ACM@HOME

March 18, 2021

An interview with Sarah Meyers Brent

Tell us a bit about your background.

I grew up in the country, at the foothills of the Adirondacks, in Hadley New York.  It is a pretty remote area, and we rented an apartment in Saratoga Springs to go to the public school, and were back and forth between the two. My grandmother was an artist, and we would make drawings using the Ed Emberley books. I was always making art: drawing, painting, and creating things outside.

When did you know you were an artist? Was there a particular pivotal moment?

In high school I was interested in a variety of subjects, including Math and Science, but my best teachers were art and graphic design teachers. They were much more relaxed and I enjoyed their classes.

I went to Skidmore College intending to focus on graphic design. I wasn’t able to take design courses the first 2 years, because of painting and drawings requirements, and I fell in love with painting. I ended up with a dual major in graphic design and painting and, after graduating, worked two different jobs as a graphic designer. At a certain point I was getting sick of staring at a computer all day and wanted to get back into making things. I took classes after work and, ultimately, made the switch and went back and got a Post-Bac in painting from Brandeis and a MFA in painting from UNH.

Who are your biggest influences?

Oh goodness, so many! Currently circling around my head when painting are works by Joan Mitchell, Joan Snyder, Chaim Soutine, and Cy Twombly and when sculpting, works by Lynda Benglis and Petah Coyne. Some contemporary artists I follow are Cecily Brown, Galen Chaney, Lavaughan Jenkins, Jennifer Packer, and Allison Schulnik.

Where do you find inspiration?

In my paintings, I have recently been finding inspiration from dried flowers. Some are 2D paintings and others have sculptures clinging to the edge of the paintings, sort of as if the painting’s surface is the vase, and the flowers are growing out of them. My sculptures are inspired by the forms and colors of the discarded stuff from my house and community. I am, also, inspired by geometric structures. In “Curious Cultivation Installation” I was interested in the wall and how all of the material could spill down from the edge— a similar composition to my small pieces. I am inspired by similar, but much larger, structures at the Art Complex Museum and would love to have all this repurposed stuff growing down from the top of these walls. I am also hoping to obtain more larger repurposed items to provide visual inspiration for floor sculpture.

Can you describe the process of what you do?

My paintings usually start from a visual inspiration from a dried flower still life, and then take off in a different direction as I respond to what is going on the canvas. I sometimes have to make some pretty dramatic changes to the paintings to be able to see them in a new light or decide whether they are finished or not. I am interested in getting a whole mess of different marks from thin and thick. My small mixed media paintings sometimes have the desire to build themselves up beyond the surface. I then add extra sculptural elements and go back in with the painting process. The large sculptures and installations are different in that I start with a visual inspiration, like an archway on a museum wall, do some sketches to work out the form, and then go back in assembling with repurposed items, as if they are pieces of paint and color.

Can you describe a typical day in your life during this pandemic? How has it changed from before?

I have two young boys and it has been harder to find time to get work done. I don’t have a typical day; sometimes I have longer days in the studio, other times shorter blocks, and others no time at all.  It has been hard having kids at home on top of each other all of the time. They were getting along well for a while, but now are getting super cooped up and wanting to kill each other! This is, somewhat, what my art is about anyway: trying to find a sense of beauty within a mess.

How has 2020 affected your life and work? What have you found to be helpful and what are your hurdles?

I have been trying to be more streamlined with my studio-process: writing down my goals, not wasting time by ‘picking’ at paintings, or doing social media. I am also just really grateful for any time that I do have in the studio. Making this work is a release for me that has helped me to stay a balanced person and mother.

To view a video about Sarah, courtesy of the Chase Young Gallery, please click here.

January 17, 2021

An interview with Gillian Christy

When did you know you were an artist?

I’ve always been an artist. It became apparent to me in high school which life path I should pursue when in theater I was asked to design and paint the sets rather than star in the musical.  For me, taking ceramics in high school opened up my eyes to creating three-dimensional art.  Then in college I was introduced to making sculptures with sheet metal and I’ve been a sculptor ever since.

Was there a particular pivotal moment?

During my junior year in college (2001) I studied abroad in Florence, Italy and this was a pivotal time for me.  It was my first time away from home for such an extended period, while also being my first time in Europe.  It was eye opening for me to live among different landscapes and architecture.  Through this lens I began thinking about my home with my familiar surroundings in Iowa and what home meant to me and how the idea of home could be incorporated into my work.

Who are your biggest influences?

My biggest influence is my former professor, sculptor Tom Stancliffe.  He not only taught me how to weld, but opened up the avenue of public art.  Most importantly he encouraged me to go out into the world and get started.  In adulthood my artist friend, painter Luke Randall has pushed me to work on my finishes and surface treatments of my sculptures.  I admire his painting, decorative painting and also his on-going interests in learning new things.  Artist friends who generously share, but also push and challenge are invaluable.

Where do you find inspiration?

I am inspired to create artwork based on the familiar objects that one may view on a daily basis.  I use the term “Connectors” to describe prevailing themes that I explore, considering the elements in our built or natural world that connect home with one’s everyday surroundings. Right now in the Tabernacle Series I am creating intricate architectural forms that hold details which illustrate a story.  Most recently I have been depicting events in my life, focusing on my place in society as a women and mother. Through this I set out to express our worldʼs connectedness between home, nature, and one another.

Can you describe the process of what you do?

My goal is to create large-scale public art and much of the work I do supports these monumental projects. I make models which can show potential clients how a sculpture would look prior to making the artworks really big.  My gallery work explores different themes and techniques which I consider my sketchbook of ideas.

Can you describe a typical day in your life during this pandemic? How has it changed from before?

Making time to be at the studio during this pandemic has been challenging.  I am fortunate that my family is adaptable.  We went from a very comfortable schedule to an unimaginable schedule, which now 9 months into the pandemic, is just our normal life.  My projects have been delayed and I went from working full-time to part-time in the studio.  I go into the studio very early in the morning and then come home to home-school and care for our son.

How has 2020 affected your life and work? What have you found to be helpful and what are your hurdles?

With work I set pretty strict self-mandated goals which helps me stay motivated and on track.  With project and exhibition delays along with show cancellations it is hard to stay focused and positive. It also pains me to think of how much I used to be able to accomplish in one full work day so I’ve had to alter my expectations.  The most helpful thing I’ve done is to change my mindset and consider this year a gift, because I’m spending so much time with my four year old son.  As well as making really, really beautiful salads.

December 13, 2020

An interview with artist Chil Mott

Tell us a little about your background.

I’ve been a graphic designer, illustrator, carpenter, musician, and Jr. High basketball coach. I’m a vegetarian who dislikes vegetables, a surfer who’s adverse to water, and a painter with a legally blind left eye. I live with my paramour of many years. We’ve cohabited with 10 rescue dogs over that time, 4 of them are still running with us.

Who are your biggest influences/inspiration?

I was obsessed with black and white line work and mark making for many years — people like Anders Zorn, Charles White, Charles Burns, and Käthe Kollwitz. I’m currently infatuated with Toyin Ojih Odutola’s drawings and interviews.

Some touchstones for the bug series I am working on are Audubon, Wayne Thiebaud, and the Suprematists. While the images are highly realistic, I hope they transcend scientific representation. I feel that certain areas of fine detail, as well as contrasting spaces of distortion, are imperative to help expand the paintings’ potential narrative and interest.

What are you reading right now?

Sarah Kendzior and Timothy Snyder have helped guide me through these last four years. Snyder’s On Tyranny and The Road to Unfreedom have enlightened me on the magnitude of the dilemmas we currently face.

I’ve long been drawn to existentialist works and was excited to recently learn that Ralph Ellison was inspired in part by Dostoyevsky’s Notes from Underground for his seminal novel Invisible Man. After re-reading Invisible Man this summer I found it to still be a timely and eye opening commentary that shows how far we haven’t come over the past 70 years.

Music is just as inspiring and essential to my being as painting and prose. But after living and breathing it intensely for so many years I now have a hard time listening to the same band for more than two songs in a row. My life is a shuffle; Miles & Chet, James Brown, Rocksteady, Bad Brains, Jerry’s Kids, R. L. Burnside, Gabby Pahinui, Public Enemy, Bach, Monsieur de Saint Colombe, The Stooges, Sampa the Great, and of course Belly and L7.

How is everything (Covid-19 and the current political situation), affecting your work and your life?

I’m a bit of a hermit with an at-home office/studio so the pandemic hasn’t affected me socially as much, but I feel for all the front-line doctors and nurses fighting without the full support of our government and populace. As an advocate of art, science, world culture, and life on earth, I worry that democracy and our environment will not survive the Republican Party’s assault on them.

To see a video of Chil in his studio click here.

November 22, 2020

An Interview with artist Jackie Reeves

Tell us a little about your background.

I grew up in a family of 7 (6 girls and 1 boy) in Montreal. Both my parents were architects and my childhood was filled with creative play with my siblings that steered me in the direction of a career in art. I studied design art in undergraduate school and spent the next two decades trying out different disciplines and teaching myself the necessary skills for illustration, graphic design, teaching, set design and painting, performance, giant puppet making and commercial mural painting. I did this while raising three daughters with my husband on Cape Cod.

When did you know you were an artist? Was there a particular pivotal moment?

I knew at about the age of 12 that I loved to draw, but calling myself an artist came much later in life. Even though I had a 20-year career as a commercial artist and a commission mural painter, it wasn’t until I started painting for myself that I felt comfortable with the title, “artist”.

Who are your biggest influences?

Different artists, depending on what I’m exploring in my studio practice, have influenced me. Right now I’d say William Kentridge, Jenny Saville, Julie Mehretu and Gerry Bergstein are on my mind as I prepare for this show. As a young adult I gravitated toward Egon Schiele, Edward Degas, Gustav Klimt and Toulouse Lautrec. I still love their loose, expressive drawing styles. At other times I’ve been influenced by Gerhart Richter, Mamma Anderson and Peter Doig for painting styles and Arturo Herrera, Marc Bradford and many Abstract Expressionist painters for mixed media and collage.

Where do you find inspiration?

Going to museums, watching live performances of music, dance, theatre, and generally looking at other artists inspires me to get in the studio. For my own artwork I find inspiration from family, memories, old photographs and new art materials.

What do you like to do for fun?

I love travelling with my family, going on road trips with my art friends to see exhibits, walking in nature, dressing up for costume parties and going dancing, eating sushi, having visits with my sisters, making plans, going to my studio, paddling on a calm lake, cross country skiing where I grew up north of Montreal… I could go on and on.

What are you reading right now?

I just became an American Citizen this week so I’ve been studying my guidebook to American history and system of government in order to pass my naturalization test.  I’ve learned a lot and am prepared to vote in my first election.
On the lighter side I am enjoying 2 graphic novels; Fun Home by Alison Bechdel and Diary of a Teenage Girl by Pheobe Gloeckner. I also have a novel next to my bed but I usually fall asleep 2 pages in…. I can only seem to get through novels when I’m in an airport going on vacation. Not much of that happening these days.

What are your favorite mediums?

Charcoal, ink, fluid paints, all drawing materials.

Can you describe your process?

When I get to my studio I usual journal about what’s on my mind. I find this helps me get the daily news out of my head and gets me back to where I left off making art. For new paintings I often start without a solid plan, more of a general idea in my head or theme I am exploring.  I play around with materials in an abstract way, spilling paint, pressing, dragging, folding and manipulating the surface so that I get unexpected results, like a Rorschach print. Then I move the painting around until I start to see something that interests me at which point I edit until I think it’s done.

Other times I know what I want to make based off of an old family photograph. This process is a little more thought out because my goal is to mimic the photo. But then I blur or dissolve the image by doing more of the previously mentioned action painting. I never know what the results will be. Sometimes it’s a fantastic surprise and other times it’s an epic failure that then requires more editing.

I also love making collages combining pieces of my own artwork with scraps of papers I’ve collected over the years.  I puzzle together these disparate elements until I find some kind of order that makes sense to me.

In general I find myself needing to switch things up when I notice myself getting stiff or bored with my process. It helps keep things fresh for me.

How is everything (Covid-19, social distancing, wearing masks, lock downs, shutdowns, the political environment, Black Lives Matter and the protests against police brutality to name a few) that is now being called our “New Normal”, affecting your work and your life?

I find myself waking up to the world around me in a way that I never have before. Becoming an American citizen amidst all of this has really forced me to recon with my new identity at a time when the rest of the world is looking at America in a way it never has before. My first response in March 2020 was to return to my mural painting roots and I have been engaging the Cape Cod community with several public projects that celebrate the BLM movement (Baldwin Mural on 6A in Barnstable Village), the importance of voting (League of Women Voters community mural in Falmouth) and community connectivity (Together Apart: public social distancing murals). For me, it’s been a constructive form of activism that has brought attention to issues that matter to my community using the power of visual art.

Having my three daughters (two in college and a high school senior) home during this pandemic has drawn my attention to how goal oriented we all are, working toward some mission we have set out for ourselves. Everyone’s plans are on hold right now, suspended and perhaps forever altered given our new reality living with the global threat of viruses. We are all being forced to live with uncertainty. Some people are equipped for that and some are not. It’s like the walls have come crumbling down around the world and all that’s left are skeletal structures, frameworks that we have built our lives upon. Maybe these foundations aren’t quite what we thought they were and it’s time to rebuild.

Big Plans is the working title of my solo show scheduled for summer 2021. If all goes according to “plan”, I’ll be exhibiting the artwork and ideas I have been formulating since January 2020 up until opening day.

Website: www.jackiereeves.com

To see a video about Jackie click here.

November 8, 2020

An interview with Artistic Director and flutist Deborah Boldin

Please give us a little history of the Chameleon Arts Ensemble.

Founded in 1998, Chameleon Arts Ensemble has built a reputation as Boston’s most adventurous chamber ensemble, integrating old and new repertoire into unexpected programs that are themselves works of art. Our mission is to present the highest quality chamber music performances, to foster an understanding and appreciation of the art form through imaginative and adventurous programs, and to infuse a public-spirited sensibility in all that we do to make classical music available, understandable, and accessible for audiences throughout the Boston area.

Over the past two decades, Chameleon has performed more than 375 concerts featuring a remarkable array of nearly 750 different works by 325 different composers presented in smart, thematic programs that appeal to both connoisseurs and newcomers alike. We began with a modest five-concert series, and since then we have more than tripled the number of performances each year. Annual activities now include three concert series – Chamber Music Series, Up Close recital series, and music education series – along with our cherished community outreach programming, various residency and guest appearances, and broadcasts on WCRB Radio Boston.

The Boston Globe called us “a local treasure” and The Boston Musical Intelligencer praised us for “rediscovery, curiosity, and supersonic performing.” National honors include 2020, 2017, and 2015 awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, 2015 and 2004 awards from the Koussevitzky Music Foundation in the Library of Congress, and 2009 and 2007 Adventurous Programming Awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and Chamber Music America. The Ensemble has appeared twice at the venerable Rockport Chamber Music Festival, and has been featured on WCRB Radio, WHRB Classical, and WBUR Radio Boston.

The Ensemble is led by Artistic Director and flutist Deborah Boldin. Her inspired vision and vast knowledge of the repertoire have garnered widespread acclaim. The Boston Globe hailed “Chameleon Arts Ensemble has distinguished itself over the course of two decades by sheer dint of its sparklingly imaginative programming.” Our exceptional, multi-generational roster was called “an all-star lineup of chamber musicians” by The Globe, and individually, they have appeared in concert with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Marlboro Music, Boston Symphony, Chamber Music Northwest, Music@Menlo, and the Verbier, Ravinia, and Caramoor Festivals.

 What is your connection to The Art Complex Museum?

It was early in our history that Chameleon Arts Ensemble became associated with The Art Complex Museum. It was through a commission project spearheaded by the Boston Chapter of The American Composers Forum. We premiered Michael McLaughlin’s Trackings for flute, violin, viola, and cello. The piece was inspired by the Museum’s fall 2002 exhibition “Gadgets, Gizmos and Games” which showcased all sorts of kinetic and interactive art. The exhibition was curated by Craig Bloodgood and dedicated to the memory of Edith Weyerhaeuser.

We were very young (having been founded only 4 years earlier) and thrilled to have such an interesting and immersive project to work on. It made a deep impression on us both in terms of bringing a brand-new piece of music to life and understanding the intersections of music and its inspirations. I vividly recall the experience of warming up in the library before the performance and walking through the exhibition itself. Seeing the sculptures firsthand changed my understanding of the motion in the music and this made for an immeasurably rich experience.

We were also fortunate to appear on the Sunday concert series a few years later in November of 2006 with a program of old and new works for flute, viola, and harp by Francois Devienne, George Rochberg, Benjamin Britten, and Claude Debussy. Several of the Chameleon artists who performed on these two concerts were also a part of our current “communing with nature” project and remarked what wonderful memories they had from both.

We’ve played countless concerts since that time and the fact that we remember these two programs so well and so intensely, speaks to the incredible impact The Art Complex Museum had – and continues to have – on our little troupe.

When I approached Mary Curran (out of the blue) to ask if we might be able to record our first virtual concert of the 2020-2021 season on the Museum’s grounds, I was elated and flattered to learn that she and Charles Weyerhaeuser remembered us and were game for another, albeit unconventional, project. To say that we are grateful for The Museum’s support would be an understatement. Overwhelmed and “over the moon” is more like it…!

Can you describe the process of how you work together as an ensemble?

Collaboration is the cornerstone of any good chamber music. Each musician arrives at rehearsal with his or her own conception of a piece of music, and the trick is to know when to put forward your ideas and when to take in others’ ideas. It is a real give and take process that enables us to learn and grow in the moment. The Chameleons embrace this philosophy wholeheartedly. It doesn’t mean we always agree, but the “meeting place” we arrive at, is something that no one person could have come up with, and that is very exciting from an interpretive standpoint. I learn something new – about myself and about music – each and every time I rehearse and perform with these amazing artists.

How has the current situation forced you as musicians to adapt?

I don’t want to turn this conversation too negative, but the truth is that we know the loss of in-person concerts, gatherings, etc., has been both emotionally heartbreaking and financially devastating for all artists – musicians, performers, painters, dancers, and on and on. For my part, I miss the tangible energies that come from playing music in front of an audience. You can truly feel that collective experience, and the challenge now is to explore ways to generate that sensibility from within ourselves in order to be able to bring the love of music to a virtual setting.

The key – from my perspective – is to create virtual offerings that don’t attempt to replicate the in-person experience, but instead conceive of something new that can serve as a “bridge.” This means we can acknowledge our shared circumstances in an honest way, but still revel in the joy of the art form.

I think our outdoor concert at The Art Complex Museum exemplifies this attitude. For example, viewers will notice microphones and cables in the shots. We also decided that the musicians would conclude their performances without the traditional bowing to the audience, or filing in/out of the performance space. Each is a small thing, but taken altogether, it signals that we’re doing something different.

Individually, the Chameleons are teaching, collaborating, and lecturing on Zoom. They are also performing in as many socially-distanced virtual concerts without an audience that comes along. Some are also turning to long-awaited solo projects. Like all artists, being a musician is who you are, not just what you do, and finding ways to engage with one’s creativity is essential during this period.

Chameleon is offering two more virtual concerts this fall. November 14-21 is part of our archival “Rewind” series and December 5-12 is a newly recorded concert of works by Brahms and others exploring the idea of being “interrupted and in between.”

 Are there any silver linings?

There are always silver linings if we take the time to look for them. I think our renewed association with The Art Complex Museum is top of my list, along with a reminder of the importance of friendship and collaboration, health and safety, and love of art in all its forms.

 What do you all do for fun?

There are cooks and mixologists among us; along with avid readers; bikers, runners, and hikers; coffee aficionados; gardeners; painters (house and fine art); autograph collectors; “parents” of dogs and cats; and more. The Chameleons have a wonderfully varied set of interests outside of music!

Do you sing in the shower?

I sure do! But it’s usually Brahms…

What is your creative process like?

My creative process is one of slow unfolding. As a flutist, I love to learn music over a long period of time, experimenting with sound and color in addition to addressing the technical aspects to execute the piece. The same is true when I craft programs for Chameleon. I typically “sculpt” them over several years, starting with a single piece of music or a theme or concept. Over time, I encounter additional “puzzle pieces” and the entire concert takes shape.  In both cases, it is important to have time to dream. I typically have 70-80 different concert programs “in process” at any given time. I hope that I’m able to finish and see each and every one come to life!

What first got you into music?

Music was always around my house when I was growing up. My mom used to play records of Pavarotti singing Neapolitan songs and other opera arias, and I have strong memories of listening to Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” in a specific recording with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Eugene Ormandy conducting. The tangible, outward (almost muscular) mode of expression really resonated with me from a young age.

What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?

This is something I’ve never even considered!

To see a video with selections from the concert click here.

October 11, 2020

Interview with Irena Roman, Transparent Watercolor Painter

Tell us a bit about your background.

I’m a transparent watercolorist from Scituate with a background in freelance illustration. And I’m also a Professor at MassArt.

When did you know you were an artist/maker? Was there a particular pivotal moment?

I knew when I was three that making art was what I really loved and wanted to do. As an only child, I’d entertain myself by drawing for hours on end. Am still doing that today.

Who are your biggest influences?

There are so many! Historically, I adore Homer, Hopper, Sargent, Lillian Wescott Hale and O’Keeffe as well as many of the great illustrators from the 1970’s and 80’s such as the late David Grove and Kazu Sano.

Where do you find inspiration?

Light, and how it reveals form is my biggest inspiration. So I find it everywhere! Paintings that contain a strong light source have the magical power to expose the intangible, ethereal nature of whatever the subject matter is. I admire any and all art that channels radiance.

Can you describe the process of what you do?

Because I work transparently with watercolor (I never add white), I find starting with a value study essential. It’s my road map. Before I begin painting, I apply liquid masking fluid to all areas of the paper that need to remain protected. Even though my paintings appear precise, I usually start with a loose, wet-on-wet wash that covers broad areas. This wash serves as a point of reference for the rest of the painting’s value scale. Once that’s dry, I remove the masking fluid and begin the painting in earnest.

How is everything that is now being called our “New Normal” affecting your work and your life?

At the moment, the biggest effect I feel from this “new normal” in my day-to-day life is trying to stay centered As far as my work goes, I’m sure that new concepts for a future series from having lived through this experience will surface when the time is right.

To view a video of Irena click here.

September 27, 2020

Wally Kemp

Wallace McMillian Kemp was born on June 2, 1925. He grew up in Braintree, Massachusetts, graduating from Braintree High School. He continued his education at Tufts University and then on to Yale where he became a Doctor in General Surgery.

Wally was one of five other general practitioners who were the original founders of the South Shore Medical Center.

Always working with wood from a young age, Wally also builds and repairs furniture. When he retired from medicine, woodturning became a fascinating pastime.

His love of nature and natural materials is always visible in his work. The association and community of other local woodturners and opportunity for exhibitions and demonstration became great sources of motivation and inspiration.

During the past few months, while in quarantine, he and Duxbury artist Kriss Brennen have been working together collaborating and creating Victorian walking sticks. Wally is still using his lathe and teaching Kriss his techniques. He loves spending time with others and people always enjoy his company. He describes his process of creating his pieces this way: “I use my head, put it on paper, make it, and then I give it to someone I love.” His positive attitude and kindness is infectious and has certainly kept him in good health. He says this pandemic has not really changed his life; he is well cared for and is staying connected socially. He is reading books and enjoying his beautiful home.

To see a video of Wally’s work click here.

September 13, 2020

Olga Rothschild

Artist and former museum volunteer

Olga Landeck was born in the American Hospital in Paris on September 4, 1929.  Both her parents had graduated from the Columbia School of Architecture the previous year. They took an extended honeymoon traveling through Europe. The Great Depression hit and they returned to America. There was no market for designing new buildings and both her parents turned to teaching, her father Armin to art and her mother Beatrice to music.  Olga is a product of progressive education, first at the Little Red School House in Greenwich Village, NYC.  Her father later taught at the Brearley School, which Olga attended for high school. From there, she went to Bennington College. She married young, before finishing her degree, but returned to Sarah Lawrence College when her three children were in middle school.  It was there that she first made prints and sculpture and studied with the renowned Joseph Campbell. She learned rug hooking from Harriet Clark, an old family friend in Cornwall, Connecticut. She and her first husband divorced in 1980.  Two years later she married Dick Rothschild and they settled first in Greenwich, CT and then, for many years, in Duxbury.

More recently they built the contemporary home of their dreams in Rocky Nook, Kingston. Olga created the active group Duxbury Rug Hookers. They meet every Tuesday. It is a congenial, supportive group of women. Each year they raffle off a communal rug with the proceeds going to the Duxbury Senior Center.

Olga answered these interview questions.

When did you know you were an artist?

My father was an artist and so it always seemed a “normal“ existence to me.

Was there a particular pivotal moment?

No, I am still not sure I am an “artist”.

Who are your biggest influences?

Wanda Gag –years ago.

Where do you find inspiration?

In artist’s work and sometimes in nature.

What do you do for fun?

I like to read fiction.

What are you reading right now?

Wallace Stegner

What are your favorite art mediums?

Hooking wool rugs and drawing

How is everything (Covid-19, social distancing, wearing masks, lock downs, shutdowns, the political environment, Black Lives Matter and the protests against police brutality to name a few.) that is now being called our “New Normal” affecting your work and your life?

More time at home.

It was a wonderful treat to visit Olga and we are pleased to share her beautiful world!

To see a video of Olga’s home and studio click here.

August 30, 2020

Interview with artist Zach Horn

Tell me a little about your background.

I am from Philadelphia, though I have lived in a breadth of eastern seaboard cities. I now live in Dorchester with my brilliant wife and three rambunctious kiddos. Our house is constant chaos, but filled with the best possible commotion. I love it.

When did you know you were an artist? Was there a particular pivotal moment?

I have always been an artist. My grandmother was a terrific modern artist and she introduced me early to the wonder of painting. But, I was always tempted to apply my analytical brain, and I could have wandered another less satisfying though more remunerative path.

A few inspirational teachers, like Stan Whitney in Italy, and Richard Ryan and John Walker at Boston University, gave me the clarity to see how I could make a life as an artist. Though I think falling in love gave me the confidence to leap with faith. Thank god.

Who are your biggest influences?

Ben Shahn for his subject matter, Van Gogh for his color. Daumier for his drawing, Helen Frankenthaler for her grace, and Vija Celmins for her attention span.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration in little things. When I do the breakfast dishes on Saturdays, I sometimes look at the pancake crumbs stuck in syrup and jelly and think that it is the most beautiful abstract and literal painting. The transparency of the amber syrup and crimson jelly are just exquisite.

What do you like to do for fun?

For fun, I like to do active things like hiking, swimming, camping, beaching.

I cook, though lately I feel like a sergeant in a mess hall. I miss cooking casually…

What are you reading right now?

In my studio, I listen to a lot of audiobooks. Quarantine has put me on a bit of a tear. The best fiction book that I listened to recently is American Spy, by Lauren Wilkinson. The best nonfiction book is Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown. I am now in the middle of The Woman Who Smashed Codes, by Jason Fagone, it’s the story of codebreaker Elizabeth Friedman.

What is your favorite medium(s)

I love experimenting with new materials and frequently use paint, graphite, wood, plaster, paper pulp, saw dust, marble dust, and charcoal.

Still, I think there is something special about oil paint. It smells right.

Can you describe your process?

I am consistently inconsistent in my processes. I intentionally look for new ways of making things, mostly for the fun of it.

I am currently working on an exhibition for the Museum of Work and Culture in Woonsocket, RI, titled United We Bargain, Divided We Beg, opening on October 5th.

How is everything (Covid-19 and the current political situation), affecting your work and your life?

Ack. I have been in lockdown with the kids, 2, 5, 7, so that has kept me pretty busy. The political situation is nauseating. I am anxiously and optimistically looking forward to November.

You can visit Zach’s website by clicking here.

August 16, 2020

Alfie Glover Coloring sheet

For the past year The Art Complex Museum has enjoyed several of Alfred Glover’s colorful metal sculptures on the grounds. His work inspires childlike whimsy and joy. Visit his website to read about his process and watch a video. To download a PDF coloring page based on his work click this link:

Alfie Glover Coloring sheet

August 2, 2020

Glenn A. Sorei Pereira

Glenn A. Sorei Pereira is an instructor of chanoyu, the Japanese tea ceremony. He has been performing tea ceremony at The Art Complex for the many years, both for adults and children. He imbibes teaching tea with his wonderful humor to delight all those who have experienced the ceremony.

Originally from Fall River, Massachusetts, of Portuguese descent, Glenn now lives in Boston, where he holds weekly classes for anyone interested in studying tea. His students include both Japanese and Americans from all walks of life coming together to learn both the role of host and guest at a tea gathering. Besides teaching these roles, Glenn also instructs students in flower arranging, cooking and other tea related subjects.

In 1981 Glenn was introduced to chado, the way of tea and immediately began his studies. In 1982 he received a scholarship to enter the Midorikai program of intensive tea study at the Urasenke Professional College of Chado in Kyoto, Japan. Sen Genshitsu XV, Great Grand Tea Master of the Urasenke School of Tea in Kyoto, gave the scholarship to him.

After graduating from the Urasenke Professional College of Chado Glenn returned to Boston where he continues his studies of tea along with teaching. He now does lectures and demonstrations at many schools, universities, social clubs and art galleries throughout New England bringing the way of tea to many people. Glenn travels to teach intensive training workshops for tea groups throughout the United States. He also returns to Japan each year to further his studies in tea.

In February of 1993 Glenn received his chamei, professional tea name, from Sen Genshitsu XV. The name given him was Sorei, meaning beautiful, bright, clear, fine, and serene. In November of 1997 he received, junkyoju, an associate professor degree and in December 2002 he received, kyoju, a professor degree also from Sen Genshitsu XV.

In February of 2013 Glenn became ceritified to teach tea in the Japanese School system.

In June of 2017 Glenn received the Foreign Minister of Japan’s Commendation. It was in recognition of outstanding contributions that he has made to the promotion of Japanese culture in the United States.

As a missionary of chado, Glenn continues the wishes of Sen Genshitsu XV and Sen Soshitsu XVI, to create peacefulness through sharing a bowl of tea. This sharing of a bowl of tea also fosters a great relationship between both countries.

When did you know you wanted to study chado?

In 1980 I received a gift certificate of 10 lessons to study tea. No knowing anything about it I didn’t act on it until 9 months later September of 1981. The reason being was that although I had a great interest in Japan I knew nothing about the tea culture. I went to the first lesson with no intentions of going to the other nine. To my surprise I fell head over heels in love with it.

Was there a particular pivotal moment?

Yes, it was at my first lesson on September 9, 1981. The teacher was very knowledgeable and excited to talk about chado with me. His excitement about it was infectious. When he asked about my background and heard that I was from Portuguese decent he seemed even more excited to tell me about the Portuguese influence in Japan and chado. I knew by the end of that first lesson that I wanted to continue to study and one day to become a teacher as well.

Who are your biggest influences?

Allan Sosei Palmer, without a doubt, that gave me that first lesson.Also,  the 15^th generation Grand Master Hounsai Daisosho who gave me the scholarship to study in Japan at Urasenke and the present 16^th generation Grand Master Zabosai Oiemoto. I return to Japan yearly and both continue to set such a good example of what a good chajin (tea practitioner) is- through not only words, but actions.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration from the Grand Masters both past and present. Other teachers and students inspire me. They all make me want to continue my studies and be a better instructor of tea.
When hosting a tea gathering my choice of utensils is inspired by seasonal events, nature, culture and my own personal taste.

What do you do with your knowledge of the tea ceremony?

I am the current Chief of Administration for the Chado Urasenke Tankokai Boston Association. Besides teaching, I as well as other teachers and members of our group, do lectures and demonstrations throughout New England. We are especially busy with local schools of all levels.
Privately, members host tea gatherings for friends and family.

Can you describe the process of what you do?

That’s a tough question. The serving of tea, as simple as it may seem to most people, is actually quite complex in its preparation. It would depend on whether you do a full tea gathering, which would be about 4 hours or just invite someone over for a simple ceremony. The preparation time would be anywhere from a few hours or even less to possibly weeks or even months to organize and prepare.

How is Covid-19, (social distancing, wearing masks, lock downs, shutdowns affecting your work and your life?

 Due to mask wearing and social distancing getting together to share tea is currently difficult. All demonstrations and in person classes have been cancelled due to Covid-19. We have however held some classes and events using Skype and Zoom. I’m happy to announce that all our members are safe and healthy. This is due to tea practitioners being extremely disciplined when following rules. Also, purity* is one of the principles we follow so we seem to be always cleaning.
When returning to the tearoom, hopefully soon, we will have new rules and restrictions to keep everyone safe.

For example: In a full tea gathering the host makes two teas. The first is koicha, which is a tea with a thick consistency. The host makes a bowl with enough tea for up to five guests to share. The second tea is called usucha, which has a thin and frothy consistency. This is made for each guest individually.
There is however a koicha ceremony that takes care of the shared bowl problem during a pandemic like we are now experiencing, which was created 100 years ago by the 13^th generation Grand Master Ennosai. Rather than sharing the same bowl the host makes each guest a bowl of thick tea.

For more information about Urasenke Boston or to contact us please go to our website: urasenkeboston.org or Facebook- Urasenke Boston

*I mentioned that purity is one of the principles that we follow. Tea practitioners follow four principles; Harmony, Respect, Purity and Tranquility. These are explained on our website.

July 19, 2020

Gretchen Moran

Artist and Museum Volunteer

Gretchen studied and received her BA at Connecticut College from 1951-1955, and also attended The Art Institute of Chicago from 1983-1984, to become an Art Therapist. Becoming an artist was a gradual process for Gretchen, starting in her late teens and continuing through her college years. Among the artists she studied with were George Nick, Jon Imber, Sally Bishop and Elizabeth Ahern.

Some of her major influences, in addition to her teachers, are Matisse, Fairfield Porter, and Marsden Hartley, to name a few. The great outdoors and gardens are major sources of inspiration for her landscapes and floral motifs.

Gretchen also loves to travel. She has visited many states including Maine and Alaska, and abroad to Mexico, Greece, Spain and France.

In addition to art, Gretchen loves to listen and attend opera, ocean and pool swimming, gardening and cooking.

She is currently reading “Out of Darkness, Shining Light” by Petina Gappach, “What are People For?” by Wendell Berry, and “The China Mirage” by James Bradley.

Gretchen’s mediums of choice are acrylic, watercolor and collage. Her process usually starts with drawing with a paint brush, adding some color, then reacting to that, and gradually pulling the painting together.

In this state of perpetual change and confusion, what with Covid-19, masks, physical distancing, lockdowns, unprecedented political environment, Black Lives Matter protests, all now the “new normal”, it has profoundly affected the lives of everyone. However, the other side of the coin is now Gretchen has more time for reflection, making art, listening to Met operas, swimming and meal planning.

Check out “A Visit to Gretchen Morans Home and Studio” on Vimeo by clicking here.

July 5, 2020

Wanda Gág

Inspired by her cats, American artist Wanda Gág (1893-1946) created illustrations using them and their antics as subject matter. Gág was charmed by the way cats “fit themselves into all sorts of places and spaces,” as in this image called Siesta (1937).

Surprisingly, Gág had only two cats while making Siesta: Snoopy and Snooky. She sat and sketched their antics on the kitchen floor, then used their various poses for this print. These same cats were her models for her book Millions of Cats published in 1928, the first commercially published children’s book in America. A free spirited artist, Gág’s whimsical drawings entertained both children and adults in their Disney-like, imaginative approach.

Click here to color your own Wanda Gág illustration.

Wanda Gág coloring page

June 21, 2020

Fairie Houses!

These magical little homes are perfect rainy-day crafts for kids of all ages. They can be simple or fancy, made from all natural materials from your yard, the woods, the beach or around your neighborhood. You can also construct them out of recycled material. On Monhegan Island in Maine, the tradition has been to make them on site, using only what is already in the woods. Birch bark from fallen branches is wonderful! (only found on the ground – never strip the trees!) Or completely crafted from recycled materials. How you choose to construct yours is entirely up to you. The idea is to express creativity while creating adorable little refuges in which enchanting creatures may dwell.

Here is a great link for making one out of a soda bottle and pebbles.

Click here.

Here is a PDF you can print out as a template for a traditional structure you can cover with materials.

Fairy house template-1

Find a spot in your home or yard to nestle the dwellings into a village. If you can find some moss use that  – but anything works! Use your imagination and have fun!

Once you get started you will get all sorts of ideas of things to do with tiny materials you have laying around.

This link takes you to a recipe for cornstarch clay (even though the author says corn flour, its U.K. term for cornstarch). This clay was what was used to make the mushrooms in the video.

Click here.

Sally Smith is a master of fairie houses. To see her art visit her website at

Click here.

To watch a video of Sally Dean Mello’s backyard fairie village and samplings from past fairie house workshops at the museum click here.

Click here.

June 7, 2020

Make a Salt Dough Fish Mobile

Click the link below for instructions.

Fish_Mobile_June_19

Click this link to see our YouTube video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3vp3nlyIsM&t=32s

June 7, 2020

An interview with artist Lisa Houck

Tell us a little about your background.

I studied printmaking at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) in the 1970’s. I have been working as an artist in the Boston area for over forty years. I work in many different media, and I have done a few public art projects over the years. I have recently moved to Cape Elizabeth, Maine, where I have a studio next to my home.

When did you know you were an artist? Was there a particular pivotal moment?

Around the age of thirteen, I had a wonderful art teacher in my public school in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. He inspired me to think of art as something you could do for your life’s work. I still have a pastel self-portrait that I did in his class.

Who are your biggest influences?

I love the art of Paul Klee, and I wrote my MFA (Master of Fine Arts) thesis on his work when I studied at the Museum School in Boston in the late eighties. I like hand-crafted objects of all kinds and I am drawn to the textures and patterns in textiles. I like honest well-made things that show the touch of the hand.

Where do you find inspiration?

I am inspired by the variety and texture in the natural world. I am inspired by color and the love of making things.

What do you like to do for fun?

Yoga, gardening, walking, knitting, beading, cooking, and a bit of reading.

What are you reading right now?

Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout and Overstory by Richard Powers.

What is your favorite medium(s)

Mosaics, Ceramics, Printmaking and everything else.

Can you describe your process?

I begin by laying out my materials and getting interested in certain colors and just starting something. Although my work can be drawn and planned out in advance, it changes in the process of making it. I like to have lots of things going at once so I can move around between pieces. I make very orderly pieces out of a chaotic mess of materials surrounding me. I sometimes look at photos and books I have collected to get me started on a new idea.

How is everything (Covid-19, social distancing, wearing masks, lock downs, shutdowns, the political environment, Black Lives Matter and the protests against police brutality to name a few) that is now being called our “New Normal” affecting your work and your life?

I am a very social creature and I am finding it difficult that I can’t have open studios or go to museums or art openings or host dinner parties. I am grateful for the beautiful space where I can work, but I am struggling to accept the isolation. I am very disturbed by the lack of leadership in this country during the crises we are facing, and I am hopeful that we will head in a new direction after the election.

www.lisahouck.com

May 24, 2020

Musing Around At Home!

Museums around the world are inviting people who are staying at home during quarantine to reinterpret artworks from their collection. Using themselves, their pets and items from the house, people are coming up with clever and amusing photographs and sharing them on social media.

We decided to jump on the bandwagon and have some fun!

Our Education Coordinator, Sally Dean Mello, arranged this still life after the color etching from the museum’s collection.

We have chosen five images from our permanent collection for you to try. Have some fun! We will spotlight a few of them in our museletter. Email your images to sally@artcomplex.org, or post on Instagram- please tag us @theartcomplexmuseum and use the #inspiredbyacm.

May 10, 2020

An interview with one of The Art Complex Museum’s painting instructors, Laura Tryon Jennings

Tell me a little about your background. When did you know you wanted to do what you are doing now? 

Since I was a young girl, I knew I wanted to be an artist. I would spend all day drawing or creating something. My mother would encourage me to go out to play. Sometimes I took her advice, but often I would stand at the end of the driveway waiting for what seemed a reasonable amount of time to go back to making art. I majored in art in college and minored in graphic design. I always felt there was nothing else for me to be but an artist. The first seven or eight years after college I was a graphic designer, feeling it was a more practical choice. I continued to paint for myself. After my second child was born (I have three children, two boys and a girl), I decided to try being a full-time artist. I woke up at 5:00 am. Monday thru Friday to enable three to four hours of uninterrupted painting. I squeaked out another few hours in between naps and trying to keep the children entertained with toys at my feet while painting. I entered my first juried show and won best in show, which gave me the courage to keep going. I was fortunate to receive some awards, attention, exhibits, and sales, in those first few years which made me feel I was on the right path. Through the nineties and early two-thousands I was lucky to maintain a steady presence in the art scene. A series of difficult life events, including divorce and the death of my sweet mother, along with a horrible economy forced me to reevaluate how to go about being an artist. With the new challenge of being a single mum to three adventurous adolescents, I began teaching oil painting and became an expressive arts consultant/facilitator while continuing to paint. I ended up loving both of these other hats in the art world and for a while they were a bit more in the driver’s seat. After a few years of managing this balancing act, the reduced attention to my painting just wasn’t feeling right anymore. Now, I have blissfully returned painting to the driver’s seat while still incorporating teaching and expressive arts.

Who are your biggest influences?

There are so many artists. Off the top of my head the more well-known influences would be Edward Hopper, Pierre Bonnard, Jamie Wyeth, David Hockney, William Merritt Chase, Henri Matisse, and Edgar Dega. I’m constantly inspired by the artists I meet and exhibit with locally and in this region. I feel like I’m part of a community. I need to mention my mum too for her sense of fun, whimsy, creativity, perseverance, ambition, caring and love..among many more attributes.

Where do you find inspiration?

The light always informs and drives my work. The subtleties of light. Painting the stream of light falling into a room while the nuances of the landscape/seascape light play through the window vista grabs me on a core level. I tend to like cozy, quiet, scenic spaces.

What do you like to do for fun?

Anything involving my sweetie and my family! I also like hiking, yoga, bike riding, going to hear live music, hanging out with friends, and reading. A favorite activity is on Sundays. grabbing the Boston Globe, breakfast sandwiches, ice lattes, a little jazz music, and heading to the beach for a couple hours in the morning with my husband.

What are you reading right now?

I usually have a few going at the same time. Right now it’s Mary Oliver’s A Thousand Mornings, Anya Yurchyshyn’s  My dead parents : A Memoir, Julie Andrews A Memoir of My Hollywood Years, and I always have some psychological and art books in the mix.

What is your favorite medium?

Oil painting on linen or panel.

Can you describe your process?

I’ve lived in coastal and scenic areas for a good part of my life. The connection to nature and beauty surrounding me is part of the energy I need to paint. The passion to create usually comes from a deeply felt place or concept. For instance, my rumpled sheets or “bedscape” series came from a very transitional period in my life. I tend to go through different phases of how I work on a painting. The one I’m currently using is first to tone a canvas and then sketch on top of the toning. I paint at least 2 -3 layers. My “wow” factor is at the very beginning of the painting. This is where all of the possibilities are in front of me!

How or where can people see your work?

I’m preparing for a solo exhibit at the Woodman Shimko Gallery in Provincetown, MA from July 24-August 6, 2020, which I’ve been assured WILL happen. My work is currently in a traveling group exhibit titled “Mel Leipzig and Friends” which began at the Art Complex Museum in 2017 and was exhibited at the Cape Cod Museum of Art in Dennis, MA in 2019 and will proceed to the Provincetown Art Association and Museum in 2022 (date TBA, check back on my website for dates). I’m represented by Copley Society of Art in Boston, MA, Elizabeth Moss Gallery in Falmouth, ME, Woodman Shimko Gallery in Provincetown, MA and Sunne Savage, in Winchester, MA. My work can also be seen on Instagram under Laura_Tryon_Jennings, my website at www.LTryonJennings.com, and in my Marshfield, MA studio by appointment.

Click below for a virtual visit to Laura’s home studio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrY3L4AJ2WE

May 10, 2020

An interview with The Art Complex Museum’s yoga instructor Kezia Bacon

Tell me a little about your background.

I’ve been teaching yoga since 1997- almost half my life! I did most of my training at Kripalu, in the Berkshires, and try to get back there regularly to learn more. I teach several weekly public classes, including Wednesdays at The Art Complex, and also work with several private clients. (These days they are all online, because of Social Distancing). I also teach various workshops (“Meditation Basics” is popular), and run the outdoor Yoga at the River’s Edge program for the North & South Rivers Watershed Association.

When did you know you wanted to do what you are doing now?

I started teaching yoga when I was 25. I had been studying it for several years and my teacher encouraged me to become a certified instructor. At the time, I was also beginning a career as a freelance writer, and my hope was that the two vocations would balance each other and provide a sustainable income. It wasn’t until I added my work as a Wedding Celebrant (writing and officiating wedding ceremonies) to the mix that I truly found the balance I was seeking. So yes, I have three different lines of work, and together they are very fulfilling!

Who are your biggest influences?

For yoga, Mary Norton was my mentor. She ran The Yoga Center in Cohasset, and informed a lot of my teaching and business sense when I first got started. I’ve especially enjoyed Stephen Cope, a teacher and scholar, for his insights into yoga-related “big picture” stuff. These days I’m especially enjoying classes with Emma Boyle, who runs Dragonfly in Marshfield.

Where do you find inspiration?

Nature. Much of the writing I do (articles and website content) centers on discovering and sharing aspects of the natural world, at the local level (South Shore). Our local rivers (North, South, Green Harbor) are my happy place. Between that and talking with friends and family, I often gain insights and perspectives that I can incorporate into my yoga classes. For me, the meaning of life is to spread as much goodness and love around as possible. I’m always looking for ways to do that.

What do you like to do for fun?

Walk in the woods, kayak and paddleboard on the rivers, discover new places, share stories with friends and family. I’m also a huge music fan – listening to albums and podcasts, talking about music, reading about music, going to shows, and even playing/singing a little bit.

What are you reading right now?

Liz Phair’s memoir, Horror Stories, and the latest issue of Harper’s Magazine.

How has the current pandemic affected your teaching – the challenges, and advantages?

I had to learn quickly how to teach live classes online! Teaching to the camera on my laptop, constantly checking to make sure that I’m remaining in the frame, and not cutting off my head or feet – it’s been a learning curve. Also, my voice tends to get tired more quickly, because I have to project quite a bit more. On the bright side, people are generally at home, looking for things to do, and also looking for solace, so I’ve seen an increase in attendance, which is – of course – very welcome!

What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen on Zoom?

My students typically set up their laptops and phones at home, where life continues to happen, so there are often random sets of legs (human) walking through the backgrounds, and also pets and small children. But my favorite was the toddler who noticed herself on her grandmother’s monitor and started dancing joyfully, fascinated by her own image!

May 10, 2020

Social Distancing!

In late February, the Duxbury Middle School installed an exciting and colorful display of paper mache masks created under the guidance of their teacher, Amy Squillante. This exhibit is the latest installment of of our ongoing “Complex Collaborations” hallway exhibit series, showcasing the talent of our local students.

The masks are still there, hanging out together, while the museum waits to greet visitors again.

As we know, teachers, on a very short notice, had to adapt to teaching remotely. When Amy was asked how it was going, she responded:

“Remote teaching has been different and challenging.  I have been creating drawing videos each week from ‘’Mrs Squill’s Art Basement”. The kids are practicing drawing, photographing their drawings and submitting in Schoology, our online platform.  I’m a YouTube artist!”

Amy’s love for teaching and enthusiasm is infectious (sorry, no pun intended), and it shows in her students’ work.

May 10, 2020

Sally’s update on the Fish Project!

I have been working on completing the museum’s community herring run fish mosaic to be part of the Plymouth 400 celebration.

The mosaic is 23 feet long and will be installed on an exterior wall in the sculpture court at the museum.

While quarantined at home, in the spirit of hope and compassion, with the help of Michelle Green of High Street Studios in Hingham, I have been hand-making ceramic fish pendants to be given out to visitors at the reveal of the mosaic, date TBA.

The idea was inspired by the tale of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.
The fish was sacred to the Greco-Roman mythology, where it held symbolic meaning of change and transformation.

In ancient Eastern Indian mythology, the fish is a symbol of transformation and creation. This is observed in the ancient flood myth in which Vishnu transformed himself into a fish (Matsya) to save the world from a great flood. In this form, he guided king Manu’s boat (which contained the select few survivors and seeds of life to re-create the world after the flood subsided) to safety.