Gallery - Sculptural Paintings by Yanick Lapuh

Reception: Thursday, February 4, 7:00 pm

By Y. Lapuh

Yanick Lapuh creates abstract, sculptural paintings that explore the tension between illusion and reality. His work consists of wood cut-outs set at different angles on a wooden base to create a ‘canvas’ on which he paints. The visual interaction between the constructed relief and the design painted on it, is central to the artist’s investigation of 3-dimensionality, both real and illusory. He will hold a joint opening reception with artist Anne Silber (showing in the Main Hall) on Thursday, February 4 at 7:00 pm.

Born in Mont Saint Martin, France, Lapuh earned his degree from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston completing his fifth year program there in 1990. Through the years Lapuh’s work has evolved from his earlier focus on sculpture, to drawing and painting, to a progressively abstract presentation with texture and form taking precedence over narration. In a series that dealt with prison, the idea of being imprisoned within a cube led him to consider the ‘corner’; the point at which walls meet. The ‘corner’ is still a major theme in his work with its characteristic highly textured canvases and muted colors. In his most recent work, Lapuh combines motifs from his geometric and shaped-painting styles to create new wall-hanging works and small sculptures. Past or present, Lapuh's visually captivating work is characterized by complexity, inventiveness and meticulous craftsmanship. His devotion to abstraction continues to reward viewers with an ever-evolving body of original works of art.

Hall - An Eye for Color by Anne Silber

Reception: Thursday, February 4, 7:00 pm

By A. Silber

Using hand-cut film stencils Anne Silber hand-prints her limited edition serigraphs. Adding a different color ink through a new stencil with each successive printing, the works are processed on average between twelve and eighteen times. Silber’s work emphasizes the graphic qualities of form, line and especially color relationships which she combines in an almost musical sense; creating harmonies and occasional dissonance with the combination of tones. The prints also explore the possibilities of light and shadow, with shadows becoming as much an interesting and integral part of the composition as the objects casting them. There will be a joint opening reception with artist Yanick Lapuh (showing in the Gallery) on Thursday, February 4 at 7:00 pm.

Anne Silber received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York where she was first introduced to serigraphy (silkscreen printmaking). Her artwork has been shown in numerous one-person and group exhibitions throughout the U.S. and Europe and has also been used as set decoration in dozens of feature films and television series including The Bucket List, Grey’s Anatomy, House, and others.

Display Cases

First & Second floor cases

will be filled with a selection of images and artifacts from the Ella V. Bowering Collection in celebration of Chinese New Year. The Year of the Tiger exhibit is made possible by the Chinese Culture Connection and Newton resident Judith Funkhouser. In "old" China the tiger was known as the "king of the mountains" and was believed to have the power to drive away demons. See page three for information on the February 20 Chinese New Year celebration.

Atrium case one

Features information on Historic Newton's 2010 Newton History Series, Roots in Our History. The Newton, MA Kenrick Nursery/orchard was the largest in New England in the 1830's and introduced a number of fruit and tree varieties to the U.S. for the first time. See page one for details on the February 11 Fruits of Their Labors program; the first in the series.

Atrium case two

Features information about the status of hunger in Massachusetts, the work of Project Bread and details about the 2010 Walk for Hunger. Project Bread funds nearly 400 emergency food programs in 126 communities throughout the state and also has a hotline for people who are hungry. For more information contact Ryan Lee at 617-239-2558 or via e-mail.