In “Packing for Mars,” Jessica Straus reminds us that taking planet Earth for granted can no longer be an option. Jessica Straus’s solo exhibition presents a captivating fusion of black humor, nostalgia, longing and regret, echoing the timeless wisdom of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s “The Little Prince,” which suggests that adults often lose touch with the essential innocence of childhood. Set against the backdrop of the Boston Sculpture Gallery, located in Boston, Massachusetts, from April 4 to May 5, Straus’s showcase invites viewers on a reflective journey, delving into themes of memory, human connection and environmental stewardship. Through a masterful blend of woodwork, mixed media and intricate craftsmanship, Straus imbues her pieces with a characteristic wit that opposes the more profound, sometimes melancholic narratives they convey. The exhibition is a futuristic reference to … [Read more...] about MAPPING A FUTURE ESCAPE: BOSTON SCULPTORS HOST JESSICA STRAUS’ NEXT ADVENTURE
Issue Articles
NEWPORT’S UNFINISHED BUSINESS: CURATOR WEISS’ ACQUISITIONS SHAPED LANDMARK SHOW
“Unfinished Business” at the Newport Art Museum includes 40 works by female-identifying artists, depicting a full range of media and artistic intent, from angst to protest, concern for the environment, empathy and reverie. Exhibited on several floors of the museum’s John N. A. Griswold House, designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt and completed in 1864, the artwork both resonates and contrasts with the building’s soaring ceilings and heavily carved wooden interior. The exhibit title is a quote from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who stated: “the rights of women and girls is the unfinished business of the 21th century.” Curator Francine Weiss’ mission with this exhibit is “to share a diversity of art and experiences that spark reflection, inspiration, discovery and connections within our Newport community and beyond.” Weiss is responsible for the acquisition of 31 of the … [Read more...] about NEWPORT’S UNFINISHED BUSINESS: CURATOR WEISS’ ACQUISITIONS SHAPED LANDMARK SHOW
PAINTING THE PERSIANATE WORLD: SMITH EXHIBITION AN INVIGORATING HISTORY LESSON
In a world too often portrayed as exclusively fractured and discordant, there is an urgent need to counter this view, offering instead a clearer picture of the infinite ways humans have worked to create bonds of harmonious interaction, whether for pragmatic needs, such as trade and cooperative commerce, or prompted by moral and ethical imperatives. Behind the strife of war and conflict we are shown daily, there is and has been a constant underlay of social stability built on mutual agreement for the benefit of all. “Painting the Persianate World: Portable Images on Paper, Cloth And Clay” at Smith College Museum of Art brings societal collaboration to the fore through distinctive images from the Persianate world between the 13th and 19th centuries, sharing a living narrative of intercultural connection. Since ancient times, Persia as a region has been home to diverse populations and … [Read more...] about PAINTING THE PERSIANATE WORLD: SMITH EXHIBITION AN INVIGORATING HISTORY LESSON
POSITIVE AND JOYFUL PHOTOGRAPHY: EVERYDAY BLACK LIVES CELEBRATED AT DARTMOUTH
Nina Simone would likely be happy to know that her 1965 song, “Feeling Good,” along with other songs from that time period, inspired the Hood Museum of Art’s current exhibition “And I’m Feeling Good: Relaxation and Resistance.” Located in Hanover, New Hampshire, on the campus of Dartmouth College, the museum drew from its expansive collection of photographs to showcase photography that celebrates Black lives and community along with simple moments of beauty, and the importance of being positive and joyful. Songs performed during the Civil Rights Movement inspired Black Americans to have hope and to embrace the happy moments in their lives. The songs underscore the importance of maintaining positive feelings about life, no matter the circumstances and challenges. It’s no wonder they inspired photographers Gordon Parks, Kwame Brathwaite, Darryl DeAngelo Terrell and Chester Higgins, whose … [Read more...] about POSITIVE AND JOYFUL PHOTOGRAPHY: EVERYDAY BLACK LIVES CELEBRATED AT DARTMOUTH
WCMA’S POWERFUL EMANCIPATION PROJECTL: A HISTORICAL & CONTEMPORARY LOOK BACK — AND FORWARD
The range and depth of experience represented in “Emancipation: The Unfinished Project of Liberation” at the Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA) is a vortex arrived to by the layers of observation and research of the curators and represented artists in this expansive exhibition. As the 160th anniversary of the “Emancipation Proclamation” has just past us in 2023, the exhibition examines how emancipation has evolved through a multi-dimensional, cyclical timeline and how its manifestation may appear in the future. The exhibition is a collaboration between the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, Texas and the Williams College Museum of Art in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Co-curators Maggie Adler, Curator of Paintings, Sculpture and Works on Paper at the Carter, and Maurita Poole, Executive Director of the Newcomb Art Museum at Tulane University have chosen seven … [Read more...] about WCMA’S POWERFUL EMANCIPATION PROJECTL: A HISTORICAL & CONTEMPORARY LOOK BACK — AND FORWARD
A SHARED FUTURE AT PEM: OUR TIME ON EARTH SHOW AIMS TO SPARK ACTION
It is not until I return back to the layers of tree bark that frame the entrance to “Our Time on Earth” that I am bold enough to put my nose to it and inhale deeply. My suspicions are confirmed: it smells delicious, like sweet amber and something quietly sharp. I think immediately of how I want to wear it—to bottle it up — to be able to envelop myself in it any time I want. The thought is followed by a series of questions, all spurred by the very exhibit the bark marks the entrance to. Why do I want to “own” this scent? Where does that impulse come from? What if I could find satisfaction in the simple miracle of smelling it here, now? This is how I know the exhibition has done its job. I have already been changed. Organized by London’s Barbican Centre and curated by Luke Kemp alongside guest curators Caroline Till and Kate Franklin of Franklin Till, “Our Time on Earth” makes its United … [Read more...] about A SHARED FUTURE AT PEM: OUR TIME ON EARTH SHOW AIMS TO SPARK ACTION