photographic novella of a therapeutic journey from adversity to triumph. Images begin with trauma, fear and violence subsiding to allow decision-making. Dawn beckons leading to clarity, hope and strength. Visual metaphors link the storyline and color is used to reflect emotions through this passage.” After growing up in the shadows of Manhattan, he studied art and art history at Rutgerss University; Hansen’s studio is based at ArtSpace Maynard. Artscope managing editor Brian Goslow recently “cornered” Hansen to discuss his show for the artscope zine. HOW DID THE “SHE LEARNED TO SMILE LATER” PROJECT BEGIN? I wanted an art project to work on and I think subconsciously I wanted to tell a story, a … [Read more...] about CORNERED: ERIK HANSEN: SHE LEARNED TO SMILE LATER AT 6 BRIDGES GALLERY
Cornered Q&A: Donna Dodson Mermaids at the New Bedford Art Museum
By Brian Goslow (“Donna Dodson: Mermaids” continues through February 5 at the New Bedford Art Museum, 608 Pleasant St., New Bedford, Mass. The show’s artist reception takes place on Sunday, January 31 from 1-3 p.m. The museum’s winter hours are Wednesday through Sunday from noon-5 p.m. with extended hours on Thursday till 9 p.m. For more information, call (508) 961-3072.) WHEN DID YOU BEGIN WORK ON “MERMAIDS?” I began working on Mermaids before I moved (to Maynard, Mass.) in July 2015 and finished the first piece after we moved. I made the rest in my new studio between August 2015 and Jan 2016. I got waylaid by dropping a log onto my left foot and breaking my toe, thus slowing me down a bit, but I had planned a small show for this space, because I wanted to install a small grouping or island of works in the middle of the gallery so that people can walk around all sides of … [Read more...] about Cornered Q&A: Donna Dodson Mermaids at the New Bedford Art Museum