by Brian Goslow Eight members of the Rocky Neck Art Colony (Matt Cegelis, Elynn Kroger, Sinikka Nogelo, Regina Piantedosi, Rosella Sagall, Ruth Schneider, Martha Swanson and Heidi Zander) are among 18 New England artists selected by juror Al Miner, assistant curator of contemporary art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, to participate in the “A Fine Line: Drawings and Other Interpretations” exhibition that is being held from July 3 through August 3 at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 3 Wonson Street, Gloucester, Mass. “Of the mediums represented on these walls, digital techniques are used to interesting and dramatic effect, but digital art is far from predominant here,” Miner noted. “The same can be said for sculpture. In fact, even paint, used here with skill, proved less popular than pen, pencil and pastel. The simultaneous simplicity and versatility of line is beautifully … [Read more...] about Capsule Previews

Opening Their Doors To Inspiration   by Brian Goslow   For most, their first drive through the South Coast is an unexpected arrival to a land of beautiful back- road, water-enhanced scenery, farm stands bursting with local produce and restaurants, cafes and galleries conveying a warm invite to their owners’ special culinary and artistic dreams (see the accompanying Westport/Tiverton Wanderlust). And, since 2004, for two weekends each summer, a large number of area artists have welcomed art lovers to enjoy, experience and buy their locally-made and influenced art at their working studios during the South Coast Artists Open Studio Tour. If it is your first visit, you’ll discover two things immediately: you’d love to stay here for an extended period of time — and that it’s impossible to visit all of the nearly 90 participating artists. “If you’ve … [Read more...] about South Coast Artists

Westport, Mass. & Tiverton, RI by Don Wilkinson Just south and southeast of the old Massachusetts industrial mill city of Fall River are the border towns of Tiverton, Rhode Island and Westport, in the Bay State. The two have much in common beyond a shared town line as visual pastoral paradises, with more than a few working farms, that give way to stunning views of rivers, estuaries and the ocean. They also share a combined cultural community of excellent galleries, working studios, musical venues and fine restaurants that would delight any visiting connoisseur of the arts. A good place to start is at Sandy- woods Farm, off of Bulgarmarsh Road in Tiverton. It is a unique “intentional community” of homeowners and renters, devoted to promoting and supporting the arts, sustainable agriculture, affordable housing and land stewardship. The Farms are the home of the … [Read more...] about Head For The Border

Sulzer Setting Her Own Paper Trail by Taryn Plumb When we see paper hanging on a wall in a gallery, we expect nothing less than perfect; stains, dimpling, buckling, rips or wrinkles all seem like faults. But this is where Andrea Sulzer challenges the conventional; the Brunswick, Maine artist purposely manipulates and exploits paper to its very limits, transforming it from a flat, formless and blank canvas for other ideas and materials into its very own unexpected and complex 3-D sculpture. Her most recent creations, inspired by both experimentation and improvisation, are on display in “throughoutsideways” at the Portland Museum of Art through August 24. The show is part of the museum’s ongoing “Circa” exhibitions, featuring the work of local living artists. The solo exhibit showcases a range of pieces that defy the traditional rules of paper. In “Night Flight,” for … [Read more...] about ThroughOutsideWays