LAU AND LEDBETTER AT KNIZNICK by James Foritano Waltham, Mass. - As a critic, I have no trouble recom- mending the exhibit currently at the Kniznick Gallery in Brandeis University’s Women’s Studies Research Center. The art, craft and vision, as well as the curatorial presentation, are all top-notch. It’s only on the personal level, which is a big “only,” that I can’t guarantee the integrity of either the pitch, the come-on or the content which, though all perfectly innocent-looking, are only partially so — on purpose, I suspect. Take Heidi Lau’s ceramic sculptures. They pitch themselves as objects we can walk around, take in and, most impor- tantly, assign a place vis-à-vis ourselves – as in “here” and “there.” But try as I might, I could never resist the feeling that I’d missed something a closer look would have revealed — and by leaning in, I’d lose my … [Read more...] about Tea For Two
Visual Arts
JAY SCHADLER IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY by Greg Morell Portsmouth, New Hampshire - Feasting and drinking are two of my favorite pastimes, but they are not usually the subjects of contemporary artists. Jay Schadler, however, is not your usual artistic practitioner. A photo-illustrator in a unique niche, Schadler, a Michigan native, first earned a law degree at Syracuse University, but quickly left the law behind and began his adventure as a world-traveling special correspondent for ABC News with a gift for storytelling. He hitchhiked across America, telling the story of the Everyman for his “Looking for America” series. Schadler’s 32-year career as a globetrotting television journalist sent him off to remote locations in Africa, India and Uzbekistan, but his most harrowing assignment was chasing the Ebola Virus in the jungle canopy of Gabon. In his eclectic studio/gallery in … [Read more...] about JAY SCHADLER IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
IN CELEBRATION OF THE PENCIL
Leaving a Mark at D'Amour by Marguerite Serkin Springfield, Mass. - Graphite occurs naturally in many forms, and its appli- cation for modern inscription has a history dating back to sheep marking in 16th-century England. Formerly referred to as “Plumbago,” graphite was used as a paint base in Neolithic times by the Marita culture of the Danube to decorate ceramic pottery. Versatile, easily manipulated, and widely found in nature, graphite serves as an accessible and functionally effective tool in both art and science. It is used in nuclear technology, batteries and brake linings. And, of course, in pencils. “Leaving Our Mark: In Celebration of the Pencil,” on view through March 27 at the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts in Spring eld, offers a unique perspective on “pencil art.” Organized by New England artist Steve Wilda and curated by Spring eld Museums curator Julia … [Read more...] about IN CELEBRATION OF THE PENCIL
Bruce Rosenbaum – The Expansion of Steampunk
By Shem Tane Sharon, Mass. - I recently traveled to Sharon, Mass. to visit Steampunk House, the home of ModVic, a Steampunk art and design company owned by Bruce and Melanie Rosenbaum. At first I thought I had the wrong house and had stumbled onto a historic landmark. I was welcomed in and felt like I had traveled not only back in time but also to a different dimension. Bruce gave me the grand tour and I was fascinated by the re-purposed furniture that took on new life in the house — each room had a story attached with it and each piece of antique furniture had a role to play — before we sat down to discuss Steampunk and its role in today’s art world. Bruce Rosenbaum explained how he came across Steampunk and the effect it had on his life: “It began with the kitchen when the stove had to be replaced. I found an old 1890s wood fire cooking stove and … [Read more...] about Bruce Rosenbaum – The Expansion of Steampunk
Boston Ballet
The Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker at the Boston Opera House By James Foritano Is an old chestnut a weakness? The Nutcracker is an old chestnut a virtue. Having just come from a screening of the legendary Merce Cunningham’s spare, modern choreography at the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston’s landmark“Leap Before You Look: Black Mountain College 1933-1957” exhibition, I was distinctly aware of this weakness. True, the costumes are stunning, the moves of the highly trained dancers breathtaking, but come on isn’t this all, at best, superfluous; at worst, heresy in the canon of contemporary dance, a canon which embraces Spartan scenery and dance movements which at least appear spontaneous movements one could possibly witness in a sports stadium or even on a particularly lively street corner? Still, seated in the Boston Opera House’s elegant environs, I remembered not only Merce … [Read more...] about Boston Ballet
Evocations
Familiar Traditions for New Faces By Shem Tane In the traditional ways of Rembrandt and other Dutch masters, Kelly Carmody's style is soaked with rich oils and her exhibit “Evocations” that opened at the Sloane Merrill Gallery on Nov. 13 leaned on those styles. While the gallery holds the appearance of reading nook, there was a certain air from Carmody's pieces that offered a larger feel to the room. The depth of her paintings offered a new take on historic styles. The still lifes gave a rich warm tone to her collection. In the classical theme, there were paintings of flowers and food, but there were few that had corpses of dead birds caught my eye. “Flicker” is one of her strongest pieces I saw, because of its sheer range of colors and the flow of the subject. The detail displayed on the feathers hold the contrast between the bird and the looming background. There … [Read more...] about Evocations