On Memorial Day Weekend, audiences at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston will have the opportunity to encounter “Immigration Nation” by artist Nora Valdez. This Intervention style artwork is planned as a happening in three locations inside the MFA: the Shapiro Family Courtyard, Gallery 168 and Druker Family Pavilion. The artist will install on Friday and then remove “Immigration Nation” on Tuesday. As a framework of thought, the project will have three zones of presentation described by the museum as “bringing together more than 100 sculptures made by members of the Boston community with Valdez’s direction.” The artist will speak about the development of “Immigration Nation” in two artist talks scheduled for Monday May 28 at 11:30 am and 2 p.m. These artist dialogues in the museum’s Riley Seminar Room will last about 30 minutes. During these talks, Valdez will share personal experiences … [Read more...] about Nora Valdez’s Immigration Nation Settles at MFA Boston for Memorial Day Weekend
Exhibits
DAVID BREWSTER: EXPLORING MARYLAND’S SOCIAL LANDSCAPE
By Nancy Nesvet Baltimore, MD - David Brewster, originally a Marylander, now practicing in rural Vermont, is one gutsy artist. His solo exhibition at The Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore shows his depiction of events and characters important to him that should be important to all of us. The Maryland Historical Society, honoring its mission of presenting work relevant to Maryland’s history, good or bad, brutal and violent, proves equally brave in presenting Brewster’s paintings. Exhibiting over 50 works painted between 2013 and 2017, with 67 total, including earlier work, Brewster’s speed and painting style reflect the urgency of getting the image out to the public. His compelling need to record recent events with speed and immediacy links Brewster’s work to Daumier’s cartoons, Picasso’s Guernica, Gericault’s Raft of the Medusa, Banksy’s murals and countless other work that … [Read more...] about DAVID BREWSTER: EXPLORING MARYLAND’S SOCIAL LANDSCAPE
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
WORDS BITE AT HALLSPACE GALLERY
by Lisa Mikulski As a writer, I love the power of words but I will freely admit, there are times when the words we write, read and speak can seem like a minefield of misinterpretation or a source for derision. This has never been truer than in today’s social and political climate. “Words Bite,” now showing at Hallspace Gallery, is an exhibition focusing on the language we use and how we interpret what we hear, say and read. While the pieces in the show focus on text, gallery owner John Colan warned me that it’s not just about typography or graphic design. The show presents the work of four artists and designers: Walter Kopec, John Kramer, Tony Schwensen and Maggie Stark, who explore language using the mediums of, yes, graphic design, but also neon work, performance and video. Maggie Stark, a sculptor who works with light, glass and video, discussed her piece, Boomerang: … [Read more...] about WORDS BITE AT HALLSPACE GALLERY
INVIGORATING THE SENSES: ON AND ON AT WHEATON
UNIVERSITY SPOTLIGHT ON & ON: ARTS WITHOUT END & COLOR-ISM BEARD & WEIL GALLERIES WHEATON COLLEGE 26 EAST MAIN STREET NORTON, MASSACHUSETTS JANUARY 24 THROUGH FEBRUARY 23 by Suzanne Volmer The professional hats worn by Elizabeth Keithline include artist, public art consultant, critic, writer and teacher. This past autumn, she was appointed as interim director and curator of the Beard and Weil Galleries at Wheaton College, and she opens 2018 with “On & On: Arts Without End” and “Color-ism.” The galleries at Wheaton present consistently outstanding programming, and Keithline delivers in that mold. Speaking with her in advance about “On & On,” she expressed enthusiasm for the show as a power punch to invigorate the senses during winter. Keithline described the exhibition as being “about time as it moves, [and] the ‘electric on’ [or] ‘turned on’ [light bulb effect] — … [Read more...] about INVIGORATING THE SENSES: ON AND ON AT WHEATON
WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS?: ANNA KUNZ AT PC GALLERIES
REVIEW ANNA KUNZ: VENUS REILLY GALLERY SMITH CENTER FOR THE ARTS PROVIDENCE COLLEGE 63 EATON STREET PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND THROUGH FEBRUARY 24 by Suzanne Volmer Known for its theater, Chicago has a cadre of contemporary visual artists garnering national and international attention due to their performative edge. New England audiences can explore a ripple of that hybrid world with “Anna Kunz: Venus,” an art exhibition from the Windy City on view through February 24 at the Reilly Gallery at Providence College. In this multimedia show, Kunz’ style of painting expresses a Rolodex of top notes, mixing visual references to Kandinsky, Delaunay, Diebenkorn and Frankenthaler. It simultaneously combines the dance-sourced influences of Diaghilev, Duncan and Cunningham. Not surprisingly, Kunz has recently created stage decor for Chicago performances of the Merce Cunningham … [Read more...] about WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS?: ANNA KUNZ AT PC GALLERIES