See art, buy art, and be seen this season
(It’s time to get out of the house.)
{ Allie Heimos }
Brad Chapman Bleau, Scrub-a-dub-dub (detail), acrylic and junk on wood, 36" x 24" 2022. Courtesy of the artist.
A roundup of not-to-be-missed events and shows before the weather gets too nice. Your future self is so cultured and relevant!
Experience the joy of nostalgia with Brad Chapman Bleau
Brad Chapman juxtaposes tangible, vintage objects with surreal painting motifs for his solo show at the Mary Cosgrove Dolphin Art Gallery at Worcester State. What does that look like? The artist constructs assemblage, or “junk,” paintings and sculptures peppered with cultural detritus, objects from a past not that far removed. To wit: in one “junk” painting, Happy Meal toys fit right in next to vintage tins, shelved right above a beanied, blue-nosed Dunkin’ fan donning a cock-eyed stare. It’s fascinating and fun to discover some of the Easter eggs Chapman tucks into his work. The Surrealist experience invites you to project your own associations onto these material objects, engaging perhaps memories kicking around in the cobwebs. “The memories and associations we hold within objects of emotional significance are what give those objects meaning, a sense of life outside of their intended purpose,” says the artist. Depending on how old you are, where you grew up, or what television commercials tunneled deep into your brain, you will almost certainly have a different experience than the person standing next to you looking at the same piece (you’re both right!). Conversely, you and your neighbor might not even speak the same language, but you both remember the absolute ecstasy of finding that jolly purple plastic Grimace amongst your McNuggets. The point is, you choose your own adventure. Take things a step further with an interactive “play space” set up in the gallery for your own hands-on junk-arranging enjoyment. Chapman’s willingness to forfeit some control over the viewer’s experience is intentional and refreshing. Enjoy!
Do yourself a favor and head over to WSU’s campus for the opening reception where you can meet the artist and be among the first to peep this show. Keep an eye on the gallery’s Instagram (@wsuvpagallery) for more associated programming notes.
On view: March 7 through April 13
Public reception: Thursday, March 7, 4-7 PM (free)
Gallery hours: Wednesday through Friday, 11 AM - 5 PM, Saturday 1-5 PM (free)
Main floor of the Ghosh Center at WSU, 486 Chandler Street, Worcester
Brad Chapman Bleau, Big Mac, acrylic and junk on wood, 24" x 36" 2022. Courtesy of the artist.
Brad Chapman Bleau, On the Verge, acrylic and junk on wood, 24" x 36" 2022. Courtesy of the artist.
Look inward at the Fitchburg Art Museum
Art frequently offers opportunities for introspection and supplies us with important pathways to healing. Head to FAM for “Art at the Intersection of Health and Well-being,” a mental health event presented in conjunction with Portrayed by Eakins: Ella Crowell as Model and Student. Some history: Eakins (1844–1916) has been called the “father of modern realism in American Art,” but his legacy has been reassessed through revelations about his complicated history with his oldest niece, Ella Crowell (1873–1897). Crowell sat for Eakins as a baby and ultimately moved to Philadelphia to study with him in the late 19th Century, but then later accused her uncle of sexual misconduct, was placed in a mental hospital by September 1896, and committed suicide in mid-1897. The recently restored double-sided oil painting, Portrait of Ella Crowell (1882), depicts Ella in highlighted profile on the front-facing side, while shadowy contour of her figure on the verso eerily prognosticates the tragedy of her life’s last years.
This work serves as a springboard for deeper conversations about the interplay between art, mental health, and social justice. In an open discussion, presenters will explore how art can facilitate healing after traumatic experiences. Whether it’s a personal trauma that motivates you to confront these themes, or you’re just interested in the concepts at play, this fascinating discussion will provide a safe environment to explore with others, plus access to important mental health resources.
Saturday, March 16, 12-2 PM
Museum admission rates range. Check FAM’s website for more.
Fitchburg Art Museum, 185 Elm Street, Fitchburg
Just want to wind down in a cool setting? FAM also offers yoga in the galleries on Tuesday nights through the end of April, 6:15-7:30 PM.
Thomas Eakins (US American, 1844–1916), Portrait of Ella Crowell, c. 1892, oil on canvas. Gift of Nancy Crowell Reinbold, 2015.33. Courtesy of the Fitchburg Art Museum.
Amplify your collection at Art On The Line
Fancy yourself an art collector without breaking the bank at this beloved flash sale fundraiser to benefit ArtsWorcester’s members’ exhibitions. You’ve never been to a flash sale like this before: for Art On The Line, artists donate hundreds of small-scale, two-dimensional artworks, all of which get suspended from the gallery ceiling and priced at $20 each. The result is something like a hovering cloud of small artworks, just waiting to be plucked and taken home. Make sure to get there early enough to snag a good spot in the line before the event officially begins—when the doors open at 5 on the dot, the crowd dives head first into the fray and you get to snap up whatever catches your eye. This event is a fun opportunity for anyone looking to buy original art, whether you’ve been collecting for years or are just starting out. The prices can’t be beat, so AOTL is an especially nice way to find art by a particular artist who is typically out of reach. At 20 bucks a pop, you’ll still feel flush enough afterwards to grab a drink downtown.
While you’re visiting the galleries, don’t miss Feast, this year’s installment of an annual Call and Response collaboration between ArtsWorcester and the Fitchburg Art Museum. Each year has followed a different theme, and this year’s is all about food. Ten pieces from FAM’s permanent collection serve as inspiration for artist members, and they respond with their own work in kind. Don’t miss the mouth-watering artworks on loan from Fitchburg, especially Justin Walker’s seductive Daddy Bruce.
Saturday, April 13, 5-7 PM
Tickets: $10 (C’mon, it’s a fundraiser!), available online
ArtsWorcester, 44 Portland Street, Worcester
Last year’s Art On The Line at ArtsWorcester. Photo courtesy of Nathan Fiske Photography.