A drive down Bellevue Avenue in Newport conjures up Great Gatsby vibes - stately mansions, mature trees clad in verdant foliage, an abundance of natural and human wealth that culminates in the majestic Cliff Walk, a nature trail with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. One highlight of this idyllic summer destination and storied street is the Newport Art Museum. Located on three acres, the museum’s galleries are housed in two historic buildings. The galleries showcase over 600 contemporary regional, national and international artists annually. Art classes for all ages and experience levels are held in the Museum’s School studios. This June, Providence-based artist and educator Heather McMordie will be in residence at the museum, living in its studio apartment and working in a dedicated studio space at the Museum School. She is a part of the museum’s juried AiR/Newport … [Read more...] about FIELD RESEARCH AT AIR
May/June 2023
SURVIVING EXTINCTION
Guest curator Lara Pan’s exhibition, “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall,” on view through June 15 at Jamestown Arts Center, is a thought-provoking multi-media exploration of the inevitability of mass extinctions. Here, artworks from 11 artists with backgrounds in mathematics, science, architecture, film and artificial intelligence delve into realities of terminus for global species. I met curator Pan for a walk-through of this exhibition to see the artworks installed and to discuss her concept. Ours turned into an interesting conversation that touched on legacy, integrity, trust, humanity, extinction, mutation and AI. She fluidly added mention of the professional backgrounds and affiliations of the artists and the continents where they are currently working into the dialogue. She had worked with some of the artists before on other curatorial projects that she’s developed in the past … [Read more...] about SURVIVING EXTINCTION