Christopher Abrams’ “Lie of the Land” and Christina Zwart’s “Strength in Unity” arrive out of our collective anxiety and offer a question: how did we as an American people get ourselves into the political, cultural and economic situation we are in now? For Abrams, the answers are in American history. His mini-dioramas spotlight the elements of American nation-building and the transformation of a constructed identity. For Zwart, the answers are found in cultural understanding, core values, and civilizing actions. Her monumental bundle of painted tree branches function as a communication tool — a warning, telling us how we should behave if we want to survive. Together the two artists encourage an examination of important keywords: Lie and Strength, and Land and Unity. “Lie of the Land” is an installation of five, skillfully crafted, mini-dioramas: “State of the Union,” … [Read more...] about AMERICA REVEALED: LIE OF THE LAND AND STRENGTH IN UNITY AT BOSTON SCULPTORS GALLERY
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AMERICA DECONSTRUCTED: KENTUCKY ARTISTS INITIATE CONVERSATION
When I was younger — a true farmer’s daughter from South Dakota — I absorbed the implied social lesson: “Don’t discuss money, religion or politics at the dining room table.” These days, people don’t seem to understand this social norm we all once learned. Coming from a homogenous small-town-USA environment, religion was never a touchy subject because everyone believed basically the same thing. I assumed everyone believed what I did. In our town, out in the plains of the Midwest, we’d say the Pledge of Allegiance parroting our teachers’ “one nation under God.” So why shouldn’t we talk about religion? Your views are your views, and everyone has a right to believe in what they want. Some religions are so paradoxical that wars have started over them. Recently people can’t seem to stop talking about politics. This never ends well. I personally avoid talking about politics, even with my … [Read more...] about AMERICA DECONSTRUCTED: KENTUCKY ARTISTS INITIATE CONVERSATION
CORNERED: LISA LEBOFSKY
by Brian Goslow Lisa Lebofsky is a painter from New York who is currently in the midst of an 18 to 24-month long mission of residency hopping across The United States and Canada. Her paintings explore the emotional and physical human relationship with nature. Artscope managing editor Brian Goslow exchanged questions with her via email in advance of the “Expeditions: From Iceland to the Gobi Desert” exhibition that will be on view from February 1 through March 10 at the Paula Estey Gallery, 3 Harris St., Newburyport, Massachusetts. TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR WORK THAT’LL BE IN THE SHOW IN TERMS OF TITLES, MEDIUM AND HOW IT WAS CREATED — AND WHAT YOU HOPE TO CONVEY THROUGH IT. (My) artwork in show (will be): "Ice from Aqajarua,” oil paint on paper, 5” x 7”. It was painted en plein air one still silvery morning while anchored off the coast of Greenland. In this … [Read more...] about CORNERED: LISA LEBOFSKY
Keep Still and Carry On
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
The Arts Factor study reports a $1 billion economic arts engine in Boston
By Jim Dyment Lowell, MA - Catherine Peterson from ArtsBoston, a collaborating partner for public, private, and nonprofit leaders, was the keynote speaker at Celebrate Giving, an annual event held by the Greater Lowell Community Foundation in Westford on September 18 at the Westford Regency. In her speech, she shared data about the impact the arts has on the Creative Economy in the region from ArtsBoston’s recent The Arts Factor study. “The Arts Factor shows that nonprofit arts and cultural organizations are an economic engine for Greater Boston, with $1 billion direct spending and an additional $450 million spent by audiences above and beyond the cost of admission. Our sector supports over 26,000 jobs and makes the region attractive for employers looking to attract and retain a smart workforce.” Peterson reported. ArtsBoston promotes the Greater Boston’s arts and cultural sector … [Read more...] about The Arts Factor study reports a $1 billion economic arts engine in Boston
Cornered! Cecil Touchon’s Typography Art
Cecil Touchon fits into a lot of categories, but would you expect anything else from the founder of the International Museum of Collage, Assemblage and Construction. Three works from his “Post Dogmatist Painting” series will be on view through October 4 at Lanoue Fine Art, 450 Harrison Ave. #31, Boston. Artscope managing editor Brian Goslow “Cornered” Touchon by phone at his new studio in Santa Fe, New Mexico. TELL ME ABOUT THE WORK THAT’LL BE ON DISPLAY AT LANOUE FINE ART. These three particular paintings that I’m sending up right now, which the gallery selected out of about 10 that were available, happened to all have an underlayment of paper from antique 1880s Webster Dictionary pages. That’s not particularly important, because it could be any paper, but since my work, at the moment, is based completely on typography using pre-existing type faces, then chopping those up and … [Read more...] about Cornered! Cecil Touchon’s Typography Art