Before he knew the name, title and exact age, the Norton Museum’s curatorial associate for European art knew the piece in front of him was something exceptional. Past the cracks, layers of dust and the darkness that had settled, he knew. “When I first saw the work, my adrenalin was pumping,” Jerry Dobrick said. “I knew it was a superb painting, no matter who had painted it.” … [Read more...]
At home in the Southwest: Boca Museum show gets there beautifully
A mountain can be round and painted in warm, earthy tones or triangular, in dark blues and greens, or malleable, sporting a rosy fleshy hue or stiff in teal and gray. The unexplored isolated region of Santa Fe turned out to be many different things to a group of artists looking for new inspiration away from the city lights. Southwestern Allure: The Art of the Santa Fe Art … [Read more...]
2013-14 arts preview: The season in Palm Beach County art
The new art season in Palm Beach County will deliver some surprises as well as “safety objects.” There are some firsts (see Norton’s pick for its RAW series) and there is the repetitious (the influence of Warhol, the legacy of Flagler), but I have to believe even these announcements are good news, for a museum never brings back shows that act as audience repellents. Let us … [Read more...]
Gallery Crawl No. 1: Exhibits showcase county’s contemporary bent
New work by heavyweight pop artist Robert Indiana can be seen at Rosenbaum Contemporary in Boca Raton. The octogenarian is the father of the iconic LOVE image, which he created initially as a sculpture in 1966, and has appeared around the world in various high- and low-brow incarnations. Now, he brings us a show entirely focused on another essential word: HOPE. “It’s like the … [Read more...]
2013-14 arts preview: The season in Miami-Dade art
By Colleen Dougher Miami-Dade museums and cultural centers offer their usual array of diverse offerings for the 2013-14 season, from the big-fat art fair that — if pronounced correctly — rhymes with nozzle, to shows that ooze masculinity, help save stadiums and question this affair we're having with technology. Art Basel Miami Beach The oft-mispronounced Art Basel … [Read more...]
2013-14 arts preview: The season in Broward art
By Colleen Dougher Broward kicks off its season with portraits of Andy Warhol and Elvis, skeletons to which people can relate, a shuttle to cool downtown Fort Lauderdale art venues and more. 1310 Gallery, Artspace Sailboat Bend Lofts, Fort Lauderdale Fiber Optics, curated by Lisa Rockford, is a group exhibition by artists who used unexpected materials in art that … [Read more...]
Two artists of the fleeting at Boca Museum
The work of artists Victor Matthews and Paolo Nicola Rossini, now on view in Transitions at the Boca Raton Museum of Art, at first glance appears dramatically different. Yet Kathleen Goncharov, curator of exhibitions and audience engagement, who organized the show, sees a common theme in their work. “Both artists afford the viewer a glimpse into their subconscious and their … [Read more...]
Mother and son bring independent sensibilities to Delray pottery shop
By Lucy Lazarony Stop by Cloud House Pottery in Artists Alley in Delray Beach and you’ll find Ian Levinson and his mother Ellen “Starr” Levinson creating pots and paintings and sculptures. Ian, 46, has been a ceramic artist for 32 years. On his potter’s wheel, he creates functional pieces such as bowls, cups and mugs and one-of-a-kind art pieces. In her studio, Ellen paints … [Read more...]
County artists make summer richer at Cultural Council show
Those of us who thought the summer was a dead time for exhibits and good only for surfing shows have at least one reason to revise this opinion: the County Contemporary All Media Juried Show. Unveiled by the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County in June, this modest but inclusive exhibit features a total of 44 works by 36 Palm Beach County professional artists. One of them … [Read more...]
Strangeness dominates juried show at Boca Museum of Art
The joy of writing about art comes from the same place I imagine a curator’s joy comes from: discovering something truly interesting. I was hoping to find this among the 149 pieces encompassing the 62nd All Florida Juried Competition and Exhibition at the Boca Raton Museum of Art. The show attracted more than 1,600 submissions. What I saw was art reflecting strangeness and … [Read more...]