By Suzanne Volmer BOSTON, MA -- In Boston, and globally, Public Art is focused on placemaking. This means there is an active shaping of identity to build community and to foster relationship with environment. Philadelphia pioneered the Percent for Art policy in the United States and today it is a world-class art destination with exceptional outdoor sculptures. In a percentage for art program, part of the building costs are dedicated to art in public space and that figure is customarily one percent of the total. The experience of Public Art in Philadelphia is that it fits effortlessly into the landscape and enhances the environment. Chicago’s sophisticated Percent for Art program has used the concept to bring a human dimension to vast plazas below its skyscrapers and planners have chosen permanent sculptures by Blue Chip artists such as Jean Dubuffet, Pablo … [Read more...] about Boston’s Public Art Wow Factor
Suzanne Volmer
Of Water and Bone
Mother/Daughter Mandle in Newport by Suzanne Volmer “Of Water and Bone,” a mother and daughter exhibit created collaboratively by Gayle Wells Mandle and Julia Barnes Mandle, presents itself as a conceptual umbrella and makes a cohesive statement that communicates a composite view of the artists’ individual and shared perspectives based upon their experiences. The artists’ aesthetics have gravitational pull toward process charged with cultural awareness and investigatory layering of content worth contemplating, especially in an election year. Gayle explores global issues of water sustainability and Julia examines the topic of immigration. The exhibition is on view at the Newport Art Museum through August 9. Both artists are mindful of the discrimination that women face seeking opportunities, so in showing collaboratively they prefer using the gender neutrality of their … [Read more...] about Of Water and Bone