If you’re stopping by the SoWa Art + Design District, either for March’s First Friday openings or Sunday’s SoWa Artist Guild Open Studios, make sure to check out three new exhibitions running from March 6 through 30 at Galatea Fine Art, 460 Harrison Ave. #B-6, Boston, Massachusetts. Marjorie Kaye’s “Invisible Bursts” combine organic and geometric sensibilities that continues her exploration of an infinite number of patterns in creating sensory sculptures filled with bursts of colors. In “Oh, Ovines!” Carolyn Letvin showcases sheep “in spaces of simple color or no color at all, as in my drawings, letting the shapes of the animals’ bodies, legs and horns create endless compositions. As an observational artist, the animals’ realism is what interests me. But the colors I use are somewhat invented and the paint application is loose and energetic, making my art truly contemporary.” Curators … [Read more...] about CAPSULE PREVIEWS: MARCH/APRIL 2025
Issue Articles
THE TRAUMA ENDURED
Bayda Asbridge's “Children of War,” on view at Babson College’s Hollister Gallery from March 27 through May 18, is an emotionally moving and profoundly thought-provoking exhibition that sheds light on the often-overlooked realities of war's youngest victims. A Syrian-British artist based in Worcester, Massachusetts, Asbridge brings her extensive multidisciplinary expertise to this deeply moving body of work. Seamlessly integrating sculpture, mixed media, and textile techniques, she crafts an immersive and evocative experience that resonates on both an intellectual and emotional level. In modern warfare, children are among the most vulnerable. Stripped of their protective and secure environments, they are exposed to the horrific consequences of armed conflict. Displacement, the loss of home and family, and the separation from parents, on whom they depend for survival, leave lasting … [Read more...] about THE TRAUMA ENDURED
ABUNDANT LIGHT
In all my years, I’ve never seen color used this way. Peter Batchelder is all about putting color where it shouldn’t be. The outcome is breathtaking and certainly not something you ever tire from. It’s not just me. Collectors and fans are effusive. Describing his work as “dramatic,” “provocative,” “vibrant,” “jaw-dropping,” “luminous,” “stimulating.” It borders on indescribable. Batchelder is a man of many talents. Each talent and experience are built on the previous, and the resultant growth is noteworthy. He owned a gallery on the Vineyard. He was a creative director and designer at an advertising agency. He co-founded a web design and software company — all the while retaining his studio work. The list goes on. But ultimately each skill acquired, each milestone accomplished, encouraged him to do something more. And he has. Batchelder sees what is and makes it more. Or less. He grew … [Read more...] about ABUNDANT LIGHT
NEVER SLOWING DOWN
On one of the coldest days in February, even by Vermont standards, I stepped inside the Burlington City Arts gallery to find my senses stirred by the dramatic, enigmatic and visually seductive semi-abstract landscape paintings of Bunny Harvey. I forgot about the -7 degrees Fahrenheit outside. The exhibit consists of close to 20 recent large-scale oils on canvas as well as two works on paper made for this event. For those who have followed Harvey’s prolific four-decade-long career, it will be evident that her works here have a new level of intensity that invite the viewer to engage, connect and discover a unity with the natural. world beyond the scope of spoken narrative Many of the landscapes suggest a body of water — a stream, a creek, maybe a pond, gleaming in sunlight or shrouded in fog on an overcast day. These watery surfaces anchor the composition. Motion and energy in these … [Read more...] about NEVER SLOWING DOWN
ARTISTIC VISION AND CONTEMPORARY DIALOGUES
The Cambridge Art Association's 2025 Members Prize Show once again offers a compelling showcase of artistic talent from its vibrant community. Open to all current members, the exhibition spans two locations: the Kathryn Schultz Gallery and CAA @ University Place. This year's juror, Shana Dumont Garr, brings a rich background in contemporary art curation and academic research, lending her expertise to the careful selection of works presented in the show. Garr's juror statement reflects her appreciation for the artists' trust in her selection process and her deep engagement with contemporary visual storytelling. She references her experience watching artists at work in the television series “Portrait Artist of the Year” as a guiding framework for jurying this exhibition, highlighting her appreciation for the creative process and artistic mastery. The selection criteria included the … [Read more...] about ARTISTIC VISION AND CONTEMPORARY DIALOGUES
SHEPHERDING THE SHOW ALONG
On Monday, February 3, curator and artist David Walega arrived at New Bedford’s Gallery X around noon. The walls were bare inside the 1855 Universalist Church-turned-art gallery. Paintings, sculptures and ceramics covered floors and tables, waiting for installation. The sight was “overwhelming,” he said. And art just kept coming through the door. By 3:15 p.m., with the help of several volunteers, 67 works by 36 artists hung on the walls and sat upon white pedestals. The work of planning, preparing and installing the hundreds of annual art exhibitions throughout New England takes the effort of innumerable curators, gallery assistants, administrators and, of course, artists. But what works for a 140-year-old church won’t work for a gallery space in a storefront window, or for a massive complex housing a 15,000 square-foot exhibition and event space. No two art institutions curate and … [Read more...] about SHEPHERDING THE SHOW ALONG