Sunday, July 31, 2011

REVIEW: Varujan Boghosian and Erick Hufschmid at BigTown Gallery in Rochester


A Summer Afternoon with Collages and a Photographic Studio Visit at the BigTown Gallery in Rochester

by Dian Parker

Henry James said, "The two most beautiful words in the English language -- summer afternoon."

It was a perfect late summer afternoon. The bees were buzzing in the lush flowers in the front of the gallery; inside people buzzed in front of intriguing art; out back the BigTown Big Tent outdoor amphitheater was abuzz as technicians prepared for the first starlight show of the summer. Summer in Vermont is a wonderful time to see creativity, especially where it is well tended by Anni Mackay, who, as usual, brought together a delightful mix of artists to fill your mind and heart with the creative spirit.

Currently in the gallery are two artists, octogenarian collagist Varujan Boghosian and the anthropologist-like photographer, Erick Hufschmid. It is an ingenious pairing.

Hufschmid photographed the busy studio where Boghosian creates his collages. These photos are mysterious; the colors rich. A tumble of wooden tops in blue and red. A large carved stone head hovers over a tiny red ball. An old upside down green baseball game. A ticket stub; tiny leather Chinese slippers. All these and more are a hodgepodge of disparate objects, which Boghosian uses in his collages. The photographer uses only natural light and often succeeds in making the tiny appear large, like the pearl tipped sewing pins beside a yellow metal truck. All the archival pigment prints are framed, but one can also purchase the prints unframed or as a set in a beautiful handcrafted leather bound portfolio (made in Bogota, Colombia) set in a cloth box. Hufschmid told me he had to sit in Boghosian's studio for many hours before he could even begin to know what to photograph, it was so dense with interesting objects. He pared down his 1000 photographs of the studio into 18. He chose not to move anything, making use of three cameras, zooming into the objects so that often you aren't sure what you're seeing, which makes for an interesting study.

To create his collages, Boghosian selects from the objects in his studio and combines them to form stories of his making. Maker of the Beautiful was inspired by a short story by Hawthorn (it is also Boghosian's self portrait). Cygnus is a star map with a swan and old paper poker chips. Another collage, Homage to Stanley Kunitz, uses the backside of an old Paris map. There is faded wall paper and hand inked music scores he collects, as well as a paper ledger from the 1600's he found in Italy. The titles alone give you the flavor of his collages: Gauguin Leaves Tahiti, Tears of the Mandarin, Trophy (for Elisabeth Bishop) based on her beautiful poem The Fish.

After enjoying the exhibit we made our way outside and around behind the gallery for a picnic, followed by one of the most remarkable dance performances I have ever seen. The Bridgman/Packer Dance is a couple who have been dancing together since 1978. Their current show is a gorgeous pairing of live dance with video technology. The couple dances in front or behind the screen and often you can't tell which is the real couple and which is the film. Breathtaking.

On a summer afternoon while you're wondering where to stroll, try a jaunt over to the gallery at BigTown. Stroll through two artists' creations. Take in a performance at the BigTown Big Tent in the evening. You too might share the sentiment with our Henry James, that not so perfect but all too splendid gentleman.

This review was first published in the Randolph Herald

Images (photos by Dian Parker): Erick Hufschmid, Untitled, 19.38” x 19.44”, archival pigment print Varujan Boghosian, Gauguin Leaves Tahiti, 23” x 22.25” x 2.75”, construction

PRESS RELEASE: Carolyn Enz Hack at the Vermont Arts Council’s Spotlight Gallery in Montpelier

Carolyn Enz Hack’s exhibit, Evil Divided By Good, will be at The Spotlight Gallery at the Vermont Arts Council, 136 State Street in Montpelier, during July and August. Gallery Hours are Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

ARTIST STATEMENT: This work starts with an idea of how I want to manipulate the materials. Cutting, folding, sewing, etc. creates an interplay of surfaces. While I am crafting the basic structure there is time to let my subconscious wander until an idea intersects with the piece that is taking shape. The left-brain aspect of planning and executing is overtaken by the right-brain gift of free association. The piece is then finished with the influence of that idea hovering in the background.

The act of making is highlighted in each piece. Hand making has become rare in our culture and is often trying to mimic the machined and mass-produced as a value judgment against the “homemade.” This work invites the viewer to explore both the technical and fun aspects of turning a piece of paper into a complex work of art.

“Why do we make things?” is a question that I often ask myself. Many objects are made out of necessity but others are made to extend the limitations of communication. These pieces are expressions of the subconscious bubbling away even while I’m focused on cutting and weaving. Metaphors that come from the depths are then literally expressed with openings in the picture plane.

Image: Antigone, Paper, Watercolor, Wire , 18x23x5”

PRESS RELEASE: Historical Potographs and Documents at Goddard College in Plainfield


The History of Goddard College Exhibit:
An Era of Growth, Expansion, and Transitions, 1960-1969


When: June 25th—December 20th, 2011

Where: Eliot D. Pratt Library, Goddard College, 123 Pitkin Road, Plainfield, Vermont

Curated by Goddard staff and alumnus Dustin Byerly, this exhibit of historical photographs and documents focuses on the ways in which Goddard College responded to the rapid growth of the 1960s. It examines the development of several different College programs and experiments using photographs, historical records, college papers, interviews and video recordings.

These were also the years when Goddard began developing "low-residence" adult programs: the Adult Degree Program (ADP), in which students planned semester-long independent studies in two-week intensive residencies; and the Goddard Experimental Program in Further Education (GEPFE), originally a Head Start Staff Supplementary Training Program, which expanded to serve low-income and other working adults living near the college with a combination of "weekend workshops” and independent studies.

Topics covered in this exhibit include the Adult Degree Program, GEPFE, the Goddard College Fire Department, the construction of the Village for Learning, the Multi-Campus Experiment, the construction of Northwood Campus, the Countercultural Movement, Allen Ginsberg’s 1966 visit, the construction of the Eliot Pratt Center and Library, and President Tim Pitkin’s departure from the College after 31 years. This is just the fourth in a series of exhibits that will eventually document the entire history of Goddard College.

For more information, contact Michelle Barber at 802.454.8311 or visit www.goddard.edu.

Image: Eliot D. Pratt, about 1950

PRESS RELEASE: Jan Ghiringhelli at the Drawing Board in Montpelier


Montpelier native, Jan Ghiringhelli, will present The Still Life: Flora & Fruit, the theme of her new show at the Drawing Board in Montpelier.

Painting Alla Prima in oil & acrylic, the representational artist paints from life close up floral & fruit portraits using a shallow depth of field. There is a quiet beauty in the shapes & colors of her simple and ordinary objects. Working on a toned surface, she lightly blocks in her shapes and the painting evolves shape to shape without any preliminary drawing.

Ghiringhelli also works in the genres of landscape and the figure.

The show runs August 1st - 31st.

For more information about the Drawing Board, contact 802 223 2902, or the artist, PainterJan2004 @yahoo.com.

Image: Mock orange & Blues

PRESS RELEASE: Photography Contest and Exhibit at the Chaffee Art Center in Rutland


The Chaffee Art Center is excited to announce the 4th Annual Amateur Photography Contest and Exhibit opening Saturday August 6th, from 4-7 PM, at the Chaffee Art Center, 16 South Main Street, Rutland, VT. Over 150 photographs have been submitted by amateur photographers on the theme of "Special Places: the place we like to go".

This year's Photography Exhibit is featuring photographs by professional photographer and juried artist Katrina Mojzesz, of South Royalton, VT, as well as photographs from Chaffee Juried Artist Members in the second floor galleries. A special reception has been scheduled for Katrina on Art Hop Friday, August 12, from 5-8 PM.

Grand prizes and popular choice awards will be given away at the Closing Reception on Saturday, August 27, 5-7 PM. People's Choice Voting starts August 6 and runs through August 26. Stop by to vote for your favorite photo!

Exciting changes have been made this year. All photos have been matted and framed and will be auctioned off as part of a silent auction, benefitting the amateur artists as well as the Chaffee. The 4th Annual Amateur Photography Contest and Exhibit runs through August 27, 2011, and is sponsored by Cape Air and Phototec.

Image: High Rise, by Kiernan Lackney

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

REVIEW: Art in the Park in North Bennington


14th Annual North Bennington Art in the Park Show
Part One: The Sculpture

by Bret Chenkin

On July 14th, the annual North Bennington Art Show opened with much fanfare as a funky band jammed on the McGovern Masonry green and dozens of art goers strolled around viewing work. The picturesque Victorian train station once again hosted over a dozen paintings in the Train Station Gallery, curated by Jillian Casey of the Forum Gallery.

The line-up of outdoor works, as arranged by Fred X. Brownstein, reflected the democratic tradition of this annual exhibit – ranging from established artists to the "professional by day, artist by night" practitioner. The overall sculptural tone and material presence appeared to tap into the waning nature of our times: scrap metal, rusty steel, and rough wood abounds.

The general hue is subdued, almost melancholic (not much in the way of primary colors), yet a few more traditional pieces, in bronze and stone, grace the lawn here and there. The voluminous amount of objects certainly indicates much sublimation is occurring in the area. All this “sound and fury” also shows that many people are laboring on various metaphorical and formalist problems in art, and that the tremendous pleasure in wrestling with those problems – even in these fractured, media-saturated times – has not waned.

With over thirty (mostly large) objects to deploy, Brownstein did a nice job finding the appropriate space for each work. Colorful pieces were near greenery-while smaller pieces (such as Peter Lundberg's cast iron scholar rocks) were given more area for proper contemplation. The utter variety was taken into consideration too, so that a formal work was juxtaposed with a really conceptual or abstract piece – to the benefit of both – most of the time. Sometimes the works that were comprised of found objects or less 'appealing' material got lost in these informal settings, but if compositionally strong, their equilibrium eventually recovered. Inversely, pieces that traditionally function best in such settings (on lawns, greens, beside buildings) seemed contrived when in the presence of less pretentious fare. All in all, this disparate work scattered about the streetscape is visually engaging.

When scanning the lay of the land, rust and dilapidated wood appeared to be le mode du jour. This may have as much to do with people's penchant for recycling, as it does the convenience of found objects. But the many allusions to end times may also be informing this weary aesthetic. For example: Michael Biddy's tragi-comical Death of the Dollar, displays a large wooden dollar sign laid upon a funeral bier; or Patrick Healey Labor is like some tired wooden monument to the futility of energy expenditure; while Stephan’s Seasweep, with its confluence of refuse, may be both an elegy to the dying seas and a clever poaching of postmodern art (such as the work of Stockholder, Murray, and Kelley).

Other works in this more contemplative vein are Zac Ward's Figure in a Boat, with a configuration of choppy lines in wood and steel clamps, and a harshly rendered seeker (in a proto-Cubist style) navigating uneasily upon the thrusting vertical plinth; and Stephen Anisman's Citadel , a glossy red pyramidal mini-monument of steel dowels tilted from the ground.

Londa Weisman really wowed with Out There, a hefty Caligariesque home of rusted steel plates, in which the interior implodes upwards and inwards almost three feet, to a diminutive square window, this teasing geometric play on light providing a mystical escape.

Fred Brownstein, Mason Hurley and Andrew Devries made it clear that the mythic, and the Biblical, still influence art today: Brownstein's Ulysses Heads for Trouble, rendered near-perfectly in marble, speaks of the dichotomy between the modern and the classical: the siren is carved as a headless Grecian nude, while Ulysses is a hero of organic bulges. Hurley's Hephasetus appears to be the lame god's forge, or maybe the famous net he created, while DeVries with a double billing melodramatically interprets Adam's fall from Eden and creates a cold, domineering Venus, both in bronze and more than life-sized.

Not to say that all was grim or grave, for color came in the form of Willard Boepple's yellow curvaceous abstract line drawing of painted wood, connected in a tense counterpoint arrangement and also Michelle Vara's 3-D doodle (like a drawing taking a walk) in a matte brick red. Outright humor and whimsy is present in Gary Humphrey's giant musical sculpture, the aptly titled More Cow Bells constructed of rusty metal; Matthew Perry's two concrete block figures by the station, a man and woman, suburbanites who are waiting for the train; Leif Johnson's "Garden Chair" of slate and steel; and Andrew Dunhill's "Twinkle Toes", which conjures a dancer in space in the form of huge metal tubing, resembling in some ways a giant's gastrointestinal tract. Joe Chirchirillo's water tower of concrete and steel, and John Umphlett's Primrose Bronze, which features a bronze flattened blazer and a trough of fine sand with an aluminum rake, add to the variety of this enormous showing.

Images:
Forrest MacGregor, Getting There, Wood and Steel
Bill Botzow, Willow, Wood and bark
Andrew Dunnill, Twinkle Toes, Steel
Patrick Healy, Labor, Wood and steel
Fred X Brownstein., Ulysses heads for trouble, Marble
Matthew Perry, Man still waiting for the train and Woman waiting for the Train, Mixed media
Londa Weisman, Out There, Steel

PRESS RELEASE: Stephen Huneck Retrospective at Catamount Arts in St. Johnsbury

Stephen Huneck - Dogs, Angels and More Dogs
-a Memorial-Retrospective Exhibition
Dates: Monday, August 1st through Friday, September 30th
Reception: Friday, August 12m 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Dogs, Angels and More Dogs: Works 1985-2010, presenting the whimsical creations of late Vermont artist Stephen Huneck, will be the featured exhibit at Catamount Arts in St. Johnsbury from August 1 through September 30 of this year. The exhibit is the first major retrospective of the artist’s works since his death in January, 2010, and includes early work from the 1980's---some of it never shown before. A special reception honoring Huneck and his work will be held from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Friday, August 12, at Catamount Arts, which is located at 115 Eastern Avenue in St. Johnsbury. The reception is free and open to the public.

Mounted with the full cooperation and involvement of Huneck’s wife Gwen, the exhibit spans the period of Huneck’s greatest productivity and fame and includes not only many of the artist’s most famous prints of Labrador Retrievers, but also sculptures, stained glass, books and even furniture featuring his signature look. A special highlight of the exhibit will be the “Dog Chapel” installation, a personal meditation area that will include a bench handmade by Huneck, a window he created for the original chapel, a message wall and even a live, internet connection to the chapel so that exhibit goers can share in the actual experience of visiting the famous tourist attraction, which is located just outside the village of St. Johnsbury, and is currently under the threat of sale for back taxes, see http://www.dogmt.com.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

PRESS RELEASE: Owen Bissex at Blinking Light Art Gallery in Plainfield



The Blinking Light Art Gallery in Plainfield, Vermont, announces:
A show of work by artist and Plainfield native Owen Bissex from Aug. 12 through Sept. 30, 2011. There will be an artist’s reception Friday, Aug. 12, from 4-7 pm. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Maine College of Art, 27-year old Owen works as a classically trained artist in a range of mediums. His current projects include both realistic and allegorical figurative sculpture in mixed mediums, drawings and rough studies in conte crayon, and a fanciful genre he calls, simply, “monster stuff.”

Owen’s artistic trajectory owes something to the many forms and functions in nature that continue to catch his eye. Soon after college, Owen worked as a studio assistant in Kansas City, Missouri, where he helped to craft natural history and prehistoric life models for such prestigious clients as the Smithsonian Institute, the National Geographic Society and others. He helped create one of the world’s largest dinosaur models for the Indianapolis Children’s Museum.

But Owen has far more than dinosaurs to his artistic credit. His drawing and figure sculpture run from the elegantly classical to the whimsical. He sometimes melds components from the natural world that may seem disparate, but have a lyrical or underlying thematic connection. Some have an uncanny power to delight and disturb simultaneously.

To “Like,” “Tweet,” and otherwise repeat: Look for a feature article about Owen and his work in the upcoming Aug. 4 edition of the Montpelier Bridge.

Images: Empty Threat, Pasture 1, Pasture 2

Friday, July 22, 2011

PRESS RELEASE: Performance and installation at Goddard, by Dana Heffern, Plainfield

Antidote

an evening of performative dining and installation art.


Goddard MFA student Dana Heffern presents Antidote, an evening of performative dining and installation art that brings to the table the concept of proper dinner behavior and looks at the questions: Is it okay for a diseased person to perform medical procedures in front of people eating, and in front of the public in general? The situation will ask the performers, guests, and viewers to examine their ideas of "right" and "wrong" as well as the "good" and "bad" of the event, challenging the criteria of conduct around food and public display, medicine and sickness. The event will highlight and make visible the private experience of living and eating as a Type 1 diabetic.


The artist will also address the environmental impact of non-recyclable medical supplies that Type 1 patients use through her visual bricolage artwork as part of this installation.


Location: Haybarn Theatre, Goddard College, 123 Pitkin Road, Plainfield, Vermont.


When: Tuesday July 26th 7:30-9:30 pm.


About the Artist

Dana Heffern has been working as a decorative painter, interior designer, and Broadway scenic artist in New York City for over a decade. She has either painted or lead the painting crews responsible for many of the top selling and Tony awarded scenery on Broadway today. Shows such as Billy Elliot, Mary Poppins, Spamalot, The Drowsy Chaperone, Spring Awakening, The Lion King, The Color Purple, and Mamma Mia. She has recently moved with her husband to the Burlington area where she is currently working towards her MFA at Goddard College. A United Way 2010 ‘Hometown Hero’ nominee through Spectrum Youth and Family Services, she is working with her mentee and offering guidance as a mentor. Dana is excited about teaching workshops she is involved in at both the BCA and the Flynn Arts.

PRESS RELEASE: No Boundaries in Fiber at The Rae Harrell Gallery in Hinesburg


No Boundaries in Fiber, an exhibit of innovative textile art by nine Vermont Members of the Surface Design Association (SDA), will be featured at the Rae Harrell Gallery in Hinesburg from August 6 to September 17, 2011. The exhibit will highlight the diversity of contemporary fiber art and the unique processes employed by each artist.

This exhibit is the first time these SDA Vermont artists are exhibiting their work together as a group. Exhibiting artists are Eve Jacobs-Carnahan (Montpelier), Judy B. Dales (Greensboro), Elizabeth Fram (Waterbury Center), Marilyn Gillis (Burlington), Rae Harrell (Hinesburg), Hillary Harrell (Hinesburg via Sante Fe), Karen Henderson (Montpelier), Mary Jane Russell (Charlotte), and Dianne Shullenberger (Jericho).

Join the Artists for the Opening Reception on Saturday, August 6, 5pm - 9pm, featuring live music by Garrett Brown. Additionally, the public is invited to an Artists Walk-Through on Friday, August 19, 7-8:30 pm, where some of the artists will discuss their work in depth.

These artists are part of the continuum of the contemporary fiberart movement which is attracting notice nationwide. SDA's Vermont chapter now has thirty members, having grown by a third in just the past year. The local group has a Vermont state Members' Blog (http://sdavermont.blogspot.com/) maintained by Montpelier member and VT area volunteer rep, Karen Henderson, who says "SDA has always been an inspiring group to be part of, and it's been great to connect with each other here in Vermont. To showcase our talents in this exhibit and share our work with others is really exciting."

"Many of the artists in this show have impressive exhibit histories. This is a great opportunity for Vermont art lovers to see dynamic fiberart that has been shown around the country," says Eve Jacobs-Carnahan.

During the show's run in the gallery, there will be a rotating slide show that will give a glimpse into each artist's process and inspiration. "Fiber and textile techniques have such a long and amazing history, and this show is an opportunity to see contemporary artists interpret these complex and beautiful mediums. The slide show will enlighten the viewer on how much goes into each piece of art shown here," says Henderson. The show venue, The Rae Harrell Gallery, is owned and operated by Rae Harrell. "From my perspective as a gallery owner, it's very important to represent these diverse mediums that are so tactile, innovative and interactive."

Surface design refers to any process that gives structure, pattern, or color to fiber & fabric. These include spinning, felting, papermaking, weaving, knotting, knitting, netting, looping, dyeing, painting, stitching, cutting, piecing, printing, quilting, & embellishing.

The Surface Design Association is an international community engaged in the creative exploration of fiber and fabric. Its mission is to promote awareness and appreciation of the textile arts. Through member-supported publications, exhibitions and conferences, they inspire creativity, encourage innovation, and advocate excellence. SDA currently has about four thousand members worldwide, who range from creators, educators, collectors, and curators dedicated to the art and practice of surface design. To learn more visit: Surface Design Association (www.surfacedesign.org)

The Rae Harrell Gallery
90 Mechanicsville Road
Hinesburg, VT 05461
Gallery Hours are 10am-4pm Thursdays-Saturdays, and also By Appointment. 802-482-4944
For Questions, Contact VT area SDA Rep, Karen Henderson at: 973-948-5801 (cell) or email to: karenhendersonfiber@yahoo.com

Images: Top, after group image: Detail of Committee Process, Eve Jacobs-Carnahan, "60"h x 25"w x 3"d. Photo credit: Paul Rogers Photography Immediately Above: Inner Voice 3, Marilyn Gillis, 36"h x 24"w. Photo credit: James Barbour

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

PRESS RELEASE: Katie Crown in Gallery II at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson


Gallery II at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, VT is pleased to present Sporangium: Drawings and Botanicals, recent abstract drawings and botanical sculptures by Vermont-based artist Katie Crown, on view July 25 to August 26, 2011 with an opening reception on July 27, 2011 beginning at 7pm.

Mutable and transient, Crown's drawing process utilizes layers of traditional and non traditional materials into abstract circular forms. Crown's images and sculptures offer reference between microscopic images of spores and representations of galactic bodies. Using 'sporangium' as metaphor of spore factory, these drawings and experiments in botanical constructions allow insight into variable interpretations of cognizant realities, and the potential of those realities.

Katie Crown lives in northern Vermont as a staff artist at the Vermont Studio Center. Crown graduated from Johnson State College with a BFA in visual art in 2010. She received a travel grant from Johnson State College and Marist College in her final year to study under former Guggenheim Fellow, Ed Smith, and conceptual artist, Adam Brooks for four weeks in Venice, Italy as well as being awarded a two-week residency at the Vermont Studio Center that same summer. Crown's work has been exhibited in Johnson, Stowe, and Burlington, and was recently included in the exhibition, Grey Matter, at The Painting Center in New York curated by Matthew Farina and Rachael Wren.

Monday, July 18, 2011

PRESS RELEASE: Postcards and Memories at Studio Place Arts in Barre


Since the late 1800s, people have been documenting their adventures, thoughts, and feelings on the backs of slim, rectangular 3.5” by 5” pieces of cardboard commonly known as postcards. Modern postcards often contain photographic images on the front side: images that may portray specific locales to which the sender has journeyed, as well as overt and frequently revealing messages on the blank side. These documents in time often become cherished memories. Of course, memories can be preserved in many other forms, such as favorite toys, ticket stubs, comic books, medals, pins and maps. A current second floor exhibit at Studio Place Arts (SPA) entitled Postcards and Memories celebrates this tradition, and the treasure trove of memories these missives and artifacts contain.

Encompassing 18 works from 10 Vermont artists, Postcards and Memories offers an endlessly intriguing and intimate glimpse into the personal worlds of each individual. Calais artist Jason Galligan-Baldwin’s brightly colored pop-art style collages I Hope She Leaves Soon… and Zombie Woman, provide a bold yet playful introduction to the show. Auto enthusiast artist Aaron Stein of Burlington contributes two 3 dimensional New York license plate and postcard constructions Give Me Your Tired and The Official Greetings from Albany, NY.

Paul Calter of Randolph is exhibiting a masterful Memory Map assemblage that measures 19” by 22”, containing 6 wooden rods that can be rotated to reveal 4 different maps: My Country, My State, My Town and My Home. Each map is embellished with inlaid family photographs, toys, and other personal relics. Winter X Panel and Winter Cards 1990-2010, two collages by Beth Barndt of Jericho, feature Beth’s colorful handmade postcards that had been sent and collected back by the artist for display.

Barton artist Susan Aldrich’s Dress of the Future (60’s) Apron of the Past 2011 is a fascinating mixed media construction consisting of an actual commercially-made paper dress from the 1960s, with a stitched apron overlay composed of photographs, ticket stubs, awards, buttons, and patches. A Year in Paris is Northfield artist Joan Marie Davidson’s 8” by 8” wooden box, paper, city map, and photograph construction revealing her deep relationship to the city.

Postcards and Memories invites visitors to explore this multitude of memories and more at SPA through July 30.

Images: Aaron Stein, Give Me Your Tired, mixed media, 2011 Susan Aldrich, Dress of the Future (60s), Apron of the Past, paper dress, postcards, tickets, other media Pria Cambio, Here I Come, mixed media

PRESS RELEASE: Henry Gorski Retrospective at Union Station in Burlington

The Henry Gorski Retrospective: Art as Evidence of Science Studying the Creative Process to Identify the Scientific and Moral Nature of the Unconscious

Presented by the Institute of Conflict Analysis and the Museum of the Creative Process, the Henry Gorski Retrospective: Art as Evidence of Science will be installed at Main Street Landing's Union Station, 1 Main Street Burlington, VT. The exhibition will be open to the public from July 9 - August 31, 2011, Monday-Friday 10AM-6PM.

Guided tours and discussion: 5:30PM on Thursdays July 14, 21, 28, August 11, and Wednesdays August 17, 24. The gallery will be open on First Friday August 5 and will Feature a Lecture by Dr. Albert Levis at 6PM. Reservations for guided tours may be secured by emailing: tours@museumofcreativeprocess.com

The Henry Gorski Retrospective: Art as Evidence of Science is an exhibit of striking art and pioneering interpretive science. The exhibit brings together the canvases of the late Henry Gorski (1918-2010), a leader of the Figurative Expressionist movement, with the scientific insights of Dr. Albert Levis, author of Conflict Analysis, the Formal Theory of Behavior. Linking art and science, this retrospective presents a radically new way of looking at art, examining the creative process to identify the unconscious as a conflict resolving natural science mechanism.

Active from the 1950s'-90's, Gorski, a colleague of Andy Warhol, Elaine de Kooning, and Bob Rauschenberg, created a simple symbolic universe representing well his evolving emotions. The artist was on a quest for meaning completed now by the scientist identifying the underlying order of his symbolic language as the universal process of conflict resolution. In this analysis we see the unconscious mind following a distinct formal organization of emotions.

Levis first became associated with Gorski in the 1970's when he first borrowed his artwork for a presentation of his Formal Theory to the New Haven medical association. A relationship evolved as the scientist continued collecting Gorski's art and puzzling out the symbolic order of emotions reflecting the nature of the unconscious mechanism.

The exhibit is divided in three segments: the first clarifies the concept of the Conflict Resolution Process as the new way of looking at art. The second segment presents the retrospective as sequences of conflict resolution validating the theory. The third segment introduces publications and artifacts about the process and discusses educational applications of the new science. Visitors are invited to sample their creativity for validation of the thesis about the structure and function of the unconscious and simultaneously for its reflecting insights about the personal pattern of resolving conflicts.

Guided tours will be held each week, providing an explanation of the process and its application in the analysis of the paintings. Following each tour, Museum of the Creative Process staff will lead a discussion on the relevance of the exhibit for psychology, religion, and emotional and moral education.

For More Information Please Contact: Mark Puryear 802.777.7757 and Albert Levis at 802.379.6350,

info@museumofcreativeprocess.com
www.arttoscience.org
Image: Gorski, Winner Take All

Saturday, July 16, 2011

CALL TO ARTISTS: Studio Place Arts Inviting Proposals for 2012


Call to Artists! Inviting Proposals for 2012

We've extended our deadline for show proposals in 2012. Deadline for Proposals Extended ti July 30, 2011 Please share this information any artists who may be interested in showing their work at Studio Place Arts next year.

SPA uses its second and third floor space for solo and small group shows. We encourage artists to submit a proposal to SPA for consideration of such a show.

Please send SPA: A brief written statement about yourself or the artist group and what you want to accomplish with a show, a CD or DVD with 8-12 images of representative work (please label this information carefully with the name, media, size, price and date of your work).

In addition, we encourage you to visit SPA to see the space and to consider how you would use the space.

Studio Place Arts (SPA), 201 N Main St, Barre, VT 05641, PH: (802) 479-7069 FAX: (802) 476-8627

MAKE MORE ART!

Friday, July 15, 2011

PRESS RELEASE: Jerome Lipani at City Center in Montpelier


tHE gREAT tURNING
fROM THE hOMOCENTRIC
tO tHE cOSMOCENTRIC
wORLDvIEW:

a visual art installation in illustration of Joanna Macy's book of the same title

by Jerome Lipani
July 5 - August 5
City Center, Main and State Streets, Montpelier, VT

PRESS RELEASE: July 30 is FREE Day for All at the Bennington Museum


Join in the fun on Saturday, July 30 at Bennington Museum when admission is waived and all activities are FREE! From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. come and explore the current exhibit Grandma Moses and the ‘Primitive’ Tradition while participating in old-fashioned activities designed for every member of the family. This FREE Community Day is open to anyone from any community.

Come out and enjoy all the exhibits currently on view at the museum. Stroll through the permanent exhibits including the Military Gallery, the Grandma Moses Gallery and Schoolhouse, the Flag Gallery which is home to one of the earliest Stars and Strips, the Wasp Gallery which houses the 1924 Wasp Touring Car, and more. At 2:00 p.m. join Jamie Franklin, Curator of Collections, as he gives a guided tour of the temporary exhibit on Grandma Moses and other primitive artists John Kane, Joseph Pickett, Morris Hirshfield, among others. The tour delves into the stories behind the paintings, and the lives of the painters.

The Bennington Museum Shop is offering discounts on the wonderful selection of items created by many Vermont craft artists that includes food products, toys for children, pictures, puzzles, jewelry, and more. Some items cannot be included. Pick up gifts from the shop, enjoy a cup of coffee in the café, or a picnic in the Hadwen Pavilion. No matter what your age, get involved in the crafts and activities that will bring you back to the days of Grandma Moses. There will be butter churning, milking of “Bennita” the Bennington Museum cow, painting on the community mural, and old-fashioned games such as Jacob’s Ladder, jacks, and more.

The Bennington Museum is located at 75 Main Street (Route 9), Bennington in The Shires of Vermont. The museum is just a short ride from Manchester, Williamstown, and eastern New York. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the museum is closed on Wednesday. Visit the museum at www.benningtonmuseum.org or call 802-447-1571 for more information.

Image: Jamie Franklin, curator of collections, gives a Gallery Talk to visitors

Press Release: Recycled Arts & Crafts for Kids at the Falls Gallery in the Winooski Pop-up District


FREE KIDS ACTIVITY
Recycled Arts & Crafts for Kids

July 16th, 1PM at Falls Gallery

Heather Fromkin will lead participants on a short hike on the Riverwalk to collect items that will be used to make art.

Sweet treats will be provided by Winooski Falls Market & Deli.

Heather is an environmentalist at heart. Her artwork explores nature, sustainability and environmentalism by using recycled materials and found objects.

“The organic elements found in my work are often combined with man-made objects, drawing together my love of nature and my fascination with science and technology,” she said.

Image: Jersey Shore by Heather Fromkin

PRESS RELEASE: Watercolor Masters of Vermont At Bryan Memorial Gallery in Jeffersonville


Sunday, July 17, 2011, 2 PM

A Celebration for Lawrence Goldsmith

featuring his former students Jane Desjardins, Marie Keefe, Katharine Montstream, John Stuart, Deborah Travis, Barbara Wagner, and Linda Wirts in a roundtable discussion about Lawrence Goldsmith's teaching methods and influence.

Presented in conjunction with the exhibition
MASTERS OF VERMONT: The Watercolorists
followed by a reception.

The exhibit continues through September 5, 2011. Gallery hours: Daily, 11 - 5 and by appointment

Image: Lawrence Goldsmith: Beauty of May

PRESS RELEASE: Varujan Boghosian & Erick Hufschmid at BigTown Gallery in Rochester



Saturday, July 16
Gallery Opening Reception
Varujan Boghosian & Erick Hufschmid
5 - 7 PM
Free & Open to the Public

Exhibition July 13 - August 22, 2011

We are delighted to present, in the main gallery, our second solo exhibition of VARUJAN BOGHOSIAN (b.1926), and, in the center gallery, our first solo exhibition of the photographs of New Hampshire resident, ERICK HUFSCHMID.

Main Gallery:
VARUJAN BOGHOSIAN
New Collages and Constructions 2009 - 2011


Center Gallery:
ERICK HUFSCHMID
A Muse - A Visit to the Studio of Varujan Boghosian
In respo nse to our invitation to show his photographs, Hufshmid revealed his interest in beginning a series that would photograph, and document, the studios of known artists. He chose to take the opportunity presented by this show to begin that project, photographing the studio of Varujan Boghosian. The result is produced in a portfolio of 18 illuminating photographs of the artist's studio. Shown here individually and in portfolio.

Images:
Varujan Boghosian, Smoke Rings, 2011, Collage, 32.75" x 26.75" framed. Photo by Tad Merrick.
Erick Hufschmid, 2011, archival pigment print, from the portfolio A Muse - A Visit to the Studio of Varujan Boghosian.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

PRESS RELEASE: Robyn Osiecki at The Gallery Space at Autocraftsmen in Montpelier

The Gallery Space at Autocraftsmen (326 State Street, Montpelier) is pleased to welcome the emergent media show Where unexpected rises from ordinary - iPhoneography from Central and Northern Vermont, developed by Middlesex artist Robyn Osiecki.

The show runs now through the end of July, 2011 and is open for viewing during Autocraftsmen's normal business hours, Monday-Friday 8am-5:30 pm.

Robyn’s formal studies cover a breadth of disciplines and media. The works you see in this show are exclusively iPhoneography, an approach to the art of photography that - as with all prior forms - embraces new tools and techniques as part of the creative quest. This emergent medium challenges the artist to use the iPhone as the sole tool for capturing, processing, and publishing photographs.

There is something inspiring about shooting with a simple fixed lens and few physical controls, all on a device that fits in the pocket and serves a wide variety of other purposes. One also discovers the highly personal aspect of doing all the editing in the palm of the hand. It is an intimate and highly satisfying journey that in many ways transcends the darkroom or Photoshop experience. Add the simplicity and the social aspects of posting from the same device, and this all-in-one package for capturing, processing and publishing makes the iPhone a compelling platform.

Robyn is currently participating in the juried P1XELS show at OCCCA in Orange County, California and the Arty Gallery in Los Angeles, California, as well as the current show "Food" as the MMS gallery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The artist has been featured at iPhoneart; has had several works chosen for accolades at Eye’em, LifeInLofi, PixelsAtAnExhibition, and fotoigriPhone; teaches advanced iphoneography techniques at iPhoneographyCentral; and is currently a featured artist at iPhoneogenic.

You can see more of the artist’s work at unruly-e.com; contact the artist at info@unruly-e.com

Images:
Storming the Tower; Velco Power SubStation; Berlin
; taken and processed completely edited on an iPhone)
Ice Out; Wrightsville Reservoir; East Montpelier; taken and completely edited on an iPhone)

If you have any questions about the space or the wonderful opportunity created by this local small business, please contact Amy Mattinat at Autocraftsmen (amy@autocraftsmen.com). Questions about the artwork should go to robyn@unruly-e.com.

Monday, July 11, 2011

PRESS RELEASE: New Show at Carving Studio and Sculpture Center, West Rutland

WEST RUTLAND, VT – Carving Studio and Sculpture Center announces two person sculpture exhibit opening at Gallery 259. Both artists investigate issues pertaining to the body and express their views using mixed media. Susan Young integrates ceramic low-fired forms that have retained a flesh-like imprint. Pam Brown’s work consists mainly of mixed media pieces (wire, sheet metal, wood, rubber and fabric) that explore the relationship between organic and industrial. Overall, both artists evoke a visceral response from the relationship to the tactile aspects of objects and the body.

Please join us for the opening reception for The Body Speaks at Gallery 259 on Marble Street on Friday, July 22nd, from 5:00pm through 7:00pm. The show will be on exhibit from July 15th through August 21st Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 pm until 4:00. Viewings are also available by appointment.

PRESS RELEASE: Take Down Party and Closing Reception at Main Street Museum in White River Junction

Take Down Party and Closing Reception for Political Animal!
Saturday, July 16, 5:30pm - 8:30pm!


Come to the last day of Daisy Rockwell's show Political Animal, see the art and mingle with the Upper Valley's finest minds, most social-socialites and hippest-hipsters. Then enjoy a tasty African meal on our riverfront deck from local chefs at Taste of Africa--with a special surprise entree!

Reception is free! $10/person for dinner, byob. Kids welcome!
*Please RSVP if you are attending the dinner*

Then, after dinner, 8:00 to Midnight: So Sol, Buffalo Death Rattle (and possibly Jo Robin) perform old time and electric, jug band and Brazilian folk, and bluegrass music that will please everyone. A wild, eclectic mix of styles that you've come to expect from the Museum in a byob music event. $10 a head for the music! (Note: For anyone who cant afford this reasonable fee, it can be easily waived; just volunteer with us for one hour of your time before or after the concert--or during the week sometime... and get in free!)

And, as a special added bonus, see the newest addition to our collections, "Rocky" the flying squirrel. you can't pet him, but you maybe can feed him, he’s very young and very cute. A sparkling new personality added to our menagerie.

Its all simply what you've come to expect from the Main Street Museum, isn't it? Yall Come!

PRESS RELEASE: 14th Annual North Bennington Art Park


The Village of North Bennington will present Art Park 2011 its 14th Annual North Bennington Art Park exhibition from July 16 through October 9, 2011. The Art Park Opening reception is a free event open to the public Saturday July 16th from 4pm to 8 pm. This is the second year that the exhibition will occur in the Train Station Gallery as well as the annual outdoor sculpture show. We are hosting 62 area artists who lend their work to this exhibition.

The Art Park is an invitational exhibition featuring sculpture, painting and mixed media art work from local and regional artists. Many of our exhibiting artists have national reputations outside our area and the Train Station Gallery will be curated by Jillian Casey who is a director at The Forum Gallery in New York City.

From its modest origins in the yard of McGovern Masonry the exhibition has developed into one of the most exciting art exhibitions in New England. North Bennington is now known as a village where artists are neighbors and this exhibition is their way of sharing their art work with the community. Anyone familiar with contemporary art history will recognize the names of Pat Adams, Willard Boepple and Phillip Wofford who are joined by their colleagues who teach at Bennington College and local sculptors Joe Chirchirillo, Gary Humphreys, Elaine Witten, Teru Simon and Bill Botzow.

Art Park 2011 is proud to announce the addition of new artists from nearby New York, Massachusetts, and Manchester, VT. Both Barbara and G.L. Sussman, Jon Recco, Leslie Parke and Evan Wilson are lending their work this year. Amy Podmore ( Williams College) and Andrew DeVries ( Lenox, MA.) are two sculptors who bring exceptional work to the exhibition. Last year Andrew had 25 bronze sculptures in his show in Lenox and thoughtfully lent a large bronze to the Art Park as well. We are also happy that for the first time Susie Cronin (Manchester, VT.) will contribute her imaginative bronze sculpture.

Anthony Cafritz, founder of Salem Art Works, was the initial curator of the North Bennington Outdoor Sculpture Show and the professional sculptors and interns at SAW still offer a large part of the outdoor sculpture to the current Art Park.

The North Bennington Art Park is rare in that it is a completely volunteer community exhibition to promote our local professional artists and the quality of life in the Village of North Bennington. We are generously sponsored by David Aldrich, Bennington College, Kevin's Restaurant, Joe McGovern, Sage City Syndicate, The Fund for North Bennington and Whitman's Feed Store. This year we are having a special event to benefit The Norshaft Little League and have scheduled our Opening Reception to coincide with the Old Timer's baseball game. Glenn Campbell from Campbell Plaster and Iron Foundry in West Rutland is coming to give a bronze casting demonstration at 5:30 after the game. Glenn will pour molten bronze to demonstrate the "lost wax" casting method on site and the resulting casts will be sold to benefit the Norshaft Little League.

Images: Williard Boepple, painted wood; Andrew De Vries, The Other Side of Eden, bronze; Gary Humphreys installing sculpture

PRESS RELEASE: Claire Van Vliet at the River Arts Center, Morrisville




Gallery at River Arts presents:
"Stone on Stone"
Lithographs by Claire Van Vliet
June 16 - August 15, 2011

Opening Reception: Thursday, June 16th, 5:00 - 7:00
River Arts Center, 74 Pleasant Street, Morrisville, VT

The Gallery at River Arts is pleased to present "Stone on Stone" - an exhibit of lithographs by Claire Van Vliet at the River Arts Center in Morrisville, VT, June 16 - August 15, 2011. There will be an opening reception on June 16th from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Claire Van Vliet is widely recognized as a master printmaker and has won numerous awards, including election to the National Academy, two Honorary Doctorates of Fine Arts and the prestigious MacArthur Prize Fellowship, an award which helped finance her work in black and white prints and the associated travel. Born in Ottawa in 1933, she spent her childhood in Canada and England, and moved to California in 1947. She graduated from San Diego State College and earned her MFA from Claremont Graduate University after which she lived in Europe and Philadelphia. Van Vliet moved to Newark Vermont in 1966, bringing her Janus Press, through which she has published hand-printed books illustrated with original prints and pulp paintings. Her work has been exhibited throughout the United States and abroad.

The Gallery at River Arts is located at the River Arts Center, 74 Pleasant Street in Morrisville, VT. Gallery hours: Monday-Friday, 10-2. For off hours, please call River Arts:
802-888-1261. Admission is free. For more information, call or visit their website at www.riverartsvt.org.

PRESS RELEASE: Expo Todo Cubano at Flynndog in Burlington


Featuring a photography exposition:
Cuban Musicians Portraits from a Musical Island
by photographer and photojournalist David Garten

The exhibition will run from July 1 thru August 28th

Todo Cubano y sus Mezclas includes a series of films with presentations by Cuban DJ Tony Basanta scheduled for Friday evenings:

Friday July 15th, 7 pm
PAQUITO D'RIVERA & CHANO DOMINGUEZ in Concert
Live at the Teatro Real de Madrid Spain
Cuban Jazz and Spanish Flamenco - The Perfect Combination

Friday July 22nd, 7 pm
AHORA TU VERAS COMO SE BAILA EL SON!
Now you'll all see how Cuban Son is danced !
THE CUBAN FEMALE SALSA POWER since 1994 till this night
Canela, Son Damas, Colaito, Las Cecilias, Azúcar Band, Haila, Aymee Nuviola, Jaquelin Castellanos, Lazarita Cachao, La Caro Band, Albita Rodriguez & more ....


Friday July 29, 7 pm
LOS REYES DEL MAMBO SIGUEN CANTANDO CANCIONES DE AMOR
= the Mambo Kings Still Singing Love Songs
CENTENARIOS DE MARIO BAUZA y ARSENIO RODRIGUEZ
= the Centennials of Mario Bauza and Arsenio Rodriguez
Mario and Arsenio : DOS ARQUITECTOS DE LA MÚSICA CUBANA EN LOS EUA desde los 40's
= Two Architects of Mambo, Son, Jazz, and other perfect blends in the US since the 40s.
Presentation of the CDs "Kenya Revisited Live", "Tito Puente Masterworks" and "Big Band Urban Folk Tales" conducted by musician- educator Bobby Sanabria ft Salsa & Jazz warriors in NYC, withYounger Dragons of The Manhattan School of Music AfroCuban Jazz Orch.

PRESS RELEASE: Black and White Photographs by Jonathan Brand at the Bennington Museum


A Vermont October Weekend in Black and White

"All things are photographable." - Garry Winogrand


In October 1967, photographer Jonathan Brand, his wife Monika, their daughters Ulrika and Jenny, and Monika's niece Linda Elowson, traveled from Manhattan's Upper West Side to Bennington, Vermont. This journey was fully documented in black and white images by Brand, as his friend and Middlebury classmate Carl McCutcheon drove the family car. Brand shot approximately 45-50 rolls of film in three days. Images from the series include gleaming new gas stations and rusty old cars, interiors of the Paradise Motel and a diner on West Main Street, portraits of family members and candid shots of people on the street.

He photographed tourists visiting the Bennington Battle Monument, and people viewing displays at an antique show, monks at the monastery at the Everett Mansion and policemen perched on stools at a luncheonette counter, and daughters Ulrika dancing in a yard and Jenny asleep in her stroller. Over one thousand images were taken, and in 2010, 174 were donated to the Bennington Museum. From July 14 through October 10, A Vermont October Weekend in Black-and-White exhibition that includes fourteen of these photographs will be on view in the John T. Harrison, Jr. Orientation Gallery of the Bennington Museum.

The purpose of the weekend in 1967 was to introduce Linda to Brand's Bennington relatives, tour the town, and enjoy the Vermont foliage at its peak. Linda had been living with the Brand family in New York, prior to the family moving to Scandinavia where Brand became the creative director at the international advertising agency J. Walter Thompson. Over the weekend, Brand juggled three Leica cameras and focused on everything about his old hometown. The group visited his three aunts (Eva Betts, Mary Faller, Sadie Leader) and their families, as well as many locations throughout town, both notable and common.

In the mid-1960s, Brand was obsessed with photography. He actively participated in workshops with photographers such as Richard Avedon, Bruce Davidson, David Vestal, and Garry Winogrand. During this time, Brand shot an average of 170 photographs a day, and absorbed the qualities of his mentors' work: Avedon's remarkable portraiture, Davidson's power of posture and gesture, Winogrand's off-balance edginess and street photography, and Vestal's focus on the many moods of a changing city. Yet Brand found his own clear voice, evidenced by the photographs of his family among Bennington's structures and natural landscapes, lively streetscapes, and diverse population.

After graduating Bennington High School in 1951, Brand bought his first camera in 1956 while on a Fulbright Scholarship at the University of Oslo in Norway. Since then his work has been exhibited in galleries from New York to Portland, Oregon, and his photographs are such notable collections as the Museum of Modern Art (New York), the International Center of Photography (New York), the Houston Museum of Fine Arts, the Portland Art Museum (Oregon), and the Portland Museum of Art (Maine).

This exhibit was curated by a Bennington Museum volunteer Dana Pilson, who has been working on cataloging the 174 photographs that Brand donated to the museum. “Selecting the fourteen images to be included in the show was quite the task,” she claimed. “They all had great depth, interest, and character. I am happy to have the exhibit installed for Jonathan Brand’s 60th class reunion for Bennington High School this July.”

Images:
Leader Blocks, Bennington, Vt., October 14, 1967
Bennington,Vt., October 14, 1967
Mrs. Austin and Jenny, Bennington, Vt., October 14, 1967


The Bennington Museum, located at 75 Main Street (Route 9), Bennington has the largest public collection of Grandma Moses paintings in the world as well as the largest collection of 19th century Bennington pottery. In the other seven galleries, the museum presents a 1924 Wasp Touring Car, one of only twenty produced, military artifacts, one of the earliest ‘stars and stripes’ in existence, fine and decorative arts, and more. On view through October 30 is “Grandma Moses and the ‘Primitive’ Tradition.” The museum is just a short ride from Manchester, Williamstown, and eastern New York, and open February through December every day but Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and students over 18. No admission is charged for younger students or to visit the museum shop and café. Visit the museum’s website www.benningtonmuseum.org or call 802-447-1571 for more information.