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New England's Culture Magazine

Artscope Magazine | January/February 2023

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Visual Arts

EMBRACE THE UNUSUAL AT THE ATTLEBORO ARTS MUSEUM

// Artscope Online, Exhibits, Visual Arts

by Sawyer Smook-Pollitt

“Real or Imagined” at the Attleboro Arts Museum has something for everyone — paintings, sculptures, even 3D printed artwork. The 95 pieces in the show were selected by guest juror Clare Bell, exhibition director at the Guggenheim Museum. She narrowed down the selection from 756 pieces submitted by 416 artists from across the country. Of those 95, she selected six favorites which won jurors choice awards. The sheer variety in “Real or Imagined” is striking and is evident from the moment one enters the gallery. Immediately, the eye is drawn in different directions. Left are two large black herons sculpted from found objects, right is a bronze-colored 3D printed sculpture of a man emerging from a foot, and on all the surrounding walls are paintings and photographs – some abstract canvases of bright engaging colors and others that play upon childhood memories of toys and Halloween … [Read more...] about EMBRACE THE UNUSUAL AT THE ATTLEBORO ARTS MUSEUM

A WILD NOTE OF LONGING: ALBERT PINKHAM RYDER RETURNS TO NEW BEDFORD

// Artscope Online, Exhibits, Visual Arts

by Sawyer Smook-Pollitt

“The only American master who interests me is Ryder,” said Jackson Pollock, and he was not alone in that sentiment. Generations of artists took inspiration from Albert Pinkham Ryder. Now, for the first time in 31 years, Ryder’s work is once again on display. “A Wild Note of Longing: Albert Pinkham Ryder and a Century of American Art,” on display in the Wattles Family Gallery at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, bridges the gap between past and present by showing Ryder’s paintings alongside contemporary artists inspired by his work. Ryder has not been seen on this scale since a 1990 retrospective at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Elizabeth Broun, director emerita of the Smithsonian, had a hand in curating both shows. “It was all meant to be, it felt cosmic,” said Broun at a press conference, describing the exhibit’s opening night, a homecoming for the New Bedford-born … [Read more...] about A WILD NOTE OF LONGING: ALBERT PINKHAM RYDER RETURNS TO NEW BEDFORD

IT STARTED IN WORCESTER: PAUL PEDULLA ON HIS CREATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH ARTSCOPE MAGAZINE

// Artscope Online, Community, Visual Arts

by Paul Pedulla

What bright and welcoming colors! That’s what I was thinking in 2010 when I received photos of three adjacent homes in Worcester from Brian Goslow, Managing Editor of Artscope Magazine. I knew there was a painting waiting for me in these photos. Why was Brian sending me photos? The answer goes back to 2008, when he first appeared in my designated space in the juried group show at South End Open Studios. I had no idea who he was. And I was a new artist with little experience showing my work. Brian had an intense look on his face as he examined each of my paintings. Thoughts swirled in my head. Should I talk to him? Maybe leave him alone? Finally, the conversation went something like: “Hi, I’m Paul. Happy to answer any questions. I’m also happy to just leave you alone to look.” “I’m Brian Goslow, Managing Editor of Artscope Magazine. I really like what you’re doing here.” I … [Read more...] about IT STARTED IN WORCESTER: PAUL PEDULLA ON HIS CREATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH ARTSCOPE MAGAZINE

ACTIVATING SPACE: WATER 2021 COMES TO DOWNTOWN NEW BEDFORD

// Artscope Online, Exhibits, Visual Arts

by Sawyer Smook-Pollitt

Underneath the usual sound of honking cars and seagull calls in downtown New Bedford, Massachusetts, a soft rumbling can be heard from Swain Gallery at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Center for Visual and Performing Arts. The source of the noise is one of three exhibits in “WATER 2021,” the latest show by the Massachusetts Design and Technology Institute (DATMA). DATMA, a non-collecting contemporary art institute in New Bedford is known for bringing public art displays to the city. With “WATER 2021,” DATMA shows three exhibits that explore the role of water in the histories, cultures and economies of several countries and the South Coast of Massachusetts. “WATER 2021” consists of “280 prepared dc-motors, cotton balls, cardboard boxes 13″ x 13″ x 13″, 2011/2021,” by Swiss artist, Zimoun; Hyung S. Kim’s, Phil Mello’s, and Craig Easton’s photo series in “Harvesters of … [Read more...] about ACTIVATING SPACE: WATER 2021 COMES TO DOWNTOWN NEW BEDFORD

MILTON ACADEMY’S NESTO GALLERY PRESENTS SCULPTOR MURRAY “MAC” DEWART & MIKEL GLASS’ PARITY EXHIBITION

// Artscope Online, Current Exhibits, Visual Arts

by Isabel Barbi

Founded in 1798, Milton Academy, based in Milton, Massachusetts, has graduated, and educated, an impressive student body — with too many big-name alumni to count. The artists in 2021’s final and only shows are no exception. On a yearly basis, Milton typically holds six or seven professional shows in the Nesto Gallery — the primary audience consisting of its visual arts students as well as being open to the public for visitation. But, with the COVID-19 pandemic, only two exhibitions were held for the academic year, and unfortunately, they are closed to outside visitors. Ian Torney, Chair of the Visual Arts Department, executive director of the Nesto Gallery, artist, educator and a Milton alumnus himself (Class of 1982), made the call to feature two alumni artists for the shows, strengthening the internal community of Milton Academy during these difficult times. Sculptor Murray … [Read more...] about MILTON ACADEMY’S NESTO GALLERY PRESENTS SCULPTOR MURRAY “MAC” DEWART & MIKEL GLASS’ PARITY EXHIBITION

Zahra Nazari, Unification, Sculpture, 12 Gauge Stainless Steel, 65"x90"x60", 2020.

Unification

// Artscope Online, Exhibits, Visual Arts

by Nancy Nesvet

Roya Khadjavi Projects opened Unification, Zahra Nazari’s solo exhibition at the High Line Nine Gallery in New York on May 1. Open until May 15, noon to 6 pm or by appointment at royakhadjaviprojects.com, the exhibition of acrylic paintings, sculptures, works on paper and installations features the work of Hamedan, Iran born artist Nazari’s remembrances of renowned buildings and archeological sites in one of the oldest continuously inhabited Iranian cities. Merging abstract linear paintings and drawings with the clear lines of architecture, the lines seem to be scaffolding holding up the structure she has created from memory and imagination of buildings in Persia. Her experience shines through in the curvilinear rendition of Safavid architecture. At Ali Qapu Palace in Isfahan, Iran where her memorialized vaulted ceiling is rendered but contemporized in abstracted, freeform … [Read more...] about Unification