The Yale University Art Gallery is showcasing its magnificent Mabel Brady Garvan Glass Collection in a student-curated exhibition that feels fresh and contemporary. The accompanying catalogue goes a long way to add flesh to the stories behind these objects, beginning with the history of Francis P. Garvan and his evolution as a major 20th century collector. The son of prosperous Irish immigrants, Garvan was born and reared in East Hartford and educated at Yale College. He went on to earn his law degree from New York University and today is perhaps best known for his role in prosecuting Harry Thaw in the murder of the architect Stanford White. He married into the Brady family of Albany, with his father-in-law the self-made titan of the Albany Gas Company. Upon his father-in-law’s death, Garvan had both the means and the resources by which to begin furnishing his home with fine glass and … [Read more...] about GLISTENING AND CONTEMPORARY: YALE CELEBRATES THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN GLASS
May/June 2019
MAKING CONNECTIONS: WITH JULIE MEHRETU
It is inspiring when our world-class universities invite artists to have a seat at the table. On Monday, April 8, 2019, MIT organized a panel discussion centering on the artist Julie Mehretu and her work as part of its ongoing lecture series at the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture. Nasser Rabbat, a renowned architectural historian and director of the AKPIA, welcomed the audience. The series focuses on art and the artist’s ability to respond to the violent conflicts that have engulfed the Middle East, particularly since the Arab uprisings that began at the end of 2010. This year’s guest was Mehretu, who cites Rabbat’s 2011 article in Artforum, titled, “Circling the Square” as a major inspiration for her work “Mogamma (a painting in four parts).” Mehretu, a New York-based artist, with miriam cooke, professor emerita at Duke University and author of “Dancing in Damascus: … [Read more...] about MAKING CONNECTIONS: WITH JULIE MEHRETU
A TASTE OF NEW BEDFORD: ALTERNATE SPACES AND A LIVELY ARTS SCENE
Nestled on the south coast of Massachusetts is New Bedford, named one of the most creative cities in not just one, but in several surveys and publications starting in 2011, when, Richard Florida, author of “The Rise of the Creative Class,” ranked the city as the “seventh most artistic city in America in proportion to its population, alongside the likes of San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles.” Since then, it was also ranked ninth on Matador Network’s list of Most Creative and sixth on Bustle’s Best Cities for Young Artists. The Massachusetts Cultural Council named New Bedford the most creative community in the State in 2017. Yet, when Luis Villanueva’s Colo Colo Gallery closed a year ago or so, the lauded creative community lost one of its last traditional galleries. The Colo Colo had survived for nearly 10 years with an impressive agenda of local, national and international … [Read more...] about A TASTE OF NEW BEDFORD: ALTERNATE SPACES AND A LIVELY ARTS SCENE
STILL EMPOWERING: HERA’S DISTINCTIVE SUMMER MEMBERS SHOW
Hera Gallery in Wakefield, Rhode Island is a cooperative gallery founded in 1974 as an innovative outpost of feminist art activism. In a 1983 New York Times article, “When Artists Start Their Own Galleries,” Lawrence Alloway wrote that Hera was one of just a handful of galleries run by women for women nationally. The article critically acknowledged Hera alongside A.I.R. Gallery and SOHO20 in New York City, ARC and Artemisia Galleries in Chicago and the Womanhouse installation in Los Angeles. At the time, it was significant recognition of Hera’s agenda of female empowerment for creating opportunities for women artists in a field deeply biased against their commercial success. Over the years, along with stewarding exhibition opportunities for its membership, Hera has brought in guest artists such as Lois Dodd, Mary Miss, Ana Mendieta and Howardena Pindell to enrich its … [Read more...] about STILL EMPOWERING: HERA’S DISTINCTIVE SUMMER MEMBERS SHOW
ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE: STRETCHING WORCESTER CRAFT’S BOUNDARIES
Featuring the work of ceramic artists Phoebe Snow, Michelle Grey, Kim Gardner, Abby Nohal and Faith Connor and glass artists Meredith Collins, Lindsy Marshall, Molly Roderick, Kristen Momoko Schafer and Angela McHale, “Fired/Molten,” an exhibition featuring the current group of artists-in-residence at the Worcester Center for Crafts, is an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of starting or adding to an existing collection of fine handmade work. “Some of the attendees for the A-I-R show are astute and savvy collectors looking for work which is fresh and interesting,” said Candace Casey, director of WCC’s Krikorian Gallery and Gallery Store. “They have an ‘eye’ for noticing trends and recognizing talented artisans.” As part of the residency, artists are provided a studio space with 24-hour access and storage space for materials, supplies and work and WCC staff shares advice and … [Read more...] about ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE: STRETCHING WORCESTER CRAFT’S BOUNDARIES
MARKS OF EMOTION: ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM IN MAYNARD
Spring has brought a visually compelling exhibit to ArtSpace Maynard. “Mark of Emotion,” curated by Sallie Strand, presents the stylistically diverse paintings of three accomplished abstract artists, Joanne Holtje, Jane Cohen and Strand. Having met several years ago in an abstract painting class, Holtje, Cohen and Strand have maintained a professional relationship based on their common vision of abstraction, each whom are engaged in a distinct approach. In her curator’s statement, Strand has likened the artists’ work to Abstract Expressionism — emphasis on process, interior reflection and energetic spontaneity. Significantly in their respective artist’s statements, each artist cites the relevance of intuition as a guide in the exploration her work. As curator, Strand chose the theme “mark of emotion” since she sees abstract art, both creating it and viewing it, as all about … [Read more...] about MARKS OF EMOTION: ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM IN MAYNARD