For the birds

Mixed media and encaustic, by Veronique Latimer, in the show “New Year, New Work,’’ at 6 Bridges Gallery, Maynard, Mass.

—Photo courtesy 6 Bridges Gallery

Habitat and home

“Abandoned Habitat,’’ by Susan Erickson, in the group show “Habitat,’’ at 6 Bridges Gallery, Maynard, Mass., through Feb. 6.

The gallery says that “many of the artists are local, but some come from beyond New England to offer their perspective. Some artists looked to nature for inspiration, such as Ms. Erickson and C.J. Lori, while others focused on indoor environments, such as Kristin Petrillo and Kirti Patel. Often, the artists took the theme of ‘Habitat’ to mean their own, or the place that they most wish to inhabit. For this reason, ‘Habitat’ contains a host of unique works of art detailing many different locales and environments, all of which speak to the idea not just of habitat, but of home.’’

Time to repurpose?

“Inside Bunker Door,’’ by Roy DiCosta, in the show “Obsolete Military Structures,’’ at 6 Bridges Gallery, Maynard, Mass. Only visible now on its Web site.

The gallery says that since 2002, Mr. DiTosti “has been venturing through Massachusetts and Florida photographing old military facilities, bunkers and forts, some dating back to the 1800s or World War II. Some of these structures have been repurposed while others sit abandoned, growing moss and collecting dust. Yet the buildings offer an intriguing glimpse into the past where war was a tangible, ever-present struggle. Those who saw these structures in their heyday likely could not have conceived of a future where they were allowed to go empty and rust over. Now, however, the buildings stand as pieces of history and reminders of a fraught and bloody past. There are lessons to be found in each decaying structure, lessons that Mr. DiTosti's photography aims to uncover for the viewer to learn. There's even a level of familiarity in the old buildings when juxtaposed with today's quiet, empty streets in the face of a different sort of war, one against disease. ‘‘

Mountain view

From the show “Alaska in Two Weeks,’’ by Ernest Stonebraker, at 6 Bridges Gallery, Maynard, Mass., through April 6. He is mostly a painter, but he took stunning photos on a recent two-week land and sea trip.

In praise of stone walls

 "Stonewall Series: No. 5" (gouache on paper), by Natalie MacKnight, in her show "Listening to the Wind,'' at 6 Bridges Gallery, Maynard, Mass., through May 26.

The gallery says:
"The exhibition show is a series of drawings and mixed media on paper in which the artist depicts the sense of peace and tranquility that she draws from nature. As a child, Macknight was fascinated by rocks and this grew into an appreciation for all the subtle aspects of nature that draw the eye. 'Listening to the Wind' celebrates nature in all its meditative strength and energy and invites the viewers to see what MacKnight sees in the natural world.''