Anything goes
She says in her Web site:
“In particular, I am fascinated with how visually pleasing nature’s randomness can be; the way a row of trees is capriciously arranged, how chance groupings of flowers color a field, the geometrical patterns created by plots of land in a countryscape, the seemingly arbitrary twists and turns branches choose to make - configurations that present themselves with confidence; like there could be no other way.’’
But you wouldn't want to live there
The gallery writes:
"Katherine Downey Miller uses nature, imagery and emotion in order to create her pieces. With a background in drawing and painting, Miller. uses shapes from the landscapes and her own emotions to capture the landscape in an abstract way. Miller states, 'My goal is to try to create paintings that capture visual and emotional moments."'
Election Day art
"Imaginary Explosions, vol. II'' (sketch and film still), by Caitlin Berrigan, in the show "Obstacle Course,'' at New Art Center, Newton, Mass., Oct. 28-Nov. 22.
'Land of abstraction'
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"Shippwrekked (BR15-108'') (acrylic on fabric), by Brent Ridge, in show "Liz Gargas and Brent Ridge,'' at the New Art Center, Newton, Mass., March 4-April 10. The gallery says that Mr. Ridge "operates in a land of abstraction rooted in appropriation, landscape, and post-industrial aesthetics''
Doodling toward home
"By the Sea'' (mural), by Ben Jundanian, at New Art Center, Newton, Mass., through Feb. 27, created for Uber Boston, 2015.
In this project, Mr. Jundanian "engages with the aesthetics and iconography of maps to create an expansive and highly developed doodle....The piece's bustling roadways, bike paths, railroads and waterways converge on a point in the center of the wall, an indicator of home.''
One thinks of T.S. Eliot's line from his poem "East Coker,'': "In my end is my beginning.''
Avoid sleeping or sex there
"Our Bedroom, Westminster St. '' (screen prints, masonite, wood and foamcore), by KEVIN FRANCES, in the "You Are Here'' show at New Art Center, Newtonville, Mass., next Jan. 15-Feb. 20.
The gallery says the show will present "place as physical, geographical, liminal or psychological spaces. Each artist will interpret the subjective phrase 'you are here' commonly found on directory maps to present place through the scope of their practice.''
Yogurt, or psycho-ceramics?
"Composition of Enclosed Cylinders,'' by LAUREN MABRY, in the show "A Ceramic Spectrum,'' at New Art Center, Newton, Mass., March 22-May 9.
The gallery's notes say:
"Mabry's cycliners and curved planes create a 'still' canvas for her Abstract-Expressionist glaze experiments, which flow and co-mingle when fired in the kiln.''
The joy of pessimism
"Debtris'' (video game), by ANTHONY MONTUORI, at New Art Center, Newtonville, Mass., in its current show "The Power of Negative Thinking,'' which celebrates the joys of pessimism.
The gallery says the seven featured artists "address some of the more unpleasant aspect of life, in seemingly delightful ways. They all create work that in some way challenges societal notions of happiness, through humor, avoidance or direct confrontation.''
More goodies for the elderly
"Untitled,'' by HELEN PAYNE, in the "Helen Payne: Becoming Four Women'' show at the New Art Center, Newtonville, Mass., Nov. 21-Dec. 20.
Rhode Island politicians are falling over themselves to pander to the high-voting elderly by promising them that they'll pass a law to exempt the old folks (I'm one of them) from having to pay state income taxes on Social Security and pension money.
This means another goodie for the most affluent part of society and another transfer from those who earn their income to those who live on investments of various kinds, in which I'd include pensions and Social Security.
The lost tax revenue will have to be made up by younger, poorer people. If more of the latter bestirred themselves to vote, there would be a lot less of this growing inequity between the age cohorts. Serves them right.
This is what you get in a country where in the election last week, only 36.4 percent of eligible voters bothered to vote and the national outcome was decided by about 20 percent of eligible voters.
-- Robert Whitcomb