Destination: Boston

DESTINATION BOSTON

BOSTON

DESTINATION BOSTON

B

oston is a city that defies categorization. While it’s known for its rich Revolutionary history, a vibrant contemporary arts scene reveals an affinity for experimentation and innovation. The result is a city that welcomes the new while simultaneously celebrating tradition. Art is always part of the conversation—along cobbled streets and in emerging art neighborhoods.

The Boston Athenaeum, just steps away from the Massachusetts State House, is one of the city’s most venerable cultural institutions. Founded in 1807, it is one of the oldest independent libraries and cultural centers in the United States, and was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1966. Today, it operates as a subscription library and art museum and has a substantial collection of rare books, paintings, and sculpture. The Athenaeum also hosts gallery exhibitions, artist talks, and building tours, all of which are open to the public. The exhibition Daniel Chester French: The Female Form Revealed (opening October 7) will focus on the renowned sculptor of the Lincoln Memorial’s Abraham Lincoln statue in Washington, D.C. and his use of the female form in allegory. “Over the last 20 years or so we’ve really tried to increase public access and availability,” says director of exhibitions David Dearinger. “We’re hardly a sleepy old institution.”

The Copley Society of Art (CoSo) on Newbury Street is another Boston arts landmark. A nonprofit arts organization since 1879, CoSo now represents more than 400 living artist members, hosts up to 20 exhibitions each year, collaborates with Boston arts and music organizations, and organizes educational and community outreach programs in the visual arts. When CoSo hosted the New York Armory Show in 1913 and exhibited art by modernists like Picasso, Van Gogh, and Duchamp, “it was a great shock to the Boston establishment,” says executive director Suzan Redgate. The organization takes pride in its history of supporting emerging artists. This year, it is excited to present La Cubana y el Cubano, featuring the work of Cuban and Cuban-American artists, and a solo show of painter Jim Connelly. In Boston, where “many inhabitants are supporters of the arts,” those at the helm of CoSo are dedicated

57 Art New England S e p t e m b e r / O c t o b e r

Aerial view of Boston at dusk.

to being good stewards of an organization with such a deep history.

Nearby on Newbury Street is The Guild of Boston Artists, a nonprofit gallery focused on representational painting and sculpture by leading New England artists. Founded by prominent painters in 1914 as an artist-owned gallery, the organization now sponsors both exhibitions and educational programs. “The Guild of Boston Artists has promoted contemporary realism since 1914 and we continue to do so today,” says Daniel Lloyd-Miller, assistant director. “Our commitment to fine arts is unchanged and from our inception at the hands of Edmund Tarbell and other Boston School Realists, we’ve continued this tradition while incorporating other realist movements such as luminism into our oeuvre.” This fall, visitors can view the Annual Regional Juried Exhibition with an opening reception and awards ceremony on October 1.

The Stephanie Saunders Art Gallery is nearby on Stuart Street, a block away from Copley Square. Saunders is a visual artist and showcases her own work as well as other artists. A graduate of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Saunders creates large, mixed-media paintings that explore beauty,

2016

physical transformation, spiritual realization, and more. Saunders describes her paintings as “vibrant and beaming with life.” During ArtWeek Boston (September 30–October 9), Saunders will show her work alongside the rugs of Dover Rug and Home. It’s a “perfect event for people looking to decorate their home,” she says.

The SoWa district in Boston’s South End is a hot spot for both established galleries and emerging artists. Melissa Finelli of Melle Finelli Jewelry has a gallery and studio space on Waltham Street, and while she’s new to the SoWa location, she has had a studio in Boston for 15 years. Finelli says that her new courtyard location is perfect for attracting curious art lovers who are “wandering the tucked away places of the South End.” She adds, “It’s a little magical in the courtyard.” Her silver and gold jewelry is hand fabricated and one-of-a-kind, and created through a process that Finelli calls organic and spontaneous. In addition to her own works, she also shows the work of 15 other artists.

The SoWa Art & Design District of 450 & 460 Harrison Avenue is a new destination, and not-to-be-missed hub, within the heart of SoWa. Here, you’ll find 34 of some of the best

S P E C I A L

A D V E R T I S I N G

S E C T I O N

BOSTON contemporary art galleries in Boston, 90 artist studios plus design showrooms and specialty boutiques for art novices, collectors and browsers. “Every single gallery and shop has a distinct personality,” says Betty Bothereau, owner of L’Attitude Gallery—a gallery featuring contemporary indoor and outdoor sculpture and three-dimensional art works. Year round, galleries hold open studios and stores and restaurants open their doors to the public for SoWa First Fridays. There’s also the SoWa Art Walk, which happens annually in the spring, the annual South End Open Studios (September 24 & 25), and SoWa Open Market, held every Sunday (May through October).

The artist-run Kingston Gallery (at 450 Harrison Avenue) supports the work of emerging, mid-career, and mature artists with solo and group exhibitions. “It appears to be a tra-

EL AV HY TR P E A G GR TA TO VIN O G PH IN IT S & R HIB TE EX OS P

Photo © Tim Hamill

Free admission Wed & Fri: 12–6:00 pm Thurs: 12–7:00 pm Sat: 10–5:00 pm gct.com/grandcirclegallery @GC_Gallery

347 CONGRESS STREET • BOSTON, MA • 617– 346 – 6459

S P E C I A L

A D V E R T I S I N G

S E C T I O N

ditional commercial gallery, but it’s fully artistrun,” says gallery director Shana Dumont Garr.

As a result, she says, there is immediacy to the work that the artists present. Approximately 35 artists exhibit their work on an annual basis in one of the gallery’s three spaces. This fall, exhibitions include Ann Wessmann’s Being: Vertical + Horizontal, Christina Pitsch’s still life, (both running through October 2) and Mira Cantor’s Inundation Era (October).

Paula Ogier also has her studio at 450 Harrison. She says that people are curious about how she makes her artworks, some of which are photo-based. She paints with an electronic pen and pad, and works in Photoshop to create multi-layered images. “A lot of my artworks are inspired by how I perceive the architecture, sidewalk life, and energy of Boston,” she says.

Ogier’s love for the city is apparent both in her

art and in her regard for the city’s arts life: “The arts scene in Boston is so widespread…and this wealth of creative spirits is one of the things that makes the city feel special,” she says.

In South Boston, 555 Gallery is part of a growing community of art organizations.

Gallery director Susan Nalband calls the neighborhood an emerging, exciting area. The gallery, in a renovated 1950s manufacturing plant, specializes in contemporary fine art photography and occasionally exhibits other mediums. In addition to exhibitions, Nalband has another mission: to make art purchasing more transparent. “I think people get intimidated when they go to a gallery,” says Nalband. To change that, she has created a purchasing site where visitors can view images of work, see prices and sizes, and even purchase work online. Of course, there’s nothing like the transformative

opening celebration September 28, 2016 | 6:00pm Free and open to the public thedavis.org Image © Eddie Martinez; Courtesy of the artist and Mitchell-Innes & Nash, NY.

September/October 2016

Art New England 58

BOSTON experience of seeing work up close. The gallery’s upcoming exhibition, Visionaries, includes artists Walter Crump, Smith Eliot, Cynthia Katz, and Joe Caruso, working in photography, encaustic, cyanotype and assemblage (September 8 to October 22).

Grand Circle Gallery, located on Congress Street, seeks to serve the community through exhibitions and educational programs. With a focus on travel-related themes, there’s a special emphasis on the gallery’s collection of vintage travel posters as well as exhibits that create awareness about social issues. Housed in an historic 19th-century brick building, the gallery is proud to be part of the vibrant Fort Point district, home to more than 300 artists. “Fort Point is recognized as one of New England’s largest artists’ communities, with historic warehouse

buildings that house painters, photographers, sculptors, designers, ceramicists, jewelers, digital media artists, and more,” says Barbara Mackin, manager of the gallery. On view through September is Through the Eyes of Culture—Masks from Around the World, showcasing more than 40 masks from tribes and cultures across five continents, plus Oceania. And, opening October 6 is An American Dynasty—Remembering the Kennedys, featuring images of the family by Jacques Lowe and others.

Steve Dunwell Photography located on Winchester Street near the Theater District, showcases Dunwell’s landscape, aerial, architecture, and portrait photos. “My goal is to showcase our amazing city and to create unique and memorable images of its many special features,” says Dunwell. Shooting at the highest possible

October 7, 2016–March 26, 2017

Lincoln, MA | decordova.org

CRN AUCTIONS, Inc., Auctioneers of Fine Arts & Antiques Since 1976

57 Bay State Road, Cambridge, MA 02138

Selling single items or entire estates on consignment.

We also purchase outright.

Browse our past auction catalogues with price results at:

www.crnauctions.com

Q

email: info@crnauctions.com

phone: (617) 661-9582

There are options for your auction bidding experience: Buyers can bid in person at our gallery; or leave a written absentee bid; bid live via telephone; or bid live online via the internet.

Details are on our website.

59 Art New England S e p t e m b e r / O c t o b e r

2016

Albert E. Backus (Am. 1906-1940) oil on canvas, sold June 2016 - $43,200.

S P E C I A L

A D V E R T I S I N G

S E C T I O N

BOSTON technical level, Dunwell captures images that can be featured on murals, billboards, and largescale displays. He’s particularly interested in capturing the familiar in new and compelling ways. “Well-known landmarks are shown from new angles. Familiar skylines are dramatized with seasonal weather,” he says. Many of his images are collected in his book Extraordinary Boston, which was designed to celebrate the city and attract visitors.

There’s more fantastic fine art photography at Thomas Reale Photography. Reale, who works out of his home studio in Dorchester, photographs whatever captures his eye—urban settings, architecture, people, sunsets and sunrises, landscapes, seascapes, flora, and more.

“I take pictures of everything,” says Reale.

Boston and Cape Cod feature heavily in his

shots, as well as locations like Sedona, AZ, California, and the Oregon coast. Despite taking photographs for years, Reale only started showing and selling his work 18 months ago. This September his photos will be on view at the Eclipse Salon/Gallery in Milton, and in October, he has a solo show at Boston City Hall.

John Colan, owner and creator of HallSpace in Dorchester, which originally began in a Thayer Street building in 1996, explains the gallery was given the name HallSpace because it started in a hallway. Exhibiting the work of emerging, or established but under-recognized artists, the gallery offers opportunities to artists or curators with ideas for projects or installations. This September marks the third annual HallSpace Drawing Project. The turnout has been tremendous, and Colan says, it’s a “way for

LA CUBANA Y EL CUBANO SEPT 10 – OCT 6, 2016 ARTIST RECEPTION: SEPT. 10, 6 TO 8PM

Thomas Reale Photography High quality images ranging fro m th e g r e a t o u td o o r s to d o m esti c s etti n g s

COPLEYSOCIETY.ORG Magda Fernández, it was never theirs to lose (still), 2008-2014, HD video

t h o ma s r e a le p h otos. photoshel ter. com (617) 306-6350| realetm@gmail.com | 30 Rosemont St. #1, Dorchester, MA

Images, L to R: Kim Carlino, Cosmological Formations, series VII, XII, mixed media, 2015.

Nicola Singh, Chasing Waterfalls, performance, 2014. Elizabeth Corkery, Small Decors, 2014.

Register Now for Classes & Workshops for all ages!

Join us in the galleries for tours, artist talks & lectures!

New Art Center in Ne w ton

www.NewArtCenter.org 617.964.3424

S P E C I A L

A D V E R T I S I N G

S E C T I O N

COMING THIS SEASON IN THE MAIN GALLERY: September 16 - October 15, 2016: MCC 2016 Artist Fellows October 28 - November 22, 2016: Obstacle Course January 20 - March 25, 2017: The Newest Romantics: Sculptors of Botanical Photography

September/October 2016

Art New England 60

BOSTON people to come in and buy a drawing for $50 at the end of the show.” This kind of universal access to the arts is apparent in HallSpace’s mission. Upcoming shows include Drawing Project (September 3–October 1) and William Flynn (October 8–November 12).

The Eliot School in Jamaica Plain offers classes in woodworking, sewing, fiber arts, book arts, drawing, painting, photography, and other crafts and fine arts. “We’re unique in that we teach craftsmanship combined with creativity,” says director Abigail Norman. Offering classes to nearly 1,500 people of all ages every year, the organization celebrates its 340th birthday this year and maintains its commitment to “teach people from all walks of life,” says Norman. In addition, an integral component of the institution is its School Partnership Program, which sends artists to Boston Public Schools. This fall’s

shows include a fascinating history of the school on view in downtown Boston (September 9–30); and the school’s Woodworking Open Shop at the Innovation and Design Building (October 3–30).

Stonybrook Fine Arts is a public access sculpture studio in Jamaica Plain offering classes in welding, foundry, jewelry, stone carving and live figure modeling, as well as shop time and studio spaces. “We specialize in a one on one approach and accommodate individual schedules,” says Anne Sasser, managing partner and artist. Stonybrook also operates as a teaching foundry. “We teach students from start to finish.

It is amazing to watch someone learn a new skill and follow it through to a completed project,” she says. The organization will participate in the Jamaica Plain Open Studios (September 17 & 18) and will take part in an ArtWeek Boston event (October 8).

Diablo Glass School is a public glass studio near Mission Hill that welcomes both beginning and experienced glass artists. “Our mission is to provide all the sections of the community with access to this ancient art,” says Doris Martinez, executive director. The studio offers classes in glassblowing, flame working, fused glass and stained glass. The studio also hosts seasonal workshops, social events, and corporate events, field trips, and parties. Diablo has multiple partnerships with area arts organizations. “We love to be part of the diverse cultural life of Boston and we are proud to contribute by offering this unique opportunity for educational enrichment, challenging experience and social connection,” says Martinez. “Diablo is the perfect place to beat the cold season. Our studio is warm in temperature and heart,” she says.

CRN Auctions, Inc in Cambridge holds

This Fall at The Guild exhibitions, children’s classes, adult forums, music, artist talks, and more

Stonybrook Fine Arts Classes

October

and

commissions 24 Porter St., Jamaica Plain MA Stonybrookfinearts.com 617-522-3331

Annual Regional Juried Exhibition

November New England Impressions with David Cutis, Stapleton Kearns, & T.M. Nicholas

December Holiday Show & Sergio Roffo Spotlight Exhibition OF

BOSTON ARTISTS

162 Newbury Street Boston, MA 02116 617 536 7660 guildofbostonartista.org

Founded in 1914

61 Art New England S e p t e m b e r / O c t o b e r

2016

S P E C I A L

A D V E R T I S I N G

S E C T I O N

BOSTON three auctions each year, and presents fine antiques, works of art, and accessories.

Established in 1976, they are “one of the few remaining brick and mortar auction houses,” says co-founder and auction coordinator Karin Phillips. “People can come to our warehouse and see and touch fabulous things.” The next auction is in November, but people can preview Early American, European, Spanish Colonial, and other items that span from the 16th through the mid 20th century. CRN Auctions also has a website, allowing people all over the world to browse and bid. “Boston is such a traditionally historical place,” says Phillips. “Seeing good antiques lets people sort of see the history—the real history.”

The Cambridge Arts Council was established in 1974 with a mission to ensure that the arts remain vital in Cambridge. “The cities of

Boston and Cambridge are driven by creativity, education and innovation. Nowhere is this more evident than in the arts and culture sector, but we tend to view and experience the world in silos,” says director of marketing Molly Akin, “Cambridge Arts demonstrates the catalytic role that the arts play in breaking down these silos and bringing people and organizations together.” Through events and programs like the Cambridge Arts River Festival, Cambridge Open Studios, a Public Art collection, and “Cambridge Arts: Creative Marketplace,” Cambridge Arts ensures that artists, art organizations and creatives have resources to make and share their work.

Brickbottom Artists Association, based in Somerville, was founded in 1987 by artists in the Brickbottom Artist Building, one of the oldest living and working artist communities in the

ARTISTS RECEPTION SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 5 - 8 PM ON VIEW SEPTEMBER 8 - OCTOBER 22

Walter Crump . Smith Eliot . Cynthia Katz . Joe Caruso

VISIONARIES 555 E 2ND STREET . WWW.555GALLERY.COM . 857-496-7234 GALLERY HOURS TUESDAY - FRIDAY 10 - 5:30 SATURDAY 12- 5 Image By Walter Crump . Rock Icon . ©2016

S P E C I A L

A D V E R T I S I N G

S E C T I O N

country. Today, with nearly 150 condominium spaces serving as both home and work spaces to both BAA artists and non-artists, the community serves as a model for other artists’ live/ work developments. The BAA also has a gallery, which was founded in 1989 and is open to emerging and established artists in the Greater Boston area. For a chance to see their work, visitors can attend the 29th annual Open Studios (November 19 & 20). One block away, the more than 50 artists at Joy Street Studios will also open their doors. “Our Open Studios event is a great opportunity to talk with working artists and to start or grow an art collection,” says Lois Fiore, artist and longtime resident of Brickbottom.

The McMullen Museum of Art at Boston College is proud to present its inaugural exhibition, Beyond Words: Illuminated Manuscripts in Boston Collections (Opening September 12), in the museum’s new home located at 2101 Commonwealth Avenue. This three-venue collaborative exhibition is being held jointly at Harvard University’s Houghton Library and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The exhibition features illuminated manuscripts from 19 Boston-area institutions, and provides an overview of the history of the book during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Education outreach specialist Rachel Chamberlain says that the McMullen’s loan exhibitions rival those in large museums and are driven by new faculty research that go hand-in-hand with public programs and scholarly catalogs.

The New Art Center in Newton cherishes Boston’s link to higher education. This community art education space serves more than 2,500 students annually in hundreds of classes, workshops, exhibitions, and its Curatorial Opportunity Program, which supports young and emerging curators. “We basically provide them with a blank gallery space and let them take over,” says marketing manager Naomi Levine. “It’s a pretty diverse program that bridges contemporary art to traditional art making…and it draws in people from all over the country.” Visitors to the New Art Center can see the Curatorial Opportunity Program exhibition Obstacle Course, curated by Courtney McClellan and Cathy McLaurin (Opening October 28).

Greater Boston Old Frog Pond Farm and Studio is an organic farm and sculpture walk about 45

September/October 2016

Art New England 62

63 Art New England S e p t e m b e r / O c t o b e r

2016

S P E C I A L

A D V E R T I S I N G

S E C T I O N

BOSTON minutes outside Boston in Harvard, MA that “brings together people who care about both the environment and the arts,” says Linda Hoffman, farmer, sculptor and poet. “We feed the body as well as the spirit!” The organic farm offers fresh produce and pick-your-own fruit alongside exciting cultural events and engaging artwork. The sculpture walk includes more than 20 artists, including Paul Matisse, Michio Ihara and Joseph Wheelwright. Upcoming events include a poetry reading by Stephen Collins (September 4), and the fourth Plein Air Poetry Event (September 11). “We extend the reach of the Arts in Boston and give it a different dimension because it is connected so strongly to the environment and to the earth,” says Hoffman.

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln provides an ever-changing

landscape of large-scale, outdoor, modern and contemporary sculpture and site-specific installations. “As one of the largest outdoor art spaces with 30 acres dedicated to sculpture, the deCordova offers a place to experience art outside,” says Jennifer Schmitt, head of marketing.

“We offer both challenging contemporary art, and a family-friendly experience in a picturesque setting.” There’s experiential-based learning for people of all ages, with activities ranging from artist talks, conversations with curators, and lectures to snowshoe tours, yoga, and nature tours. This fall, visitors can experience the deCordova New England Biennial 2016 (opening October 7), which presents 16 artists working in diverse media including video, painting, sculpture, and poetry.

The Davis Museum at Wellesley College

was founded more than 120 years ago by the first president of the college. Located on Wellesley’s picturesque campus, the museum boasts a collection that includes nearly 13,000 objects, with areas of strength in painting, sculpture, works on paper, photography, and decorative objects, from antiquity to the present day. In addition to presenting extraordinary work from its collections, the museum also hosts a rotating series of exciting exhibitions and programs. This fall, the Davis will unveil Davis ReDiscovered, a major initiative that presents the breadth and strength of the museum’s encyclopedic holdings. This complete reinstallation project brings renewed attention to geographic and chronological specificity and context.

—Gemma Leghorn

THE ELIOT SCHOOL Inaugural Exhibition Beyond Words: Illuminated Manuscripts in Boston Collections

Craft classes for all ages Fiber | Fashion | Wood | Printmaking

September 12–December 11, 2016 2101 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02135

S P E C I A L

A D V E R T I S I N G

S E C T I O N

eliotschool.org

September/October 2016

Art New England 64