Piano Craft Gallery Exhibition 2021 - Newton Art Association

Juried Exhibit at Piano Craft Gallery 2021

Re-Emergence – A New Hope

For the third year, the Newton Art Association is collaborating with Boston’s Piano Craft Gallery to present a juried exhibition.

A return to a more open and interactive way of life. Last year’s exhibit was cut short by the Covid-19 pandemic closures.

26 NAA artists will display 40 pieces of artwork.
Paintings, fabric art, ceramics, and sculpture.
The jurors and award judges are Erik Grau and Kamal Ahmad,
members of the PCG Board of Directors.

Opening reception April 2, 6:00–8:00 p.m. in the gallery
Zoom awards ceremony hosted simultaneously by the NAA from 7:00–8:00.

Haley Neville, PCG board member, will present the awards and provide a live walking tour of the works on the walls.

Award-winning artists will discuss their work during the presentation.
Zoom link to join this free event:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84609470551?pwd=YWEvSGtkelMzc0V6RHZZS3B1M0FVUT09

See the art work up close via a virtual exhibit and tour created by the gallery

AWARDS

1st Place Alexandra Kim

Alexandra Kim’s ceramic pieces exemplify the idea of re-emergence. The warm earth-toned stoneware forms around the darkness of their interior, which could represent the void our society has experienced with the COVID-19 crisis. Each piece brings a sense of natural healing to the viewer while we begin to build a protective wall of containment around the virus with combative measures. The vessels have many openings but have there is a sense that they are closing, which reflects both our awareness of safety within our homes as well as the deliberate isolation of COVID-19. The balance between interior darkness and exterior hope perfectly describes this moment in time.

2nd Place
Grey and Leslie Held

Grey and Leslie Held’s, Quest, deeply resonates with the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and systemic racism in the U.S. This fabric piece depicts a figure emerging from a triangular interior suggesting that it is leaving a sense of safety within a home. The figure is surrounded by a COVID-19-like cell structure and references the figures of Jean Michel-Basquiat. The imagery of this piece reflects the re-emergence from a catastrophic virus and the centuries of racial injustice in this country. The idea of a quest suggests that this figure is embarking on a long journey to find a universal truth for betterment. Whether it be eradicating COVID-19 or fighting for racial equality and justice, this piece tells the story of what it means to re-emerge right now with the hope for a better society.

3rd Place
Barbara Marder

Barbara Marder’s four vitreous enamel on copper pieces provide us with a much-needed escape from society and the challenging year we have all experienced. These pieces represent a variety of landscapes and give a sense of safety and calm. Each piece reflects the restorative essence of the specific landscape while using color to isolate the landforms. The circular composition focuses the viewer and references the larger globe. While we have not been able to engage in leisure travel this year, these pieces bring the natural world to us to explore.

Honorable Mention 1
Shannon Slattery

Shannon Slattery’s paintings depict the density of a wooded landscape. One can imagine themselves serenely hiking though this space or lost and disoriented, falling victim to the environment. These pieces exemplify our current reality in seeking peace in nature where we can remove our masks and breathe fresh air. They can also exemplify how we feel disoriented in the current climate. Slattery’s use of black and white further pushes the meaning of these pieces in that it creates a sense of the past, but we are not out of the woods yet.

Honorable Mention 2
Cristina Hajosy

Cristina Hajosy’s Trophy Wives #20 is the physical embodiment of re-emergence. The partial figure raises from the earth while retaining its beauty. The title and image reflect the experience of a woman whose life did not go as planned and is solely the object of a man’s desire and image. While seeking security one can still experience trauma. This figure re-emerges from the ground to teach us that sadly without finding oneself, there cannot be life or happiness, but that one’s memory is permanent.

Honorable Mention 3
Anita Helen Cohen

Anita Helen Cohen’s Unsettled, is a dreamy landscape that takes the viewer to place of serenity. The watercolor paint floats and flows on the Yupo surface creating a sense of temporal movement that reflects natural elements. While the viewer cannot establish footing in this space, they can enter it mentally to create a new experience.

Honorable Mention 4
Hillary Hanson Bruel

Hillary Hanson Bruel’s, Clark’s Island VII, takes us to a place where the ocean meets the sky. These two spaces reflect unlimited possibilities and transport the viewer into an unknown but comfortable space. The calm seas and skies let us know that there is hope for the journey, and that better things are on the horizon.