Looking Beyond The Grayscale by Elizabeth Michelman “Black/White,” this summer’s show at Bromfield, contextualizes the work of 13 gallery artists. Included are drawings, collaged and digitally processed images on paper and plastic, letterpress and photography, needle- point and paintings on aluminum and canvas. What counts as (primarily) “black and white” is left up to the individual artist, based on theory, desire or past work. The limited palette, is for some, the preferred modality. Others produced work just for this show, or had a piece that fit. Ironic, austere, raucous and poetic voices all find their places here. These artists are making work that goes against the tide, emphasizing process, playfulness, and personal search, not grand systems, glamor or global indictments. Within the narrow confines of palette, these works puzzle and delight. Judy Riola calls … [Read more...] about Black/White
Issue Articles
Amuse-Bouche
Paintings by Sarah Lutz And Richard Baker by Laura Shabott Jean-George Vongerichten, a New York celebrity restaurateur, describes “amuse-bouche” as the “best way for a great chef to express his or her big ideas in little bites.” It is a fitting thematic for the work of two remarkably talented painters — Richard Baker and Sarah Lutz — in their collaborative site-specific show this August in The Gallery at Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill. This departure into installation as a form of expression comes from Baker’s exploration of the genre with “Holiday” this past February at New York’s Tibor De Nagy Gallery. “An artist friend said to me during a visit, ‘Your studio is the art.’ So, I re-created elements of it within the gallery,” Baker said. This visitor’s keen observation, along with “Against Interpretation,” an essay by Susan Sontag and Jacques Tati’s film, … [Read more...] about Amuse-Bouche
Coastal Route 1
You Can Get There From Here by Jamie Thompson Although visitors may not make pilgrimages to Route 1 like they do to Route 66, the East Coast thoroughfare does make for an attractive summer road trip. The coastal stretches of Route 1 in Maine are particularly appealing. Freeport, Brunswick and Bath are all within 18 miles of one another, and they boast a mix of historic atmosphere and modern flair, with eclectic boutiques, fine restaurants and, of course, a diverse art scene. FREEPORT Freeport is a popular tourist destination for its charming historic architecture and plethora of outlet stores, not to mention L.L. Bean, a mecca for the outdoorsy. But, there is more to the town than shopping opportunities. Start your journey early to take advantage of the irresistible offer- ings at Frosty’s Donuts (45 Main St.). Adjacent to Frosty’s is the Freeport Historical … [Read more...] about Coastal Route 1
New London: A Forum by the Sea
by Kristin Nord Downtown New London is easing into this late-winter’s morning, with passengers arriving and departing from the H.H. Richardson-designed Union Station and locals bursting through the front door of the funky Muddy Waters Café, just a short walk away. Across the street, Hygienic Art is open, with founder Jim Stidfole, an Arlo Guthrie look-alike, perched on a stool at a once-active counter, his elbows on Formica worn smooth by the coffee mugs of many generations. Saved from the wrecker’s ball in 1994, the Hygienic (79 Bank Street) has evolved from an outsider arts outpost into a foundational city pillar, fostering mural walks and gardens and an ample dose of street theater. This grassroots response to urban blight generated a buzz early on — and has continued to fuel many creative spin-offs. An estimated 200 visual and performing artists, musicians, artisans and … [Read more...] about New London: A Forum by the Sea
Keeping up With The Actor’s Shakespeare Project
A Merry Band by James Foritano Finally, almost at the end of its 10th season, I was catching up with Actors’ Shakespeare Project. Guided both by our eccentric GPS and the seat of our pants, we were threading our way through the fanciest streets of Chestnut Hill toward the even fancier Dane Estate, just inside the gates of Pine Manor College. So what was a “Project” that proclaims to disdain bricks and mortar for a “whatever/however” approach to community outreach — trading venues with an alacrity that would alarm more house-bound thespians — and doing it in a gilded–age mansion swathed in acreage? Their excuse, when you think about it, does sound plausible. In a “Broadway World” interview last January, director Melia Bensussen put the choice down to luck and tradition. Dedicated to finding spaces as diverse as downtown Boston’s Old South Meeting House and an Elm Street … [Read more...] about Keeping up With The Actor’s Shakespeare Project
Capsule Previews
“E is for Elephants: The Etchings of Edward Gorey,” an exhibition of prints by the beloved late author and illustrator, will be on view from September 1 through October 16 at the University Gallery at UMass Lowell’s Mahoney Hall, 870 Broadway St., Lowell, Mass. This exhibit features prints made in the last decade of Gorey’s career that reveal his obsession with animals and all things elephantine; it includes a large selection of Gorey’s etchings, original plates, memorabilia, scholarly ephemera and other objects. Recent encaustic works by Maggie Simonelli, featuring the latest paintings from her “Passion Fire” series — with specific details on makeup names, brands, and colors used in each work — will be on view from September 3 through 17 at Gary Marotta Fine Art G-1, 162 Commercial St., Provincetown. “Combined with her signature metal leaf application, exotic minerals and essential … [Read more...] about Capsule Previews