The Last Laugh

Opening Reception: Wednesday, March 30th, 5-8pm
Closing Reception with film screening and surprise musical guests: Friday, April 8th, 7-9pm

Mingo Gallery
284 Cabot Street
Beverly, MA

Gallery Hours
Tues, Wed, Fri, 10am–6pm
Thu, 11am–7pm
Sat, 10am–4pm

The Last Laugh, features the artists Zachary DeWitt (Barrington, NH) and Lilia Volodina (Krasnoyarsk, Russia). Through the painting, time-based media, still photographs and illustrations respectively, the artists explore the narratives of real and imaginary lives through the lens of empathy, absurdity and magical realism.

DeWitt elaborates upon the inherent isolation that occurs at the end of one’s own life. Inspired by childhood interactions with the inhabitants of nursing homes where his mother worked, DeWitt, through his paintings of anonymous subjects, encourages the viewer to reflect on their own experiences with the elderly. With the incorporation of the figure in an invented environment, he revitalizes what society deems forgotten, or somehow less important than the rest of society.

Volodina draws upon her life experiences as an inspiration for creating narratives of an absurd, violent and fantastical nature. Through the media of film, animation, photography and illustration, Volodina uses humor and whimsy in her work in order to invite viewers to embrace absurdity in their lives and encourage them to gain a sense of resilience and invincibility over anything life has in store.

BIOGRAPHIES
Zachary DeWitt (b. 1993) was born in Portland, Maine, and raised in the small town of Barrington, NH. He is currently earning his BFA in Painting and Drawing, with a Minor in Art History at Montserrat College of Art. Zachary’s work were shown in exhibitions throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and commissioned several works for private collections, including The Art Exchange, The Crane Estate, as well as the President of Montserrat College of Art.

Lilia Volodina (b. 1988), was born and raised in Siberia, Russia, in the city of Krasnoyarsk. She is currently earning her BFA in Photography at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly. Lilia’s work was shown in several juried group exhibits around Massachusetts, including at the Chatham Creative Arts Center, Cotuit Center for the Arts, Beverly Historical Society, Raizes Gallery at Lesley University College of Art and Design, and Walter J. Manninen Center for the Arts at Endicott College.