Gallery: Water Close-up by Judith Austen

By: J. Austen

Open water can be nature's inviting mirror of tranquility, a sanctuary to linger by, or it can turn to a treacherous turbulence, terrifying and real. During the transition from her home studio to a commercial space, Judith Austen found herself painting on location at the water’s edge, as if being in flux required this highly fluid imagery. Of her work the artist says, “I am the shore bird poised for the visual moment I want to grab and get down as mine, always in oil paint.” Water Close-up will be on view in the Gallery from December 4-30.

Judith Austen is a painter and writer who has had a longtime involvement with textile arts. She learned many techniques by traveling to remote places to study with indigenous people. She holds a BFA in Art from Pratt Institute, studied at the Bank Street College of Education and taught for ten years in the public school system in New York. Judith earned an MFA in Art Education at Boston University, living and painting at the Piano Factory. She has had numerous one-woman painting shows, and participates in open studios and group shows throughout New England. In 2011 her painting titled Pond Abstract won first prize in the Blanche Ames National Juried Show.

Hall: The Matilda Series by Alexandra Spingarn

Reception: Thursday, December 6, 7:00 pm

By: A. Spingarn

Alexandra Spingarn handles oil paint in an expressionistic fashion, using colors and brushwork that is both vibrant and enriched with luminosity. Her work has a strong undercurrent of symbolism. In The Matilda Series, she looks at the imaginary world of fantasy and invention with children by using the dancing Clown Pirro (Pierrot) as her protagonist. Pirro originated in early Renaissance Italy and France and over centuries became an alter-ego of the artist. In these paintings he brings enchantment and beauty to children (and to all of us) as a distraction in an otherwise chaotic and difficult world. The Matilda Series will be on view in the Main Hall from December 4-30. There will be an opening reception on Thursday, December 6 at 7:00 pm.

Alexandra Spingarn studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Harvard and the Pratt Center for Contemporary Printmaking. The recipient of several awards, she has had many one-woman shows. She has also exhibited as part of several juried and group exhibitions locally and in New York.

Teen Gallery:Masks and Prints from Newton North

By: K. Shi

Masks and Prints from Newton North High School will be on view through early spring 2013 in our second floor Teen Gallery. The show features prints which hang on the gallery walls and masks which are shown in the adjacent cases.

Display Cases

Main Hall Cases

Main Hall Cases: The display will showcase the work of David Klenk, a Maine-based woodworker, who has been making and restoring writing boxes for years. Included will be examples of restored writing boxes, new ones and a disassembled box showing the joinery and other details that go into making the special features of writing boxes. Info: www.davidjklenk.com.

Atrium cases

Two Atrium cases: Facing Cancer Together is a Greater Boston area nonprofit organization that guides and empowers individuals through the challenges of cancer. They offer a broad range of services and professionally facilitated programs including weekly support groups at no cost for individuals and their caregivers, expressive arts programming and mind-body wellness groups. The display will help patrons learn more about who they are and what they do to help promote wellness within our community. Info: www.facing-cancer.org.