MONTSERRAT ALUMNI, STAFF, AND FACULTY SHOWN AT ROCKY NECK
A who’s-who of amazing Montserrat talent is currently on display at Rocky Neck Art Colony in Gloucester, MA.
The show, Land, Mark, draws attention to the beauty, power, and generative possibilities of listening to and collaborating with—rather than working against—nature. Curated by Writing Studio Tutor Ginger Mayhaver, the exhibition features the work of Caroline Bagenal, Beatrice Modisett, Hugo Pellinen, Stacy Thomas-Vickory, and Sarah Trahan in collaboration with other natural forces. Per Rocky Neck:
“Rocky Neck Art Colony presents Land, Mark, a new exhibition curated by Ginger Myhaver that draws attention to the beauty, power, and generative possibilities of listening to and collaborating with—rather than working against—nature. The exhibition brings together five artists, all with deep ties to Massachusetts’ North Shore, whose process is fundamentally informed by and embedded in the natural world. In each body of work, natural forces exert their own iterative agency – leaving surface marks, color, texture, and form, and registering the interchange that has occurred between artist and natural environs. The work resonates with esthetic depth and acknowledges our interdependence with and absolute inseparability from other lifeforms and geological entities on this planet. While not denying the possibilities of mutual destruction brought on by humans’ rapaciousness, the reference to the climate crisis here is indirect and offers glimpses of hope. Through their practices, these artists demonstrate the necessity and promise of developing a more intimate, caring, and humble relationship with nature.
“Featured artists include New York-based artist Beatrice Modisett, the printmakers/conceptual artists Stacy Thomas-Vickory and Hugo Pellinen of Beverly and Salem, sculptor/mixed-media artist Caroline Bagenal of Newburyport, and interdisciplinary artist and creative technologist Sarah Trahan, now based in Vejle, Denmark.”
Land, Mark runs from September 15 until October 23 and features a lineup of related programming organized by Rocky Neck. Registration for the events can be found at rockyneckartcolony.eventbrite.com
“UnEarthing Rocky Neck Narratives” – Saturday, September 24 from 2-5 PM
Printmakers and conceptual artists Hugo Pellinen and Stacy Thomas-Vickory will demonstrate printing “Earth Narratives” of Rocky Neck. Interactive artist Mahayana Landowne will lead attendees on a procession to locales around the Neck and offer a meditation while the artists unearth steel plates they planted a moon cycle prior. Returning to the Cultural Center, Pellinen and Thomas-Vickory will then create monoprints live in the gallery from these plates, without and with ink. At this same event, Landowne will facilitate opportunities for connection and playful interpretation of the “narratives” embedded in the markings “written” by Rocky Neck’s natural elements. In addition, percussionist and composer Nikki Joshi will perform a musical piece she composed using the markings on one of the plates as her “score.” Prints will be available for purchase on site. Light refreshments will be served.
Electrify Everything! Affordable Ideas for Action – Thurs. Oct. 6, 7-8:30 PM
The Cape Ann Climate Coalition will present a public workshop on how to electrify our homes and places of business as well as ways to engage in community renewable energy projects.
Virtual Book Group, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants – Tuesday, October 4, 6:30-8 PM (Zoom) and Tuesday, October 18, 6:30-8 PM (Zoom). Discussions of this groundbreaking book are open to all who would like to join in. Select Chapters to be discussed will be announced in advance. Free prior registration will be required.
Virtual Artist Panel – Wednesday, October 12, 5:00 – 6:30PM (Zoom). The curator and artists will discuss their processes, the artworks on display, and their connection to the cli