DAVID LANG STUDIOS

FLIGHTS of FANCY - the Importance of Play

2011-12-08T15:52:00.010-05:00

FLIGHTS OF FANCY - The Importance of Play

"Wisdom begins in wonder" - Socrates

Many great thinkers say that the best ideas come from mistakes or from just playing around. In our goal oriented society we often lose contact with the paths of play, creativity and self-led imagination. Three artists and colleagues, Virginia Fitzgerald, David A. Lang and Carl Staley come together with an unusual and stimulating collaboration of their work, each flowing from the importance of Play. Sometimes serious, sometimes playful and sometimes political, the work of these three artists leaves you with much to carry away.

OPENING FEBRUARY 23rd, 2012 at the AMAZING THINGS ART CENTER, Framingham, MA

Brighter ideas . . .

2011-12-08T13:45:00.010-05:00

This is a new piece that has been brewing for a while. I'm not sure what the wood clamp was used for. I found it in the barn of an abandoned farm in Vermont on the weekend of David Brewster's 50 Birthday. The bulb is old, from the 1930's and will light and pulsate the nearer you get to it. I suppose I will figure out what it is all about at some point.

"after Edvard . . . "

2011-11-06T22:30:00.004-05:00

This is a detail of one of the new pieces going to the Boston Sculptors Gallery "Sculpture Scoop" which goes public at 5 pm on tuesday!

"SCULPTURE SCOOP 2011"

2011-11-05T09:30:00.005-04:00

"To have and to hold . . . " is a new piece of sculpture that will be at the Boston Sculptors Gallery this tuesday at 5 pm for a special fundraiser opening for collectors. Are you one of those fine people???

Duckweed . . .

2011-10-17T14:55:00.007-04:00

Virginia's Fitzgerald's recent image on facebook "Photoaday" of two ducks brings to mind one of those extended moments as a 12 year old growing up on the north shore of long island amidst randomly scattered truck farms. There were several ways of getting to my friend Tom's house: cross-country or by walking the bendy roads. If the corn was taller then two feet, it was easier by road than cutting through the fields diagonally. Of course once the corn stalks had been stacked into tee pee type affairs and gathered in and tied about five feet from the ground, there were all sorts of other adventures at our fingertips. One afternoon I strayed a bit from one of my normal routes and it was along one of the bendy roads. That's when I discovered a seemingly abandoned and overgrown clay tennis courts just inside a stone wall and sure to cut my travel time in half. With one energetic bolt I was half way over the wall and still in mid-air, on the way down a perfectly executed arch, that in a fleeting moment of foreshadowing my future seemed to hang in the balance. As my feet penetrated the smooth clay court, which I was just beginning to understand as a deck of Duckweed, my life passed before me . . . I remember that moment to this day 58 years later as if it had happened but three minutes ago.

2011-10-06T15:43:00.004-04:00

Looking up with Amelia

Amelia and Paul are almost five now. They are two of my grandchildren. They look at everything, and they mostly look at things differently from the way I do, but not always.

A friend has been helping me clean and organize the studio for the past several months, so it comes with little surprise that I can rarely find things yet. She asks "is this Art, tools, an upcoming project or garbage?" "Wait a second . . . there have to be fifty categories either side of center in that line up!" The conversation is generally pretty much the same. So when she approached me with a tiny Lego Person asking where it should be filed, I held my ground. "Oh, him. I would like to put him on the second from the top shelf on the cabinet over there." . . . pause . . ."well that's where I got him!" Ok, let's stop right here!

When Paul and Amelia come to the shop, they always check to see that things are about where they remember them being the last time they were over. Important stuff, like Barbie doll body parts, toy truck parts, hand painted ponies that my friend Harriet made for me four years ago, and so on and so on.

Well, Mr. Lego, standing sentry duty from the second shelf down on the cabinet over there, looks at things quite differently than from Amelia's point of view and from mine, too. And he looks different to Amelia than he does to me. For Amelia the whole world looks quite different from three feet high rather than from my eye level. Mr. Lego seems to be off somewhere wandering the studio these days. He is not on the second shelf down from the top on the cabinet over there right now. But at the very least, he has taught me to remember to look from way down low, or from upside down or from any way other that the way that I normally would, whatever normal is for me! And therein lies a different answer, or at the very least a different question. Thanks Amelia! Oh, yeah, and Amelia brings me chocolate chip cookies!

Rack 'em up!

2011-09-30T13:04:00.004-04:00

Rack 'em up! is a kinetic piece that I built several years ago. I am just now getting around to posting images of it. The tray slowly rocks back and forth and sideways giving free reign to the balls to find their position. In so doing, it creates a wonderful random knocking cascade of clunks. I hope to post a video of its movements soon.

"OK, Now What?" comes down this Sunday evening.

2011-09-26T14:42:00.003-04:00

‎"OK, NOW WHAT?" comes down this sunday evening. It has been quite an exciting ride! If you have a chance to see it it is still open Wednesday through Sunday the 2nd of October. The attendance has been tremendous; kids, parents, relatives, engineers, writers, other artists and many new friends. Thank you for coming in and getting involved!

ONE WEEK TO GO!

2011-09-23T11:46:00.003-04:00

"OK, Now What?" has one week to go, closing on October 2nd, 2011.

Attendance has been superb throughout. This young woman was photographing "The Play by Play" at last sunday's open studios.

OPEN STUDIOS WEEKEND in SoWa

2011-09-19T12:05:00.003-04:00

One of the remarkable things that happened this weekend took place when a family arrived at the gallery mid-afternoon on Sunday. I was introduced to a former painter who had lost her sight several years ago. With her permission, I slowly walked her over to one of the kinetic pieces and ever so gently placed her hands in mine and over the the piece named "Daedelus." For a while I sensed that she was seeing the wheels, the moving parts and the paper wings as they moved under her delicate touch. I am not sure about what she felt, but I do now that only rarely have I been so moved . . . Thank you for enriching my life.

HEY BOB and TWITTERING MACHINE

2011-09-10T20:16:00.006-04:00

It just finally occurred to me that "Hey Bob, are you thee . . .?" carries such a strong resemblance to Paul Klee's 1922 image of "The Twittering Machine." I first saw this image at the Busch-Reisinger Museum at Harvard in 1965. I often think of it and refer others to it, but until I took the outer shells of "Hey Bob" off and photographed it in motion I hadn't seen the connection between the two works. Duh !

from this month's ArtScope . . .

2011-09-09T13:13:00.012-04:00

David Lang: OK, NOW WHAT? Inventions, Contraptions and Flights of Fancy
James Foritano

I thought of Brancusi. Both because Brancusi’s driven essentialism reminded me, by opposition, of David Lang’s Byzantine indirection and because, after driving through hellacious heat from Cambridge to Lang’s Natick outpost, I deserved some high-flying reference to begin my disquisition.

Lang was no help. His references were Mickey Rooney, Monty Python and Rachel Carson. Hmm… Rachel Carson? Perhaps later.

If Brancusi’s iconic “Bird in Space” speaks of Modernism’s search for pure essence, David Lang’s post-modernism follows pure plumbing, the sleek guts of the essential. His kinetic sculpture lofts icons, wishes, perverse puns (not to mention various unmentionables) above a fantasy of copper wire twisted into a concatenation of crank-shafts, pinion gears, cams… which do, when the viewer’s body breaks a light-beam, actually grind into mesmerizing 3-volt motion.

Take the unforgivable “The Swine Flew.” In the crowded distances of Lang’s studio, you spot their white wings and, as you move closer, hoping against hope, three pinkly porcine bodies do actually take flight. Under feathered wings as flexible as wishes, gaping maws, and limbs rigid with ecstasy, they climb hillocks of air so effortlessly that they, and you, have forgotten the complication of engineering that underpins them. Until you move away, thus breaking the dazzle of motion and exposing the “machina” of these porcine deities: a scribble of still, copper wiring.

So don’t expect slick surfaces á la Brancusi, or oodles of slick, modernist angst either. Expect yards of anecdote, tumbling back on itself until, leaning toward a speaker poised too casually against a cracker barrel, his audience, us, imagines, maybe hopes, that he’s lost his point in untraceable divagation. And then… it’s there.

Take “The Castinetti Sisters.” A syncopation of clams clap their shells, talking clam-talk as we lean closer to eavesdrop, and then we glimpse, within each clacking confine, a nude, reclining. The Castinetti sisters appear and disappear like an advert in neon against a night sky. Like that Renaissance guy’s Venus de Milo, all blond nudity, coasting toward shore forever, on the elegant flutes of a scallop shell, on a racing cursive of wavelets, breaking, breaking… but never arriving.

So take the Castinetti sisters, ya dummy! They’re available! Or, take those bedpans your approach shifts into tilting flight, but… watch out! Or take a listen to those authentic American voices in “Play by Play” as a crowd of vacuum tubes transforms to organ pipes sounding the lilting, urgent vernacular of old-time sportscasters.

Read the entire article in our magazine pages...

Jean Pratt

2011-09-05T17:15:00.002-04:00

For many years now I have been in love with Jean Pratt. On thursday evening the traffic out from Boston was horrendous. It took me 2 hours and 40 minutes to get from the Boston Sculptors Gallery to my driveway in Wayland. I can often make the trip in 25 minutes. Getting TO the gallery took 1 hour and 40 minutes. Well, that morning the Boston Globe had an article about the show. Imagine my surprise when I walked into the gallery and standing there was Jean Pratt herself, having braved the same traffic. I was at her 90th birthday party two years ago; and here she is in her usual glory, all the way from Wayland to see the show! It doesn't get much better than that!!! Thank you Jean.

Daedelus, on the other hand . . .

2011-09-04T12:10:00.004-04:00

This beautiful image was taken this past friday at the Boston Sculptors Gallery by Richard Olken during a rare 3minute interval while the sun was reflecting off the floor in the next gallery. As Daedelus' wings slowly lifted him skyward, the shadows projected onto the wall. It was another of those splendid serendipitous moments. Thank you Richard!

SouthEndPatch review

2011-09-02T12:10:00.002-04:00

Here is a little teaser from a review in SouthEndPatch. To see more, click here.

SoWa Spotlight On: David Lang

Somewhat of a Renaissance man, Lang's upcoming show at the Boston Sculptors Gallery is not to be missed.

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Growing up on the North Shore of Long Island amid multiple truck farms gave artist David Langan unusual playground, from which he developed a passion for rummaging and a lifelong interest in old buildings, abandoned machinery and farm equipment. Lang and his brother learned early on that the possibilities were limitless for what could be made with their hands and a little imagination, fostered by a father that was part engineer, part inventor.

Combining a BS in Biology (Fairfield University) and some art schooling (Paier School of Art), Lang arrived in Massachusetts for graduate studies at MGH and Harvard Medical School, channeling his dual skill-set into the art of medical illustration. He went on to develop the Scientific Illustration Department at Harvard and stayed there until 1972 when he left to become the Art Department Chair at the Middlesex School. Lang retired from teaching in 2003 andopened his studio in Natick.

Lang is a watercolor painter, sculptor, photographer, writer, musician, flight instructor and stroke survivor. At the end of this month he’ll mount an innovative and unusual show at theBoston Sculptors Gallery in SoWa.

Patch: Tell us about this show--how did it come together?

David Lang: This upcoming show is primarily ‘KINETIC SCULPTURE.’ This all began after the stroke. I found it difficult to draw and paint for several years, but was able to conceive of and build mechanical sculpture. The wheels that appear in much of my work have come to represent the passage of time. Some are large, and others are somewhat smaller, but they’re all very delicate and quite elegant.

Much of the work is narrative and explores the unlikelihood of day to day events and celebrates the unexpected. For example, "The Day the Castinetti Sisters First Learned to Fly" presents five flying clams on exceedingly delicate paper wings that slowly open and drop shut suddenly, or "Hey Bob, Are You There?" which presents five barnacles debating the merits of staging an ‘evolution.’

I’ve been working on these themes for seven years now, and continually drawing from life experiences and the events that surround us on a day to day basis. Although I would not have thought so, I have discovered that quite a bit of my work has a quiet political voice. . . . . . .

YOU TUBE VIDEO of "OK, Now What? kinetic sculpture exhibition

2011-08-31T11:55:00.010-04:00

WE OPEN TONIGHT!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f0ZZ5wXIts

TIMING IS EVERYTHING!

2011-08-28T12:35:00.003-04:00

Alright Now, What are the Chances . . . ?

In 1956 and 1957 I had a summer job working for my dad at Sigmund Cohn Corporation in Mount Vernon, NY. He was chief engineer. They specialized in Fine Wire and Pecious Metals. During one of those summers I was an assistant draftsman. One of my projects was to design the box that contained the company logo for the box that spools of gold plated copper wire would be shipped in. 50 years later, in 2006, just barely into my studio in Natick, MA, I arrived one morning while part of the building was being vacated by one of the tenants, and glanced into the dumpster at the loading dock only to catch a brief glimpse of two of the very same boxes in the dumpster with another load about to bury them. It was perhaps a five second window!!! To further add to the saga, both boxes had my father's handwriting on them! I have used this wire in every piece of sculpture ever since. Truly, timing is everything . . .

and now back to "Hey Bob, are you there?"

2011-08-24T09:54:00.003-04:00

detail without shells

detail with shells

Chris Bergeron's in depth article

2011-08-22T07:58:00.007-04:00

Kinetic artist David Lang's work is always moving

Chris Bergeron/DAILY NEWS STAFF

Posted: 08/21/2011 12:00 PM

An artist with a feverish mind and patient hands, David A. Lang had been wondering what materials he needed to make a moving sculpture that would express his fascination -- maybe his obsession -- with "uncertainty, unpredictability and serendipity."

So he began bugging friends and advertising on eBay for bedpans.

In a Natick studio that resembles a cross between Geppetto's workshop and the Unabomber's cabin, Lang transformed five donated bedpans into an airborne mobile titled "Fleet" that'll float beneath a canopy of fluttering paper wings in his soon-to-open exhibit at the Boston Sculptors Gallery.

Instead of crafting a puppet named Pinocchio who thought he was a real boy, the Sherborn resident fashions machines that act like philosophers. Lang is an art teacher and flight instructor, a watercolorist and builder of high-performance sports cars who's been retooling himself as his own work-in-progress.

Starting Aug. 31, he'll be exhibiting 20 ingenious kinetic sculptures in "OK, Now What?" -- a show conceived in a place he calls the "realm of the unlikely."

Subtitled "Inventions, Contraptions and Flights of Fancy," it runs through Oct. 2. On Sept. 17 and 18, Lang will discuss his work at 3 p.m.

Lang described his sculptures as "accidentally profound."

"I try to remember to look at things the way my grandchildren do. You never know when and whether things are going to come together. Kids understand that everything connects to everything else," he said.

To visualize Lang's kinetic sculptures, think, perhaps, of motion-activated whimsy.

Trigger the light sensor of "The Day the Castinetti Sisters First Learned to Fly" and a gaggle of clam shells begin clacking away, like sets of joke shop false teeth. Peek inside the shells and you'll see miniature images of Renaissance-era nudes, weirdly reminiscent of Botticelli's "Venus."

For a new piece called "Aphrodite," Lang has embellished a vintage electrolysis jar to suggest the Greek love goddess and hooked it up to the spark coil from a 1929 Ford. His friend Greg Paul has programmed a hidden memory card so when a viewer triggers a minute motion detector, a 20,000-volt arc current lights up the jar so it blinks out Aphrodite's name in Morse code.

Don't be misled into thinking Lang is just building walking, sometimes talking, Erector Sets.

Whether you call them kinetic sculptures or just "contraptions," they're animated by some personal concept, conundrum or knotty Zen koan that Lang wants to crack open like a lobster shell.

Lang said his sculptures "come together in the strangest ways," often originating from a friend's offhand remark or, perhaps, a curious object he found in a flea market or lying around his shop.

One work, "Hey Bob, Are You There...," was born from his fascination with barnacles, those crusty arthropods that attach themselves to other marine creatures or man-made objects.

For one of his most complex pieces, Lang constructed a small colony of barnacles from copper wire wound round a banana and duct tape. Then he and several friends recorded scripts of barnacles discussing the consequences of "staging an evolution" in Ed Bundy and "Married...with Children" voices.

Several of Lang's sculptures feature an audio element, often an improvised script he's written to nudge viewers into untangling life's little knots.

A sophisticated piece called "Play by Play" incorporates three levels of randomly programmed audio recordings recorded from the Internet -- static, old radio commercials and recordings of historic baseball moments.

After a viewer triggers a tiny motion detector, they might hear a jingle for Gillette foamy shaving cream, a burst of static and then announcer Milo Hamilton's euphoric account of Henry Aaron's 715th home run.

In 2004, Lang's life -- creative and otherwise -- became as unpredictable and improbable as his art.

For 30 years, he'd taught art, chaired the art department and directed the art gallery at the Middlesex School in Concord before retiring in 2003.

He'd planned to spend part of his retirement in a cottage he bought in rural Ireland making art when he had a stroke that inhibited his movements and fogged some of his thought processes.

As therapy, Lang began constructing sculptures by fashioning scraps of wire and metal into complex works that helped him recover his manual dexterity.

Now he builds by hand immensely complex pieces that initially resemble wheeled, wire wagons generally topped by some curious arrangement of "found objects," such as radio tubes, gutter spouts or toy flying pigs.

For Lang, the evolution from somewhat traditional painter to genre-busting sculpture seems part of a master plan.

"My paintings are stories in paint. My writings are paintings in words," he said. "All of my sculptures tell ambiguous stories that are open to interpretation."

THE ESSENTIALS:

WHAT: David Lang's "OK, Now What? Inventions, Contraptions and Flights of Fancy"

WHEN: Aug. 31-Oct. 2

WHERE: Boston Sculptors Gallery, 486 Harrison Ave., Boston

HOURS: Noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday

ADMISSION: Free

INFO: 617-482-7781,

www.bostonsculptors.com

OK, NOW WHAT? book

2011-08-17T13:56:00.014-04:00

OK, NOW WHAT ? kinetic sculpture by DAVID A. LANG | Make Your Own Book

I just ordered my book for my up-coming show at the Boston Sculptors Gallery. I ordered it through Blurb.com. It was designed by my colleague and friend Virginia Fitzgerald.

To view book properly click on 'full screen' logo to the left of the Blurb logo.

BOSTON SCULPTORS GALLERY

2011-08-16T15:34:00.006-04:00

The show of new kinetic work opens on August 31st at the Boston Sculptors Gallery at 486 Harrison Avenue, in the SOWA district of Boston. Opening reception: August 31, 2011 from 6 - 8 pm. There will be multiple gallery talks and demonstrations over the duration of the show.

moving right along . . .

2011-08-03T12:13:00.004-04:00

from Harriet's Herd . . .

"FLEET" is up and running

2011-08-02T16:12:00.003-04:00

Kids and Sculpture in the studios of David Lang

2011-07-27T12:28:00.001-04:00

"FLEET" of 3 so far

2011-07-22T16:34:00.006-04:00

Only two more to go!!!

FLEET prototype

2011-07-18T11:42:00.004-04:00

Within a week there should be a total of five of these beauties gently and relaxedly gliding across the heavens

Industrial Strength show at Fountain Street Arts

2011-07-08T15:17:00.004-04:00

VIDEO: Industrial Strength at Fountain Street

"EN PLEIN AIR" WORKSHOP

2011-07-01T11:32:00.005-04:00

A unique summer OUTDOOR opportunity for watercolorists: "EN PLEIN AIR" WORKSHOP. Faculty watercolorists: David Lang, and Bill Sterling . Five Thursday* sessions, Noon-5pm starting June 30.

Explore many scenic locations in and around Wayland as you enjoy five intensive days of painting. Each session will begin by discussing the subject of the day, lighting conditions and a demonstration. The discussion will include various drawing styles, composition design and color principles including visual approach, technical advice and various practical methods of painting with watercolors on location. Relevant examples of master painters like Homer, Whistler, Vermeer, Sargent and Hopper will be shown. Locations may include Walden Pond, Wayland's "Stone Bridge" at the Sudbury River, the Noyes-Parris house in Wayland, the Charles River at South Natick or the Wayside Inn and mill building. An equipment list and class location schedule will be provided upon registration. This is an upper level workshop for residents who enjoy the watercolor process and have had some experience or training. Registration and pre-payment are be required; class size is limited. Enrollment is limited to Wayland residents through May 15th. In case of inclement weather, the workshop will be extended an additional week as needed. David Lang and Bill Sterling, both accomplished artists, will be the group facilitators, guiding the artistic process and leading a group review at the end of each session to discuss each artist's work.

ALICIA FAXON'S ARICLE: DEFYING GRAVITY

2011-07-01T11:08:00.022-04:00

New Sculpture: Defying Gravity

By: Alicia Faxon

ART NEW ENGLAND MAGAZINE

July/August 2011

Sculpture. The word alone brings to mind art that’s weighty—made of marble, bronze, or welded steel—and often monochromatic and static. However, new sculptors defy old paradigms using unconventional materials, combining color and motion, and creating work that appears absolutely weightless.

Among New England artists changing sculpture’s scope is Sheila Pepe, whose work showed recently at Carroll and Sons Art Gallery in Boston. Common Sense and Other Things, the main installation in the show, linked the two gallery spaces. Made of rope, yarn, and shoelaces, the art stretched in space like a giant spider web. The piece extended thirty feet, wrapping around a central wall dividing the space, spreading from the ceiling to the floor, forming a web of blue, black, and gray filaments. Unlike conventional marble, bronze, or steel, Pepe’s materials are changeable—ideal for viewer participation. Thus, in this installation, the artist left behind some knitting and crochet needles and yarn so that viewers could add to the structure. Also, because the installation did not have one observation point, viewers had to walk through the spaces to experience it. Ephemeral, haunting, and beautiful, the sculpture became an experience in perception as well as the perception of that experience.

Sculptor David Lang combines motion and humor. “The work is welded from thin steel wire, rods fabricated into fantastic, open vehicles on delicate wheels,” says Lang, whose studio, in Wayland, Massachusetts, resembles an alchemist’s abode with doll parts, records, farm implements, and welding equipment. “The wheels represent the passage of time as well as space. Motion is both inferred and actual, generated by a motion sensor in the piece.”

In one of Lang’s pieces called Swine Flew, shown in the Boston Sculptors Gallery, three small pig figures equipped with wings, fly in space over a welded rod chariot when the sensor is activated. Amusing, seemingly weightless, delicately structured, the work teases the imagination and our earthbound ideas of sculpture. Another light-structured piece, Horse Play, has a phalanx of preserved sea horses that gallop up and down at different heights, suggesting the rush of the sea and its inhabitants. These and other space structures challenge our perceptions of both process and finished work; however, Lang insists the most important components are air and imagination.

Julia Shepley, a Massachusetts artist exhibiting at the Boston Sculptors Gallery, uses the very ephemeral element of shadows in her work. Interested in the layers of space and time, Shepley uses thread as a medium to draw in three dimensions.  “Shadows are evocative, capturing the spirit of the object and adding an abstract quality that the physical thing doesn’t have,” says Shepley. “The shadow elements in my work suggest the inner life of the concept. I work with phrases, poems, ideas, and translate them into thread, rope, wood, wire, and Plexiglas, connecting them together to create a configuration that changes as I work on it. In Sky Habitation, shown at the Boston Sculptors Gallery, elements were added on, changed, and then suggested new connections and configurations.” Shepley’s work, perhaps the most immaterial of the sculptures considered, combines positive and negative space, art  and science, and concept and realization in elegant and evocative ways.
Rhode Island artist Adrianne Evans primarily uses glass in her work. If An Atom… was shown in Weighted Spaces at the Providence Art Club. Evans says the work is made of “pulled glass cane, Plexiglas, copper wire, and imagination.” To construct it, Evans heated glass rods in a hot pot, attaching copper wire pipes at the ends, stretching the rods into long cylinders. Then she molded the semimelted glass, fastened to a circular wood base, upward into a circular top in lengths that stiffened into curved arcs, creating a sphere of equidistant transparent ribs six feet high and six feet in diameter. The finished piece both interacts with space and has a glistening immaterial shape of its own. It is a triumph of art, technique, and vision.
Massachusetts artist Rosalyn Driscoll makes use of a very unusual material for her modern sculpture: tanned cow hides from Texas. She either molds them into freestanding pieces or drapes them over transparent Plexiglas bases, creating the impression that they’re floating in space. The idea of rawhide as sculptural material came to her during an artist residency in New Mexico. Pliable, the material adapts to numerous configurations. In some pieces, the artist employs mirrors over a wooden frame, further dematerializing the object. Some of her works, such as Calligraphy I, are molded so fluidly they seem to be on the point of taking off into space.

Jedediah Morfit, a sculptor on the faculty at Rhode Island School of Design, uses motion, planned and random. Your Weight or Your Fate is made from ceramic, wood, and ice. On a ladder-like structure, a ceramic bowl is filled with ice and sits on a cantilevered shelf. When the ice melts, the bowl is propelled through space and breaks into pieces when it hits the floor. In this work, space both penetrates the structure and is penetrated by the arc of the falling ceramic. It is a kinetic piece, as weight and weightlessness are combined, and as the sequence unfolds, it becomes a performance piece. The sculpture was shown in the Providence Art Club exhibition, Weighted Spaces.

Although these twenty-first century sculptures have new forms and concepts, there is ancestry for these works in the mobiles of Alexander Calder (1898–1976), who used motion from the passage of air or mechanical devices to change shape and configuration, suggest rather than overtly state, and offer fluid, moving works without solidity or stability or even a single viewpoint.

The new sculptural expressions of New England artists bring new qualities and concepts to the field of art, and are appropriate representations of the twenty-first century orientation of mutability, instability, and the multiple perspectives of a global worldview.

________________________________________________________________________________________________ Alicia Faxon has been writing for Art New England almost since its inception. She is professor emerita of art history at Simmons College and author of seven books, including Self-Portraits by Women Painters and Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

ART NEW ENGLAND

2011-06-29T18:24:00.007-04:00

Alicia Faxon who has been writing for Art New England Magazine, has written a stunning article in the July/August issue, entitled: New Sculpture: Defying Gravity. She has devoted an entire page to my work and my upcoming show at the Boston Sculptors Gallery which opens on August 31, 2011. I will provide a link as soon as it is available.

THE SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT IS FINISHED

2011-06-14T17:48:00.002-04:00

It always surprises me at how long it takes to put these things together! This will appear in ArtScope Magazine sometime this summer before the show opens.

Harriet had always been quite fond of cashews . . .

2011-06-12T16:30:00.000-04:00

TIDEWATER GRAIN CO.

2011-06-03T09:23:00.000-04:00

I produced this painting at the same time that I rescued "The Last Manifest" which is in the sculpture below. It is my belief that the day that the last manifest was added to the pile was the same day that this dust collector would have been used for the last time! The painting measures 58" x 38". The final demolition took place on December 23, 2007.

THE LAST MANIFEST

2011-06-02T10:52:00.000-04:00

This Spindle of Manifests, with the last entry dated 03/26/85, remained in the dispatcher’s office of the Tidewater Grain Company at Girard Point at the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It records the very last shipment of corn that was loaded onto ships for disposal far out in the Altantic Ocean. In 1979 Jimmy Carter enacted a Grain Embargo against Russia in response to the 10 year occupation of Afghanistan. Russia then turned to Argentina to purchase its grain at just over half the price it had been paying to the U.S. Now, 30 years later, the United States is still involved in its own 10 year old war in Afghanistan, not unlike the one for which Russia was being "punished." Tidewater’s demise marked the end of an era in America’s Grain industry.

from Kathryn Schultz at the Cambridge Art Association

2011-05-02T10:55:00.000-04:00

David Lang's Kinetic sculptures are light and understated, but so compelling that they float while commanding the entire atrium of the gallery. These works are kinetic, activated by hidden motion sensors with the viewer causing the flicker of movement to begin. Gently, softly, "Daedelus, On the Other Hand . . ." takes flight. That such harmony can flow, both metaphorically and literally, while projecting an element of whimsy makes viewers crowding around Horse Play, say: "what is making the sea-horses move?" is the fun and fancy in these exquisitely crafted, magical works.

Sound Bites on YouTube

2011-04-19T15:45:00.001-04:00

'Twas Quite a Week!

2011-04-10T21:36:00.003-04:00

A friend asked me "How did the opening go friday night at University Place." My response was "Which One?" I was referring to both the reception, AND the fact that I had locked my keys in the car. That little fact precipitated a small extravaganza including the procurement of a variety of makeshift tools including a hammer, a coat hanger, some cardboard, napkins and broken branches from the street by my new friend Jim from Security at University Place, so that Kathleen and I could engineer the "Opening" of the car! 15 minutes and we were IN, and then, back to the other "Opening". Jim was a saint, and has been wonderfully supportive throughout the installation of my work. Thank you, Jim!

That opening was a delight. It was gentle, playful and thoroughly enjoyable in every respect. We, the artists had a good deal of time to connect with each other. Kathryn had prepared a beautiful review of the show and of the individual artists, and Alison was her usual "Hostess with the Mostest." If you have a chance, go see this show; it is elegant!

The next thing that happened this weekend was that Virginia Fitzgerald and I took down our show at South Shore Art Center in Cohasset. It was a wonderful exhibition in every respect. Yesterday I had the pleasure of working with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and their troop leaders and some parents in the afternoon and discussing the work in the show. They were great! So smart, curious and enthusiastic!

AWARDS SHOW at UNIVERSITY PLACE

2011-04-07T20:28:00.000-04:00

What makes an artwork a prize winner, the best of the best, the standout in a field of 650 submissions? How does a curator, museum director, gallery owner or art historian looking at hundreds of artworks, recognize excellence after choosing an exhibition of 110 works? All chosen pieces in the BLUE 2010 exhibition represented high-level execution in chosen media, significant originality and a spark that spoke to the juror. Then the selection of five outstanding works in five disciplines needed more than a spark - these were the works that set the jurors on fire.Each piece in BLUE (only one per artist) suggested depth and breath of an artistic career that would lend to a large exhibition in which each artist could tell a spirited story. The work flows as if each of the five had worked in harmony with the others to create a visual rhythm that is greater than any one part of the exhibition. Combined, this art speaks softly and vibrantly of synchronism and movement.

Chuck Beisch, a lifelong photographer and founder of Chuck Beisch's Creative Services, sees through his lens with the clarity, sparseness and elegance of a graphic designer. Heavy tractor tracks in the sand take the viewer's eye directly where he wanted them to go: into the ocean. An empty beach, probably end of summer, with endless ocean repeated in the waves. Isolation, emptiness, and waiting- yet joy; all, the beach was and will be again. The photographs make your eye move quickly one to next, then back - slowly and patiently. Next to Beisch's tractor tracks is another tractor.

The Raking with Allis, a powerful woodcut by artist, print-maker Holly Meade of Sedgwick, Maine. Meade is a well-known illustrator of children's books, who has won a Caldecott Honor for Hush! A Thai Lullaby. Her beautiful and deeply moving woodcuts speak of emotions and pain, joy and love. Subtle colors and elegant lines etch an old woman's brow as she embraces and is embraced by a young woman whose flawless forehead leans into the ancient figure offering comfort and warmth.

Painter Nella Lush's palette reflects her homeland of Italy with rich, vibrant colors and surfaces that reflect the warmth of Tuscany in the spring, the sunrise in the ruins of Pompeii, and the verdant gardens in Rome, all allowing the viewer his/her own inner story. The Gardener hints of fecundity and spring; thinking of Spring shouts rebirth and awakening. Masterful use of paint in these abstract paintings brings grace and mood to each canvas.

More fun and playfulness in the brilliant mixed media works of Bob Cipriani. They Couldn't Find the Artist So They Hung the Painting is a mixed media work of an artist's shirt filled with the richness of a thousand paintings. Controlled and rich, the work reflects the artist's hand (not seen in shirt) and vision. A series of glossy collages, rich with adventure and movement offer the chance to feel and experience PTown, NYC and the North End of Boston.

Contact Us

617-876-0246

info@cambridgeart.org
www.cambridgeart.org

University Place Gallery
124 Mt. Auburn St.
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

Kathryn Schultz Gallery
25 Lowell Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

AWARDS SHOW at UNIVERSITY PLACE

2011-04-06T10:28:00.001-04:00

Daedelus, on the other hand . . .

White Wings

Four kinetic favorites have been installed at University Place at 124 Mount Auburn Street as part of the "2011 Awards Show" through Cambridge Art Association. The official reception is Friday April 8th from 5:30 7:30, 2011. The exhibition runs through May 7, 2011.

"We'll borrow . . ."

2011-02-25T08:49:00.000-05:00

In these times of mortgage buyouts, consolidations and takeovers, we often do not really know who is holding our debts. This piece goes to South Shore Art Center in Cohasset next week for a new show entitled "Upon Further Consideration - What Tells a Story." opening reception on March 4th at 6 pm.

COMING TO A THEATER NEAR YOU!

2011-02-17T10:34:00.000-05:00

The dynamic duo is at it again! This time we are pooling our efforts to present an exhibition at the South Shore Shore Center in Cohasset. Our work will raise questions for reconsideration, sometimes about perfectly ordinary events and points of view, and at other times about far more complicated issues. Please join us on March 4th for a gallery talk and opening.

"Upon Further Consideration - What Tells a Story?"

Director's Notes from the Danforth Museum- February, 2011

2011-02-14T17:26:00.001-05:00

I was very happy to see this image in the Danforth Museum's February newsletter from Katherine French. This piece was installed shortly after I completed it in the Early 70's. It is titled "The Question is the Answer." I had the privilege of working with many very fine people on the development and opening of the Danforth Museum back then, serving on the Exhibition Committee with Alicia Faxon, who has always been a driving force in the Arts in New England.

"The Question is the Answer"

Director's Notes from the Danforth Museum

Two important milestones were reached during this past month. On January 25th, the Board of Trustees approved new Mission and Vision statements that recognized the Museum and Museum School as equal partners. And then, on January 31st, the Museum submitted our response to the Town of Framingham’s Request for Proposals (RFP) for long-term lease of the Danforth Building.
Engage, inspire and transform—those are lofty ambitions, but art has that power. It not only sustains, but also defines our culture. It can renew and inspire—and provide the catalyst for great change.
In order to fulfill this mission and achieve its vision as a nationally recognized leader among community museums and art education centers, the Danforth seeks to work with the Town to become the long-term steward for the Danforth Building. It’s too early to comment on specific details. These will be worked out in negotiations, but it is safe to say that we look forward to a partnership that will make it possible to address the needs of a culturally significant, architecturally important building at the heart of Metrowest. _And, the kind of collaboration necessary to achieve this goal is central to what we do.
As a community museum and art center, we are comprised of many communities—of artists and art lovers, of students and educators, and from towns and cities from throughout New England. Collaboration builds and sustains these communities. In the immediate future, we look forward to collaborating with the Boston Printmakers on their 2011 Biennial exhibition juried by renowned artist Jim Dine. On March 1, we again work with the Framingham Library on their Framingham Reads Together initiative with the opening of original watercolor illustrations for Claire Nivola’s Civil War themed children’s book The Silent Witness in our Children’s Gallery. And our collaboration with Framingham Public School teachers on the Meta Warrick Fuller Programcontinues—thanks to support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Sudbury Foundation and recent contributors to our Annual Fund.
Visit the Museum often and become part of our community. Become engaged in what we do, inspired by what you see, and transformed by what you experience. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Sincerely,
Katherine French, Director
Danforth Museum of Art

Old Friends

2011-02-14T16:40:00.000-05:00

I recently had the occasion to visit with a friend from the 1960's who is a chemist at Harvard. In 1972 she and her husband E. Bright Wilson acquired this painting at a solo show that I had at the Concord Art Association. I often thought of this painting, but did not remember whose home it graced. It was a lovely reunion, and so wonderful to visit with Therese.

"Was . . . "

2011-02-14T16:20:00.000-05:00

This piece was conceived in response to a Call to Artists for a show entitled "Green". The boots came from an abandoned home in Ireland and the dried sod came from a park in Worcester. Just today they came together for the first time. I was again moved by the wonderful prophetic book by Rachel Carson in 1962 entitled "Silent Spring".

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Spring

"My Lamp to Light Your Way . . ."

2011-01-26T15:55:00.000-05:00

"QUEEN OF THE NIGHT"

"My Lamp to Light Your Way . . ." Opens at this Cambridge Art Association runs from January 28 thru February 24

Reception on Friday 11th, 5:30 - 7:30

ARTISTS' VALENTINE

2011-01-26T15:36:00.001-05:00

"Paint your heart out!" This is one of this year's submissions for the "Artists Valentine" sale at Paul Matisse's Kalliroscope Gallery this Sunday afternoon.

NEW VISIONS at the Arsenal Center for the Arts

2011-01-12T16:48:00.001-05:00

http://arsenalarts.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=655&Itemid=150

Egg-zactly that size!

2010-12-13T20:10:00.000-05:00

This piece is one of three new works priced at $300 and under at the opening of the Boston Sculptors Gallery "Sculpture Scoop" tomorrow evening at 486 Harrison Avenue in SOWA.

The packaging containers wound up taking about as much time to build as one of the pieces, but I know that they will arrive in their new homes safely!

FOOTNOTE: The container boxes have some miles on them since their original incarnation. Nobody wanted to throw them out. They were built out of discarded political signs from Natick. I first saw them in Virginia Fitzgerald's garage. She had hundreds of them, having stored them for NAOS. Next they came to the studio at 25 Washington Ave, then back to her garage and then to Josh Ostroff's studio, then some of them back to my studio, and at the moment they are in Boston at the Sculptors Gallery. I have no idea where they will go next, but look forward to hearing.

MASTER CLASS in Figure and Anatomy Drawing at Milton

2010-12-09T17:27:00.000-05:00

Today's classes at Milton Academy were wonderful! There were two groups of a dozen kids who participated in drawing from a wonderful model named Dayna. She was a superstar and so were the kids! Gordon Chase, who is an extraordinary teacher and artist himself, invited me to teach this class again this year. His students are truly first rate, well prepared, adventuresome, talented and enthusiastic. I applaud him on the fine program that he and his colleagues have developed.

"DREAMS"

2010-12-03T12:45:00.000-05:00

This new piece developed out of an unearthed clay pipe from the late 1870's during excavations at our neighbor's new home construction several weeks ago. It was clear to Virginia Fitzgerald that the pipe needed something. The egg arrived last evening quite naturally. This work will go into the Boston Sculptor's Gallery for "The Sculpture Scoop" on the 14th for a fundraiser along with quite a number of other sculptor's work.

AND NOW, BACK TO WORK ON "Hey Bob, are you there?"

2010-11-22T13:19:00.000-05:00

This image shows the ridiculous complexity of the inner workings and interactions of this piece with the outer shells of each barnacle removed!

"First Strike" marches on at Attleboro Art Museum

2010-11-20T10:03:00.000-05:00

"First Strike" is marching away at the Attleboro Art Museum's new show titled "Carry On" as part of an exhibition in response to Tim O'Brien's novel "The Things They Carried". The exhibit continues throught December 4th, 2010.

www.attleboroartsmuseum.org/index.php/carry-on/

"Return" makes its Boston debut at the EpiCenter

2010-11-17T13:12:00.000-05:00

Wednesday morning, just before "Return" was due to go into Boston to the EpiCenter, Artists for Humanity, I was outside the studio in the parking lot with the oxyacetylene torch burning up a few more components. About two minutes later a journalist from the MetroWest Daily News knocked on the door asking what all the activity was about. His name is Allan Jung. I wasn't exactly sure what he was referring to since I am always using my torch for something, but I told him what I was working on and where it was going. The very next morning in the front page of the Local section of the paper this picture appeared! Thank you Allan!

Ya' just never know . . .

2010-11-11T17:27:00.000-05:00

This was completely off the wall. I had it mind to "recycle" plastic products by the process that I know best, which is to put the torch to them. Maybe the "after" will even appear on wheels as a totem!

"RECYCLED"

2010-11-09T20:06:00.000-05:00

This new piece, titled "Recycled" will be in Boston at the new EpiCenter "Artists for Humanity" Mass Recycle Award Ceremony on Wednesday, November 17th along with several other new pieces. The seat itself came from Mickey Howard's bike shop in the middle of Kilfenora. It has completely caved in now, but I have visited it several time since he died, and photographed it extensively over the past few years.

Visit the EpiCenter's website and take a tour!

http://www.afhboston.com/epicenter.php

"Horse Play" frolics at UMass Boston

2010-11-09T13:16:00.000-05:00

The Seahorses romp and play at a new setting this week, and how very near the waters of Boston Harbor of all places! A new show entitled ART ORGANIC at UMass Boston Harbor Gallery opens on November 15 - December 15, 2010 with a reception on November 18th from 5 - 8 pm.

For the same event, Virginia Fitzgerald delivered her newest work directly from her creative hands ! She is now expanding her presence into "performance art" as well! Go Team Go!

http://www.virginiafitzgerald.com/Fiber-Works.html

Transport . . .

2010-11-07T21:04:00.000-05:00

Several years ago I purchased these two wheels from a friend named Melinda at the Jefferson Flea Market in Jefferson Parish in New Orleans. It was never entirely clear how I would use them, until I was given a set of older work boots by another friend. Then the two components found each other, and this is the result.

LUBE yields BLUE news

2010-11-05T12:57:00.000-04:00

The BIG NEWS for the day is that "LUBE yields BLUE" was accepted into the Cambridge Art Association "BLUE" show and has been awarded "OUTSTANDING 3-D WORK AWARD"

http://www.cambridgeart.org/

Grand Illusion

2010-11-03T10:46:00.000-04:00

After Jean Renoir's 1937 film "Grand Illusion."

New work as of today! There resides atop this elegant antique foil a small iridescent glass bubble.

2010-10-28T10:21:00.000-04:00

LUBE yields BLUE

2010-10-27T15:18:00.000-04:00

"LUBE yields BLUE" is finally finished and up and running. No leaks, no misfires and no other problems that I know about yet ! As soon as I figure out how to post the video of the piece in action I will. It is full of surprises !!!

"LUBE" Project progress

2010-10-19T13:11:00.000-04:00

Under the able guidance of my friend and consultant Arwen, work continues to creep forward on this new ridiculously complicated piece, which I hope to finish this week!

"LUBE" Project progress

2010-10-02T19:09:00.000-04:00

Things are moving slowly, but hey, no big surprise there.

TEASER CLUE # 3

2010-09-23T14:00:00.000-04:00

There will actually be five of these !

TEASER CLUE #2

2010-09-22T08:43:00.000-04:00

These are tiny funnels which will be part of the next piece of kinetic sculpture!

A HEADS UP . . .

2010-09-20T17:10:00.000-04:00

This will undoubtedly make very little sense to most people, yet, but:

LUBE is another way of arranging the same letters in the word BLUE.

Stay tuned!

"SOUND BITES" AWARDED THE RODDY PRIZE FOR SCULPTURE

2010-09-17T18:56:00.000-04:00

"Sound Bites" was juried into the Frances N. Roddy Open Competition at the Concord Art Association yesterday. As is often the case with submissions of "new work", they have a way of squeaking under the wire at the last possible minute. Yesterday's delivery was just such an occasion!

This afternoon at the opening reception and awards ceremony "Sound Bites" was awarded the Roddy Prize for Sculpture. I am most grateful to the Concord Art Association, to Gibbs Roddy, who founded and endowed this exhibition in honor of his mother, Frances N. Roddy and to the juror, Victoria Munroe, of Victoria Munroe Fine Art, Boston.

The entire show is a jewel and filled with exceptional work. Open the link below for a review of the show.

www.concordart.org

PADDY MAC AND MARY NESTOR TRAVEL TO WORCESTER AND LYNN

2010-09-13T15:12:00.000-04:00

Paddy Mac and Mary Nestor from Kilfenora, Co Clare, Ireland, are visiting Worcester State College at an exhibit entitled "In Between" and Paddy is also visiting Lynn at the Lynn Arts, Inc. as part of an exhibition entitled "Portraiture." In both instances, funding for their appearance was made possible in part by the Puffin Foundation in the form of a grant " . . . continuing the dialogue between art and the lives of ordinary people."

Please visit www.puffinfoundation.org

EXACTLY THAT SIZE . . .

2010-09-10T10:11:00.001-04:00

I have no idea what this one is about yet, but I am pretty sure that it is the correct size !

SO MUCH TO DO!

2010-09-09T15:24:00.000-04:00

In an endeavor to construct a piece of sculpture for each of my four grandchildren, I was able to bribe these outgrown work boots away from three and a half year old Paul Martin, and combined them with rubber eraser tools. At that age they go through shoes in virtually no time at all so for the time being, I feel secure in a continuous supply of starting material for several years to come. It is fair to say that these used, but for all the world, new boots had to be worked over with a grinder and torch to be rendered "roadworthy".

IT'S COMPLICATED

2010-09-09T13:37:00.000-04:00

This piece evolved from just looking around at things that appeared at first glance to have little or nothing to do with one another. I often find that if I surround myself with enough junk, relationships begin to emerge. I usually do not find out what things are about until after they are built.

The thorns themselves came from the William and Elizabeth Klemperer Estate in Watertown, MA. With some considerable leap of confidence, Kathleen lent me her best set of tweezers for manipulating the thorns into place -- a matter of no small concern to someone on Coumadin -- with the assurance that they would return unscathed, which they did, both he tweezers and me!

And in response, THIS comes from Matthew Terry, fellow artist and co-conspiritor:

This raises the question . . . what do you do for, "it's quite simple really!"

I like this thorny issue . . . . and by the way, a rose is a rose, except when a serpent gets into the mix, or stupid Cupid! . . . . . you're right, it is complicated.

Thorns on goat horns come to mind, call it defended or defensive stance, or horny thorny. Perhaps I should start a series of response pieces, where you throw down the glove, and I answer . . . . actually its a pretty interesting idea and would make for a fun conversation type show!

. . . . the small furniture thing is appealing, containers with lids could be set up so the lid would float above what floats in the middle. On a single mono-filament, like vertical parentheses around an object in space.

the word object . . . . objective, as in to be ob or sub, and the destination meaning of objective seem full of potential as well.

How about word mathematics, strange equations . . . . . .

like: objectionable object objective x abject poverty of means = artificial formula for success

SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY

2010-09-08T11:52:00.000-04:00

For many years I have been fascinated with things that come out of manufacturing mills, whether they are shoe factories, knitting mills or pretty much anything that was manufactured for the past 150 years. I have many shoe lasts and recently came across these two shuttles that still had thread on them. In very short order I realized just how the shapes, parts and pieces and "presence" these wonderful objects possessed. Eventually, I added the mouth to each with the thread trickling out of each, piling up at foot level. I added the monacle to each to lend dignity and pomposity to each.

MAINTAINING BALANCE

2010-09-04T12:47:00.000-04:00

In the words of Norman MacLean in his book "A River Runs Through It":

". . . My father was very sure about certain matters pertaining to the universe. To him, all good things - trout as well as eternal salvation - came by grace; and grace comes by art; and art does not come easy."

This piece is a comment on the often elusive conviction that is necessary to produce one's Art.

MEASURING UP !

2010-09-03T21:58:00.000-04:00

Lots of material comes out of the simple process of cleaning up stuff around the studio. I broke a tape measure last week. I bunched it all up and wrapped a ribber band around it, because I just couldn't part with it quite yet. I also came across one of my across the fence, all-around great kid, Riley's reject toys. Well, it didn't take too much consideration to see how these two "things" might work together. Thank you Riley. I sleep better on nites like these, too !

JAZZ PIANO

2010-09-03T13:42:00.000-04:00

I was quite taken by Mark Taber's keyboard artistry several weeks ago and then I received a CD of his work. I LOVE IT! Then my friend, Roberto Villate arrived for a few days visit. While he was here he discovered that several of the lights on his truck were burned out. "Don't throw those out!" Consequently, I have set myself the challenge of building a piece a sculpture that will react to Mark's Taber's work, starting with lots of 12 volt car bulbs, 32 to be specific (four octaves) that will respond to his music. By having put THAT out there, I am more confident that I can figure a way to pull this off. Here's hopin'!

CHECK OUT VIRGINIA FITZGERALD'S RECENT BLOGSPOT ENTRIES !

2010-08-31T13:13:00.000-04:00

virginiafitzgerald.blogspot.com

WITNESS

2010-08-31T12:12:00.001-04:00

This new piece came out of nowhere. It started with an old chair leg which was nanoseconds away from going back to the dump, from where it had come a few years earlier, but at the last moment spoke up in protest and quickly said "this needs eyes". Of course the wheels, eyelashes and foot followed in rapid succession. I love it when these recent pieces practically build themselves in very short order. The piece has been juried into an exhibition at the Salem Art Association in Salem, MA as an adjunct exhibition to the Peabody, Essex Museum, in Salem, MA, titled: "Eye Spy, Playing with Perception" www.pem.org

“Getting an Eye-Fool: The Art of Looking”
This year's PEM Companion Show!!
Friday, September 3–Sunday, September 26, 2010
(Artists’ Reception: September 12, 4:00–7:00 pm)
The Gallery at 63 Wharf Street (63A Pickering Wharf)

www.salemartsassociation.org

COMMUNICATION

2010-08-27T13:20:00.000-04:00

This piece has been hovering in the wings for a while now. It will have many small voices superimposed over each other and some of them muffled and difficult to understand. It will probably be surrounded by bits and pieces of fortune cookie printouts and perhaps excerpts of news paper clippings.

SOUND BYTES

2010-08-23T19:42:00.000-04:00

SOUND BYTES is now up and running. As always, there were lots of pesky challenges, but it has been running for several hours now and nothing has jammed or broken!

JOHN BURKE'S PHOTOGRAPHY

2010-08-22T12:53:00.000-04:00

John Burke, a fellow artist and general troublemaker, not unlike me, has been creating "people" images of people going about what they do! This is one of his many studies. Take a look as his website.

SOUND BYTES

2010-07-27T16:23:00.000-04:00

There is a new piece in the works. Who would think that gutter downspout brackets would be so difficult to locate. This is where things are at the moment!

VIDEO FROM THE DANFORTH MUSEUM

2010-07-26T15:30:00.000-04:00

THE DANFORTH SHOW

2010-07-26T10:47:00.000-04:00

Below you will find some excerpts from Chris Bergeron's article in the MetroWest Daily News, published July 22, 2010. Click below to view entire article

Join the Danforth's journey through the local arts scene

FRAMINGHAM —

"After a long flight from Paris, Katherine French coped with jet lag by driving to the Danforth Museum of Art at 3 a.m and arranging works by 135 distinct painters, photographers, printmakers and mixed-media sculptors into a "Community of Artists."

"In her fourth such exhibit as the Danforth's executive director, she's inviting visitors on an exciting journey through the area arts . . . scene".

"As (people walked) about, they were startled when David Lang's ingenious kinetic sculpture "The Day the Castinetti Sisters First Learned to Fly" came to life when triggered by a motion detector. Atop a sort of Erector set wire cart, several clams shells began clacking like hungry dentures beneath flapping fabric bat wings".

"After a few moments, (we) went into the adjoining gallery and plugged in Lang's even more complex "Play by Play" which resembles a stainless steel Model T and, when triggered, transmits actual radio broadcasts of historic baseball games."

WHAT A PARTY!!!

2010-07-21T10:59:00.000-04:00

Here are some photos from our Haiku party last Thursday night. The evening was quite lively and entertaining and a special thank you to Raffael de Gruttola, from the Boston Haiku Society, who lead us all in a crash course in the wonders of Haiku. Thank you to all who have shared your Haikus with us for this blog spot. Below you will find some of the haikus that were written by some of our guests!

Thanks to everyone who came and for those who missed it, we hope to see you this fall!

"For the Greater Glory"

2010-07-14T23:26:00.001-04:00

BIG STUDIO PARTY JULY 15TH

2010-07-14T23:03:00.000-04:00

Here is a sneak preview of one of the four new works to debut thursday the 15th. "Cutting Ties"

My Recent Facelift

2010-07-13T22:59:00.000-04:00

My grandchildren, Paul and Amelia chipped in and underwrote the cost of my recent facelift for my birthday this past weekend. I was struck by the remarkable resemblance. I guess that there can be little doubt that we are part of the same gene pool.

ARTSCOPE interview with Brian Golsow

2010-07-08T15:04:00.000-04:00

A CONVERSATION WITH ANDREW M.K. WARREN AT THE DANFORTH MUSEUM OF ART, FRAMINGHAM, MASS. BRIAN GOSLOW CORNERED HIM AT THE OPENING RECEPTION FOR THE ANNUAL MEMBERS' JURIED EXHIBITION, "OFF THE WALL," AND "A COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS" ON JUNE 17, 2010.

Cornered: a conversation with an art museum attendee
Brian Goslow

What do you think of the show in general?
Warren: It has incredible depth; a wide range of things, particularly the kinetic stuff. Two pieces I saw were pretty mindblowing. (He’s talking about David A. Lang’s kinetic sculptures, “Play by Play” and “The Day the Castinetti Sisters First Learned to Fly.”) Did you see those?

I saw one that was made out of old radio parts...
Warren: That one you’re talking about (“Play by Play”) actually has a radio built into it so it broadcasts radio sounds. And the other one is incredibly intricate, delicate and beautiful. I would say those definitely were the showstoppers for me. Those things are amazing.

For the complete interview and coverage of the opening:

http://artscopemagazine.com/asdyn/index.wr?is=26&a=1

"Seeing Double" at Attleboro Arts Museum

2010-07-08T08:14:00.000-04:00

Last evening's opening at Attleboro Arts Museum was dramatic, rich and strong. "The Philosophers" is included in this exhibition through August 4, 2010. Behind me is Jodi Colella's wonderful sculptural wall hanging entitled "Undercurrent".

The Sun Chronicle reviewed the show on July 5th, 2010 ~ click here to see the article.

UPCOMING EVENT July 15th, 2010

2010-06-16T11:01:00.001-04:00

ATTLEBORO MUSEUM OF ART

2010-06-14T13:42:00.000-04:00

"The Philosophers" was selected to be part of an exhibition at the

Attleboro Museum of Art, in Attleboro, MA. The exhibit is entitled "Seeing Double" and runs from July 7th - August 4th.

www.attleboroartsmuseum.org/index.php/exhibitions/

DANFORTH MUSEUM

2010-06-14T13:19:00.000-04:00

Both "The Play by Play" and "Castinetti Sisters" are currently at the Danforth Museum in Framingham, through August 8th.

The Exhibition is titled "Off The Wall" and the "Community of Artists". both works are kinetic.

WILD TURKEY ATTACK

2010-06-14T10:37:00.000-04:00

If you are ever faced with the option of photographing wild turkeys when your are not suited up with full protection gear, I would recommend "NOT". I noticed these two males slowly walking east on the bike path on Nantucket yesterday. On my way back from 'Sconset I saw that they were about half a mile further along an hour or so later on the same bike path. I got out of the car some distance away on the opposite side of the road with my telephoto take a picture of them strolling along, when they immediately charged across the road, traffic notwithstanding, charged at me and launched into full battle mode. Never seen anything like it!!! Not a good option for someone on Coumadin. I will be interested to see what piece of sculpture evolves from THIS!

ONE ARTIST TO ANOTHER

2010-05-23T19:41:00.001-04:00

This was a great afternoon! Several months ago I was at a wonderful show of student work at Lynn Arts, Inc. and was struck by a particular work of art by a young artist named Matthew. It was a paper bag fish that was whimsically painted blue. I left my contact information only half expecting tohear from the artist, expressing an interest in purchasing the work. Well, today that happened, and I am so pleased to have met Matthew and his family; and here we both are at our meeting. Thank you Matthew. This will go perfectly with one of my own pieces of sculpture titled "Blue Worm Group".

BOSTON HAIKU SOCIETY STUDIO EVENT

2010-05-20T11:49:00.000-04:00

Virginia Fitzgerald and I are making plans to host an evening Open Studios Party in conjunction with the BOSTON HAIKU SOCIETY. This notion came about when Raffael de Gruttola and I were talking at an exhibit of my work at the Dana Hall Gallery in Wellesley last November. The idea may be to have Haiku written right there, on the spot, in response to our art work. We are looking at possibly Thursday evening, July 15th. Stay tuned.

BOSTON SCULPTORS GALLERY

2010-05-20T11:42:00.000-04:00

I received word today that I have been accepted as a member at the BOSTON SCULPTORS GALLERY at 486 Harrison Avenue. I am so looking forward to exhibiting my kinetic work there in 2011.

To the left is an image of a work that is still in process which is acoustic, titled "Pipe Dreams".

THE PUFFIN FOUNDATION GRANT

2010-05-20T11:03:00.000-04:00

"LOOKING AT GENTLER TIMES". I am so happy to have received news that I was awarded a Puffin Foundation Grant in support of a proposal to mount an exhibition of paintings comparing farm communities in Western Ireland, particularly Co. Clare, and New England. My goal is to enable people to rekindle their sense of the importance of the core values of innovation and cooperative interaction. My work explores the almost bygone slower pace of living that honors consideration of the environment and what impact people can have as individuals by making responsible choices and leading by example. Society in general seems to have lost sight of this. My paintings, taken as a whole, present a view into the recent past ways of doing things and of going about the business of daily living.

I want to remind people of the value of a human interactive community and a healthy quality of life that is so often missed in these twenty first century hectic and frenzied times of built-in obsolescence and disposable goods. Our society seems to be obsessed with an unsustainable fast pace of living and consumerism. My work suggests an alternative.

I am seeking a venue to celebrate this.

ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

2010-05-10T15:51:00.000-04:00

Since 1996 I have been collecting oral histories in Co. Clare, Ireland where I now have a home and studio. Last week I had the pleasure of spending several hours with a gentleman named Johnny Lee, who came to the house on the very day of his 87th birthday. He had not been to the house in close to 50 years. Here we are comparing notes on the particulars of one of my paintings.

STRAIGHT EIGHT

2010-05-05T13:46:00.000-04:00

"Straight Eight" was just juried into the Northeast Prize Show at the Cambridge Art Association.

Additionally, I will giving a presentation on kinetic sculpture there later this fall titled "Inventions, Contraptions and Flights of Fancy" at the THIRD THURSDAY SERIES

LEG WORK

2010-05-04T12:22:00.000-04:00

I just returned from Ireland and ran out of time to include this image before I left. As you might imagine, building any new piece of sculpture requires a good deal of prep work, or shall I say leg work! In this case, some of these legs and arms became part of the sculpture "Lady's Man" which is dedicated to my grandson, Emilio. The finished piece is shown below.

DAVID LANG STUDIOS

FLIGHTS of FANCY - the Importance of Play

Brighter ideas . . .

"after Edvard . . . "

"SCULPTURE SCOOP 2011"

Duckweed . . .

Rack 'em up!

"OK, Now What?" comes down this Sunday evening.

ONE WEEK TO GO!

OPEN STUDIOS WEEKEND in SoWa

HEY BOB and TWITTERING MACHINE

from this month's ArtScope . . .

Jean Pratt

Daedelus, on the other hand . . .

SouthEndPatch review

SoWa Spotlight On: David Lang

YOU TUBE VIDEO of "OK, Now What? kinetic sculpture exhibition

TIMING IS EVERYTHING!

and now back to "Hey Bob, are you there?"

Chris Bergeron's in depth article

OK, NOW WHAT? book

BOSTON SCULPTORS GALLERY

moving right along . . .

"FLEET" is up and running

Kids and Sculpture in the studios of David Lang

"FLEET" of 3 so far

FLEET prototype

Industrial Strength show at Fountain Street Arts

"EN PLEIN AIR" WORKSHOP

ALICIA FAXON'S ARICLE: DEFYING GRAVITY

ART NEW ENGLAND

THE SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT IS FINISHED

Harriet had always been quite fond of cashews . . .

TIDEWATER GRAIN CO.

THE LAST MANIFEST

from Kathryn Schultz at the Cambridge Art Association

Sound Bites on YouTube

'Twas Quite a Week!

AWARDS SHOW at UNIVERSITY PLACE

AWARDS SHOW at UNIVERSITY PLACE

"We'll borrow . . ."

COMING TO A THEATER NEAR YOU!

Director's Notes from the Danforth Museum- February, 2011

Old Friends

"Was . . . "

"My Lamp to Light Your Way . . ."

ARTISTS' VALENTINE

NEW VISIONS at the Arsenal Center for the Arts

Egg-zactly that size!

MASTER CLASS in Figure and Anatomy Drawing at Milton

"DREAMS"

AND NOW, BACK TO WORK ON "Hey Bob, are you there?"

"First Strike" marches on at Attleboro Art Museum

"Return" makes its Boston debut at the EpiCenter

Ya' just never know . . .

"RECYCLED"

"Horse Play" frolics at UMass Boston

Transport . . .

LUBE yields BLUE news

Grand Illusion

LUBE yields BLUE

"LUBE" Project progress

"LUBE" Project progress

TEASER CLUE # 3

TEASER CLUE #2

A HEADS UP . . .

"SOUND BITES" AWARDED THE RODDY PRIZE FOR SCULPTURE

PADDY MAC AND MARY NESTOR TRAVEL TO WORCESTER AND LYNN

EXACTLY THAT SIZE . . .

SO MUCH TO DO!

IT'S COMPLICATED

SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY

MAINTAINING BALANCE

MEASURING UP !

JAZZ PIANO

CHECK OUT VIRGINIA FITZGERALD'S RECENT BLOGSPOT ENTRIES !

WITNESS

“Getting an Eye-Fool: The Art of Looking”This year's PEM Companion Show!!

Friday, September 3–Sunday, September 26, 2010

(Artists’ Reception: September 12, 4:00–7:00 pm)

“Getting an Eye-Fool: The Art of Looking”
This year's PEM Companion Show!!