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Artscope Magazine | July/August 2026

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Issue Articles

CAPSULE PREVIEWS

// Capsule Previews, July/August 2026

by Brian Goslow

“Summer Colors,” an exhibition spotlighting the works of photographers Michael Day, Sylvia Hampton, and Caterine Milinaire and multimedia artist Vesna Longton, runs from July 4 through 31 at DeBlois Gallery, 134 Aquidneck, Middletown, Rhode Island. The show “celebrates the vibrant colors and festivals that summer evokes, as the artists seek out beauty and energy in their work.” Wildlifephotographer Day celebrates creatures from Alaska, Antarctica, Argentina, Florida, Illinois, Japan and Rhode Island. Hampton finds endless inspiration in the world around her, bringing shells, flowers, feathers and antique lumber together in her studio. Journalist, photographer and author Milinaire shares work from her ongoing Festive Fiestas pictures project documenting the way people celebrate cultural holidays around the world. Longton’s artistic universe connects with the philosophy of the world … [Read more...] about CAPSULE PREVIEWS

DISPATCH FROM ART BASEL

// Editorials, July/August 2026

by Claudia Fiks

For many years, I have worked as an educational guide at Art Basel, leading groups through the fair and helping visitors navigate its vast ecosystem of galleries, institutions, artists and special projects. Although I was unable to attend this year's edition in person, I followed the fair closely through conversations with colleagues on the ground, ongoing exchanges with galleries and artists, and the steady stream of press materials and social media coverage that accompanied the week. As Art Basel 2026 concluded in Switzerland on June 21, one thing became clear: the fair continues to evolve beyond its role as a marketplace. Through large-scale installations, digital experimentation, public programming and new approaches to audience engagement, Art Basel increasingly functions as a cultural ecosystem that reflects broader shifts within contemporary art. While headlines often focus on … [Read more...] about DISPATCH FROM ART BASEL

PROTECTING WORKSPACES

// Community, July/August 2026

by Ami Bennitt

FACES, PLACES & SPACES: The Somerville Museum (who knew Somerville had a museum?) hosts a “community curator” exhibition each year. This year, through August 23, The #ARTSTAYSHERE Coalition — of which I am a founding volunteer — is the community curator. Our exhibition, “Faces, Places & Spaces,” is not a traditional visual art exhibition with paintings, photographs or sculptures. Instead, it’s a visual representation of our movement: preventing artist displacement and creating more inventory of affordable workspaces across Massachusetts. The exhibition, reviewing our art space advocacy efforts in Massachusetts since 2020, invites viewers to learn about artist displacement, its causes — development, change of owner and extreme rent hikes — and its impact on artists, musicians, residents and communities. Through a handful of different components, “Faces, Places, & Spaces” … [Read more...] about PROTECTING WORKSPACES

ENERGETIC AND CELEBRATORY

// July/August 2026, Wonderlust

by Marjorie Kaye

Between the relentless sunlight of a Western Massachusetts’ summer day and the inevitable pouring of the unexpected outlash of Mother Nature, are days filled with hiking, kayaking, swimming and an endless bounty of art institutions and galleries to visit. There could easily be three or four incarnations of this article, and there would still be more art venues on the roster. And being situated so close to Vermont and New York, Western Massachusetts is a perfect jumping off spot for even more exploration. This grouping is relatively centralized, and this time of year seems to call for mostly energetic and celebratory works, a reflection of the generosity of the scope of the surrounding area. Shelburne Falls is well known for its Bridge of Flowers, among other attractions, and is a very highly recommended town for tourists. Situated in Franklin County on the Mohawk Trail, parallel with … [Read more...] about ENERGETIC AND CELEBRATORY

WICKFORD SUMMER

// Community, July/August 2026

by Suzanne Volmer

Summer is a busy time for the Wickford Art Association (WAA), based in North Kingston, Rhode Island near the Narragansett Bay. Between hosting the 63rd Wickford Art Festival on July 11 and 12 at nearby Wilson Park and two exhibitions at its home gallery, as well as several arts-related programs to participate in, WAA offers plenty of art activities for year-long residents and summer visitors alike. Shari Weschler, the Wickford Art Association’s gallery and education coordinator, previously enlivened her own Coastal Contemporary Gallery in Newport, where she developed somewhat of a cult following due to her innovative programing. She said her goal, as both a coordinator and professional artist, is to offer engaging programming and exhibitions that inspire a diversity of genre, mediums, processes, as well as encouraging artists with a wide variety of socio-economic and cultural … [Read more...] about WICKFORD SUMMER

EXPLOSIVE SUMMER IN MAINE

// Features, July/August 2026

by Heather Stivison

One of the pleasures of summer is the opportunity for frequent daytrips and weekend getaways — and for art lovers that often means exploring galleries, museums and shows that are off our beaten paths. It was in that context that I discovered the Center for Maine Contemporary Art (CMCA). The building alone was worth the trip. The structure is fresh and modern while also fitting well within the vernacular of the adjacent working waterfront. Internationally known architect Toshiko Mori designed the steel structure with corrugated metal and glass — lots of glass! The light pours into the museum from the floor to ceiling windows that surround a welcoming U-shaped courtyard. This summer, the museum is presenting four thoughtful and engaging contemporary exhibitions organized by CMCA’s relatively new curator Grant Wahlquist. The four solo shows balance each other well: geometric meditations … [Read more...] about EXPLOSIVE SUMMER IN MAINE