She does the labor of painting. She gets to make the art. She is the vessel. She wrestles infinity to the ground and makes it work. Place your body in relation to a Takenaga painting. Delight in catastrophe. Hover. Wrestle yourself to the ground. Feel good about it. On a beautiful Berkshire … Continue reading
At the time of year when we’re looking for light and warmth in New England, artists from the Berkshires and beyond contribute their talents to the Winter Arts Festival in Pittsfield, MA. This year’s sixth annual festival ran from February 16th – 26th, highlighting hundreds of visual artists, actors, playwrights, musicians, poets, and dancers in … Continue reading
15,000 square foot Building 5 at MassMoCA offers a daunting challenge for any artist as an installation space. The gallery is the size of a football field; it’s a seductive, performative space that was originally a factory building complex built between 1870 and 1900. MassMoCA, located in North Adams, MA has 19 large gallery … Continue reading
Eight years ago I came to live, work and paint in the rural Berkshire mountains leaving Philadelphia, where I had spent most of my life. For the first time I had a studio space separate from my home and it was located, in the lush woods of my backyard. I felt as lucky as Norman … Continue reading
Fall has arrived in New England. It was a perfect weekend for sampling apple cider donuts and visiting the Bennington Museum with my spouse. Once a Catholic Church, the museum has undergone many renovations and expansions overtime. Its origins can be traced back to the 1777 battle of Bennington during the Revolutionary War and a … Continue reading
Get to know our authors through the new Contributor Series. A group of short posts from Proximity Arts members. Allow us to share our work and our thoughts on making work with you. For the first instillation Ilene has written a paragraph that speaks to the relationships between still life, landscape and the figure. This poetic … Continue reading
A good creative arts education is essential for learning and the process of making art is an emotionally, intellectually, psychologically, and physically complicated one. All levels of art education emphasize the value of individual creative exploration, critical thinking and use of imagination. Aesthetic development begins as soon a the child makes a mark; beauty and … Continue reading
by Ilene Spiewak Why would Ellsworth Kelly (1923 – 2015) chose to live in the middle of nowhere in Spencertown, NY? It’s a quiet hamlet in the Hudson Valley not far from the Massachusetts border where I live. We’ve driven through Spencertown (not hip) countless times on our way to Hudson (hip) or to New … Continue reading
by Ilene Spiewak Enormous architectural assemblages made from fragmented reflective materials dominate the scene upon entrance (even the gallery floors are mirrored). One encounters vibrant complexities of seductive shimmer wherein dark anxieties hide. When you make your way through a labyrinth of corridors, perceptual and cognitive bearings are disrupted. As you confront your own existence … Continue reading
The converted factory buildings that house Mass MoCa were originally built between 1870 and 1900. The complex located in North Adams, MA is one of the largest centers for contemporary visual and performing arts in the U.S. It has 19 galleries and 100,000 square feet. That’s larger than a city block… Continue reading
