‘The Great Mystery’

“Sumi Shrine” (mixed media construction), by Berkshires-based artist Thomas Schneider, in his show, opening Feb. 4, “Ecstatic Gates: Devotional Objects, Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture’,’ at Creative Connections Gallery, Ashburnham, Mass.

The gallery says:

“Thomas Schneider is an artist who has recently moved his studio to North Adams, Mass. His work for the past 10 years has been evolving through different art forms and mediums, guided by his own personal awakening. His current project , ‘Ecstatic Gates,’ features a series of miniature wall shrines. Each piece is a kind devotional object, altar, or chapel, as well as a dwelling place for the imagination. These shrines express Thomas’s sense of wonder for the Great Mystery, his penchant for whimsy, and his connection to the wild. They are delicately crafted in wood, with adornments in gold leaf, bone, porcupine needles, horse hair, and other natural materials. “

In North Adams, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), formerly the Arnold Print Works and a facility of Sprague Electronics.

— Photo by Beyond My Ken

November-looking leaves

Encaustic collage by Jeanne Borofsky, in her show “Jeanne Borofsky: Natural Expressions,” at Creative Connections Gallery, Ashburnham, Mass., through Nov. 30.

The gallery says: “Natural Expressions’’ showcases the encaustic collages of Borofsky, who “finds inspiration in the natural world, utilizing patterns of bark, leaves and water in each piece. Also present in her work are unnatural elements like stamps, maps and electronic odds and ends, which meld seamlessly with the natural to create a complete piece.’’

Ashburnham is a rural/exurban town, with views of Mt. Monadnock to the north and Mt. Wachusett to the north. It’s best known for Cushing Academy, a well-regarded private boarding and day school.

Print of Ashburnham from 1886 by L.R. Burleig with list of landmarks depicted including Cushing Academy.