‘In the service of the sublime’
“Sucker for Sunsets” (retired blended synthetic hawser), by Alex Buchanan, in his show “Abberation’’, at the New Bedford Art Museum, through Oct. 27.
— Image courtesy of the New Bedford Art Museum
From the museum:
“The displays the work of former mariner Alex Buchanan, who takes rope, fishing nets and steel from clam cages and combines those materials with nautical knot tying to ‘[lift] them out of the realm of utilitarian activity transfiguring them in the service of the sublime,’ according to a curatorial statement. Buchanan's large-scale sculptures of rope, metal and other recycled materials ‘display a commanding technical bravura and an undeniable presence’ while also seeming soft, familiar and nostalgic for anyone who grew up in a coastal community.”
On to their art careers
Moss Pallet (detail), by Ruth Douzinas, in the show “UMass Dartmouth 2024 Thesis Exhibition,’’ at the New Bedford Art Museum through May 17.
— Image courtesy of UMass Dartmouth
The museum says the show presents work of MFA students Ruth Douzinas, Zeph Luck, Matthew Napoli, Fallon Keiko Navarro and Darley Ortiz Garcia. The work of these graduating students includes painting, drawing, ceramics, digital media and site-specific installation and draw on the individual skills and interests of the students involved as well as the strong traditions of the UMass Dartmouth College of Visual and Performing Arts.
Animal rights and abuses in New Bedford show
“Massachusetts State of the Union,’’ by Providence/West Palm Beach artist Jane O’Hara, in the show of the same name at the New Bedford Art Museum, through Aug. 20
— Photo courtesy New Bedford Art Museum.
The museum explains that the show looks at animal rights and the complex relationship between humans and other animals. “Covering the 50 states of the union, O'Hara's work examines animal rights abuses through the lens of classic ‘wish-you-were-here postcards.’’’
#Jane O’Hara #New Bedford Art Museum
The art of sound in New Bedford
At the New Bedford Art Museum, through June 4:
“Sound in Space, Sound in Place’’ is a survey of contemporary sound art, foregrounds sound and listening as powerful shapers of everyday experience and draws attention to sound’s unique properties as an artistic medium.
The exhibition features a collaborative work by established sound artists John Driscoll and Phil Edelstein—the richly exploratory sound installation “Cluster Fields” (2018–2023)—as well as “New Bedford Soundscape,’’ a crowdsourced collection of audio recordings by New Bedford residents; “Sonic Textures of Place,’’ experimental sound works by UMass Dartmouth students in Professor Walker Downey’s Spring 2023 sound art seminar; “NBWaves,’’ by Scapeghost, and “Whirly Chorus,’’ by Tess Oldfield.
Scott Bishop, aka Scapeghost, performs his six-song “NBWaves,’’ on April 28, 6-8p.m.
Clothing, brutality and movies
In “Ruth E. Carter’s Costume Retrospective’’ at the New Bedford Art Museum: Left to Right: '‘Malcolm X costume” from the film Malcolm X (1992); “Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King costumes” from the film Selma (2014); “Mookie costume” from the film Do the Right Thing (1989); “Rudy Ray Moore costume'‘ from the film, Dolemite is My Name” (2019). Photographs by Don Wilkinson.
Don Wilkinson comments:
"From days of slavery and human bondage represented by Roots, throughout the early days of the modern Civil Rights Movement of Malcolm X and Selma and onto the culturally significant Blaxploitation era pegged by Dolemite is My Name, Carter and her crew nail it.
“And what of Do the Right Thing? It’s a 32-year-old movie that is as relevant now as it was when it was released. The critical moment in it is when Radio Raheem is choked to death by a cop’s nightstick despite the cries and pleadings of onlookers. Nightstick or knee...the story is the same.’’
Our water wonders
At The New Bedford Art Museum, Jan. 21-March 14
(Timed-Ticket Reception: 3/13/2021, 12 – 2 PM)
Featuring: Willa Vennema, Stephanie Roberts-Camello, Pamela Dorris DeJong, Lola Baltzell, Nancy Whitcomb, Lia Rothstein, Deborah Peeples, Kay Hartung, Marina Thompson, Angel Dean, Lelia Stokes Weinstein, Ruth Sack, Sarah Springer, Charyl Weissbach and Camille Davidson
“Fluid States: New England Wax/New England Waters’’ highlights encaustic artworks inspired by New England’s historic and awe-inspiring coasts. Themed around the fluidity seen in both wax and water, Fluid States explores New England’s ecological richness and fragility. Protecting our water and the life that depends on it is an urgent necessity. In this exhibition, the artists address this urgency as they work to express water’s sheer beauty through innovative approaches to an ancient medium.
New England Wax (N.E.W.), founded in 2006 by Kim Bernard, is a professional organization of artists living and working in the six New England states. Since its inception, N.E.W. has sought to provide opportunities to exhibit, share technical information and aesthetic ideas, and build a network of like-minded artists working in the ancient medium of encaustic. The mission of N.E.W. is to promote excellence in fine art made with encaustic, educate the general public and collectors, raise awareness of the medium, and challenge its members to grow as artists.
Big upcoming show at New Bedford Art Museum is all wet
Timed-Ticket Reception: 3/13/2021, 12 – 2 PM
Featuring: Willa Vennema, Stephanie Roberts-Camello, Pamela Dorris DeJong, Lola Baltzell, Nancy Whitcomb, Lia Rothstein, Deborah Peeples, Kay Hartung, Marina Thompson, Angel Dean, Lelia Stokes Weinstein, Ruth Sack, Sarah Springer, Charyl Weissbach and Camille Davidson
Fluid States: New England Wax/New England Waters highlights encaustic artworks inspired by New England’s historic and awe-inspiring coasts. Themed around the fluidity seen in both wax and water, Fluid States explores New England’s ecological richness and fragility. Protecting our water and the life that depends on it is an urgent necessity. In this exhibition, the artists address this urgency as they work to express water’s sheer beauty through innovative approaches to an ancient medium.
New England Wax (N.E.W.), founded in 2006 by Kim Bernard, is a professional organization of artists living and working in the six New England states. Since its inception, N.E.W. has sought to provide opportunities to exhibit, share technical information and aesthetic ideas, and build a network of like-minded artists working in the ancient medium of encaustic. The mission of N.E.W. is to promote excellence in fine art made with encaustic, educate the general public and collectors, raise awareness of the medium, and challenge its members to grow as artists.
Ambiguous homecoming
“After Dad Came Home’’ (encaustic/mixed media), by Nancy Whitcomb, in the “Members Exhibition’’ at the New Bedford Art Museum, through March 17.
Animated storytelling in New Bedford
From “SEED, the Untold Story’’ (a still from animation), in Hayley Morris’s show at the New Bedford Art Museum, Nov. 11-Jan. 13. The Fiber Optic Center New Media Gallery at the museum is showcasing Hayley Morris. The museum says that she’s an animation director who uses “mixed media and stop-motion animation techniques to tell stories that unfold through layered textures, hand- crafted details and inventive storytelling. Morris has created work for a broad range of clients in the film, music and video industry. Her animation studio, Shape & Shadow, is in Providence.
Exploring the nautical life
"Glass Boat'' (plantpaper, twigs and glass), by Jane Balsgaard (photp by Tom Grotta, courtesy of browngrotta arts.) in the group show "Plunge: Explorations From Above and Below,'' at the New Bedford Art Museum, through Oct. 8, in collaboration with the browngrotta arts gallery .Sixteen artists from around the world present their ideasabout, and methods of expressing, nautical life. The work ranges from photographs to large paintings and sculpture.