By Nancy Nesvet New York, NY - Three weeks after President Donald J. Trump’s inauguration, five weeks after Miami’s declaration as a Zika-free zone, five months after Brexit and nine weeks after the close of Art Basel Miami, artists and other Americans and Europeans are emerging from a catatonic state of denial, protesting and marching and executing art projects that address the US and worldwide political situations. Art Basel Miami showed films by Alfredo Jaar and stills including William Pope L’s “Gold People Dance Contest, 1931, recalling the year of Hitler’s rise to power, and Sanford Biggers video showed shotgun holes in African figural sculptures, (sponsored by Marianne Boesky Gallery) calling attention to current politics. But whereas various Art Basel Miami projects were relevant to current politics, they often addressed events literally, whether in signs proclaiming … [Read more...] about Keep Still and Carry On
Politics
Chawky Frenn’s “We The People” at The Hess Gallery
By Cole Tracy Chestnut Hill, MA - Arriving at Pine Minor was a shock, finding such a beautiful place in proximity to Boston, I felt like a man in the desert arriving upon an oasis, after my long bike over. The Quaint campus was very tight-knit; the security guard was surprised and inquisitive at finding an outsider. In the central hall of the library is a small gallery space; the art is not representative of the small peaceful place surrounding it. Within this utopian-esque campus is an art show addressing very real topics: Chawky Frenn's "We The People" is based around social justice, the point he is getting across is honest and bold, the issues addressed seem more pertinent than the art itself. With over a page long artist's statement declaring what the painter's political viewpoint is and his desire to fix the broken system. He addresses the disappearance of Democracy within … [Read more...] about Chawky Frenn’s “We The People” at The Hess Gallery