What does looking forward mean?: Artspace exhibit invites artists to explore what lies ahead
Published: 01-21-2025 1:01 PM |
GREENFIELD — Combining art and activism, the latest Artspace Community Arts Center exhibit aims to explore what the future may hold.
“FORWARD” will be on display through the end of February, with pieces discussing evolution, change and movement while also imagining the possibilities that lie ahead.
“FORWARD” includes work by 38 artists from across the Pioneer Valley, and showcases art in a variety of mediums such as photography, painting, mixed media, textiles, ceramics and welding. The exhibit and Friday’s opening reception were timed for a period of transition, just a few days before Monday’s presidential inauguration.
“We’re holding space for this time right now — there’s a lot of emotions,” said Chloe Torri, the media and communications manager at Artspace. “It’s tactfully timed with the inauguration to bring anyone in the art world out, just to feel like they’re not alone at this time.”
Torri said every artist that applied for the exhibit was included, so as many voices that wanted to be heard could be. She encourages visitors to not only look at the pieces, but think about them and have conversations about art and how they envision the future.
“I like creating good conversation in the gallery,” Torri said. “We wanted this to be a sampling of the artists of the valley and Franklin County, and to see what looking forward looks like to them.”
With so many artists featured, Torri said the show has “something for everyone” and includes a variety of thoughts on what the future will bring.
Sunderland artist Bex Deck said the future is bright and colorful, if everyone works together and welcomes differing views and opinions.
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“I think the future is bright and we need to work really hard to uplift different views and different perspectives,” Deck said. “I see color as a very positive thing, a very hopeful thing. Painting with bright colors is a way to hope for that bright future.”
Deck’s piece, “Bridge Over the Connecticut,” was inspired by the view from the top of Mount Sugarloaf depicting the Sunderland Bridge over the Connecticut River, but with a twist. Deck painted the scene with bold and vibrant colors. Rather than the typical grays, blues and greens one could expect in a painting of a bridge over a river, Deck’s painting features magenta, fuchsia and other shades of bright reds, purples and pinks.
“I feel like a lot of artists paint realistically; we paint what we see. But what if I take that and kinda switch it up a little bit?” Deck said.
Stephanie Stroud of Turners Falls does not see the future as bright and colorful, but she maintains hope. Her piece, “Season of the Witch,” was inspired by the feelings of darkness she felt during the COVID-19 pandemic and finding a moment of brightness among the trees.
“The theme was what really spoke to me. It’s about moving forward in uncertain times,” Stroud said. “I was wandering around aimlessly in the arboretum and this witch hazel spoke to me. It felt like a deep transformative moment.”
Greenfield artist Margo Jones was also inspired by trees. Jones is a retired architect, and while she does not spend her days sketching buildings anymore, she still enjoys drawing, particularly scenes of nature that she encounters while hiking.
She said her piece, “Grove in Motion,” was inspired by a grove of wild cherry trees and the trees’ constant movement.
“It changes every day,” Jones said.
During the opening reception, Artspace also invited visitors to make some activism-themed art. Torri said Artspace hosts free art-making sessions at least once a month, usually on Saturdays, but decided to experiment by setting up a pop-up activity during the exhibit’s reception. Participants were able to make art inspired by the work of Keith Haring, an artist and activist known for his philanthropic work and pop art drawing inspiration from New York’s graffiti subculture.
“We were brainstorming what would be a good activity that reflected the theme of this art show and I thought it was a no-brainer doing activist art,” Torri said.
“FORWARD” will be on display through Friday, Feb. 28, at the Artspace gallery at 15 Mill St. More information is available at artspacegreenfield.org.
Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.