Born in Puerto Rico, Nayda Aurora Cuevas moved to the United States with her family at the age of 10, a point in her life, she writes on her website, that “evoked a new sense of self-exploration and need to establish connections with people.” Her figurative paintings — “a visual language to better articulate my observations and interpretations of my Latin@ American Experience” — invite viewers to do the same. Cuevas’ work has been shown throughout the East Coast; last fall, her #FluidIdentity exhibition at the Nobles & Greenough School drew attention when two of its paintings were removed by a school official. In this “Cornered” interview, Artscope managing editor Brian Goslow talked with Cuevas about the ways she approaches her artmaking and teaching from the viewpoint of “Puerto Rican,” “Latina,” “Mother” or “Immigrant,” her recent self-published book, returning to post-Hurricane … [Read more...] about CORNERED: NAYDA AURORA CUEVAS
Cornered
CORNERED: ELLEN GROBMAN AT HAMPDEN GALLERY, UMASS AMHERST
Amherst, MA - For Amherst, Massachusetts-based painter Ellen Grobman, painting sounds like an exhausting and exhilarating process in which she starts with an idea, aims to pull it in a new direction and then sees what’s left when she tries to leave as little of the original thought as possible by the time she’s finish. Her website describes her work as being powered by, “This drive to bring something into being, disrupt it, and then flirt with its destruction — the boundary of something existing and then not.” Depending on the piece, there are touches of 19th century furniture wallpaper patterns, abstract expressionism, fauvism, symbolism and whatever connections each swash of paint ignites in her mind. These explorations continue in her current exhibition, “There, Not There,” on view through March 31 at Hampden Gallery in the Southwest Residential Area at the University of … [Read more...] about CORNERED: ELLEN GROBMAN AT HAMPDEN GALLERY, UMASS AMHERST
CORNERED: LYNDA MCNALLY, FOUNDING PRESIDENT, FRIENDS OF FENWAY STUDIOS
This weekend, November 10 and 11, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Fenway Studios, a National Historic Landmark and the oldest purpose-built structure in the country designed solely as artist studios, hosts “Fenway Studios Open Studios Weekend.” Work ranging from abstract expressionism to post-modern realism is available; whether you’re a major collector or someone looking for a special gift or unique stocking stuffers or cards to adorn your gifts (all worthy of frames in their own right) — or you’re just interested in seeing a strong cross-section of locally-created art in the space where they’re made, the event promises to be visually and spiritually rewarding. If you attend, please bring a donation for its 10th Annual Food Drive to Benefit the Greater Boston Food Bank. A few days prior to the event, Artscope managing editor Brian Goslow exchanged questions with Lynda McNally, the … [Read more...] about CORNERED: LYNDA MCNALLY, FOUNDING PRESIDENT, FRIENDS OF FENWAY STUDIOS
CORNERED: ROSEMARY LEBEAU
CORNERED: ROSEMARY LEBEAU by Brian Goslow Central Massachusetts-based Rosemary LeBeau works in several magical mediums — wall assemblages, objets d’art, vue d’optique, hand-made books, rust works — each of which brings her viewers to several sensory states, including the reawakening of memories and senses of favorite objects from years ago (for instance, the animals in her composition that hark back to Christmas displays of our youth) and pieced together objects to which she gives recognizable features that cause our natural imagination to attribute them human-like characteristics that would look great in a front yard or home den. Then there are her larger pieces — reminiscent of 19th century offices and grocery stores, normally seen recreated as part of a museum’s depiction of life in centuries past — which leave viewers in awe. Artscope managing editor Brian Goslow … [Read more...] about CORNERED: ROSEMARY LEBEAU
CORNERED: KATHERINE RICHMOND
by Brian Goslow Katherine Richmond is an adventurer and international award-winning fine art photographer based in Gloucester, Mass. Her work reflects her passions; land and seascapes, wildlife, documentary, portrait and abstracts. Artscope managing editor Brian Goslow exchanged questions with her via email in advance of the “Expeditions: From Iceland to the Gobi Desert” exhibition that will be on view from February 1 through March 10 at the Paula Estey Gallery, 3 Harris St., Newburyport, Mass. TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR WORK THAT’LL BE IN THE SHOW IN TERMS OF TITLES, MEDIUM AND HOW IT WAS CREATED — AND WHAT YOU HOPE TO CONVEY THROUGH IT. The name of my photograph is “Ludivine.” It’s a French word that I chose meaning divine light. The experience of capturing this taught me to put yourself in that place, where ever it may be, observe, and don’t give up, you never … [Read more...] about CORNERED: KATHERINE RICHMOND
CORNERED: LISA LEBOFSKY
by Brian Goslow Lisa Lebofsky is a painter from New York who is currently in the midst of an 18 to 24-month long mission of residency hopping across The United States and Canada. Her paintings explore the emotional and physical human relationship with nature. Artscope managing editor Brian Goslow exchanged questions with her via email in advance of the “Expeditions: From Iceland to the Gobi Desert” exhibition that will be on view from February 1 through March 10 at the Paula Estey Gallery, 3 Harris St., Newburyport, Massachusetts. TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR WORK THAT’LL BE IN THE SHOW IN TERMS OF TITLES, MEDIUM AND HOW IT WAS CREATED — AND WHAT YOU HOPE TO CONVEY THROUGH IT. (My) artwork in show (will be): "Ice from Aqajarua,” oil paint on paper, 5” x 7”. It was painted en plein air one still silvery morning while anchored off the coast of Greenland. In this … [Read more...] about CORNERED: LISA LEBOFSKY