The Eighth Annual One: A Members’ Exhibition

Opened at Arts Worcester, 44 Portland St. in the Printers’ Building on Sept. 10th and will run through Nov. 8th.

Videos of the show and a far more professional video in which the Juror announces the winners can be seen in my Facebook feed (all are listed as Public.

The prize winning pieces include A piece by AW’s own Alice Dillon. CONGRATULATIONS, Alice!

Other winning work shown below:

Other favorite works from the show:

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(The image of me by Anne McNevin has been sold!)

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My sculpture, “Mud People” of cone 10 stoneware pit fired and mounted on glass.

Gravity/Levity

Details

Yes, in-person gallery hours are back!

Gravity/Levity: A Juried Members’ Exhibition

July 9 through August 16, experience

We are thrilled to welcome you back to the galleries for Gravity/Levity, our first exhibition dedicated entirely to sculpture. Beginning Thursday, July 9 at noon, our doors will be open to you again.

Gravity: weight; a fundamental physical force by which all things with mass or energy are brought toward one another; a dignity or sobriety of bearing

Levity: excessive or unseemly frivolity; lightness of mind; lightness in weight

Gravity/Levity, a juried exhibition of three-dimensional artwork, is the first all-sculpture show at ArtsWorcester. Lisa Crossman, Curator of American Art and Arts of the Americas at the Mead Art Museum at Amherst College, selected twenty-nine sculptures by twenty-five artists that capture approaches to weight and weightlessness.

Works both earnest and ironic employ materials ranging from cast glass, carved stone and wood, ceramic, and steel, to paper, recycled electronics, fishnet tights, and gummy bears. Visitors will find cereal boxes imitating military equipment, concrete that encourages a change in direction, twigs and toothpicks mirroring industrial machinery, and colorful mesh produce bags that reflect a family’s history of consumption.

Sculpture is historically perceived as having significant weight, both in poundage and gravitas. The works in this show confirm and contradict that sentiment, while asking us to consider the relationship between material and message.

I am pleased to have had my work, “Woman Of Substance” included in this juried show.  To have a better idea of the full range of work included, go to my Facebook page to see videos of the entire show (which are listed as “public”) or better yet, go to the more professional video on Arts Worcester’s website.

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Some still images from the show.

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More still images.

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At Arts Worcester, The Opening of “Transitions” tentatively postponed until June, 20th, 2020

Because of the Corona Virus, currently, this show can only be seen virtually.  Arts Worcester has done an amazing job of simulating a gallery walk through which can be accessed through my Facebook feed posted as “public”.  Sadly, thus far, I have not been able to transfer the image(s) to this website but stay tuned; I’m working on it.

I finally found still shots of my piece taken by Arts Worcester staff so am including them here below.

Now to re-crate this and bring it home this week when I bring in my work that was juried into the next show.

One of the biggest transitions:

The packing up of “Inner Vision v/s Outer Appearance” to transition into the Gravity/Levity Show in the time of the Virus featuring my son, Michael.

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The process was a family affair.  My son, Richard was enlisted to transport the packed sculpture (since it fit in his car) and move it to the second floor where it is kept when not being shown.

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I was told that the show, “Gravity/Levity” will be Opening on July, 9th, a Thursday and that the gallery will have new hours (Thurs., Fri., and Sat. from noon to 4 PM.

The “Jill Watts Show”

A big shout out and thank you to Stephen DiRado and Gino D’Orio for making me a “class project” for 18 of their Clark University students.

The first “installment” of the “Jill Watts Show” took place in their classroom on 3/10/20.  They encouraged me to invite friends so we all got a taste of their teaching style, the first set of students’ finished products, and ate popcorn—just like at the movies.  The work was surprising, wonderful, and each student came away with their own unique “take” on what to emphasize and what to leave out.

A special thanks to Hunter Lanson who informed me he smelled gas in the house.  ( My sinuses and radiation treatments have played havoc with my sense of smell.)  After he left, I checked the pilots on my stove 1 of which had gone out.  Since I was using a blow torch and checking settings on it inside in preparation for a pit firing, he likely kept me from blowing up our house.

The second “installment” will take place on 3/17/20 at 2:45 PM in the basement classroom and yes, Dino, I will bring artery clogging snacks for you.

For a peek at Samuel Mescon’s completed work, go to YouTube and find “Jill final”.

Update:  The second installment of the “Jill Watts Show” has been cancelled because all classes at Clark University will be given on line due to the Corona Virus.

For an explanation of the concepts behind the Jill Watts Show, and some more images, go to “The Image and the Word – YouTube” or Facebook.

Opening of the 7th Annual One Show

This is perhaps the strongest One Show Yet.

Prizewinners:

First prize:  Leslie Schomp, Stitched and pulled thread on found cloth: 

Second Prize:  Frank Armstrong,  Photograph:  On my 3rd visit to Arts Worcester, I finally managed to take a useable photo of Frank’s work:

Third Prize:  Andrea Olmstead, “Turtle Boy”, Earthenware, paint, wax:

Fourth Prize:  Shueeng Kuang, “Touch” Ink on paper:

Fifth Prize:  Ralph Ferro, Linocut:

 

Robert Arnold, “Focus” Photograph:

Madeline Hamilton, “Lucretia” Waterless lithograph:

I’ve been sold!  Congratulations, Sherra Wilkins.

My Piece, “Blood Vials”  Found objects, epoxy, wood, paint, stain, Plexiglas:

 

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At this point, it became too crowded to even see the artwork, never mind photographing it.

 

 

 

Favorite Images from “Show, Don’t Tell”

 

Shown at the Traina Center for the Arts, Clark University, Worcester, MA curated and hung by the students.

 

At the Opening of Stitched; Knot What It Seams

 

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In the Great Room.

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In the Long Hall.

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At the Refreshment Table.

Sneak preview of my work in “Stitched Knot What It Seams” Opening at the Davis Gallery in the Printers’ Building, Worcester

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Stitched; Knot What It Seams

I am delighted to have had my sculpture titled “Changing Self-Image” chosen to be in this show at the Davis Gallery in the Printers’ Building on Portland St. Worcester, MA.  The Opening will take place on October 24th from 5-7 PM.

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Changing Self-Image

A diagnosis of H.P.V. related throat cancer and its subsequent treatment with a double surgery followed by 33 radiation treatments (weekdays from November to February changed my self image considerably in the process.  The dual masks were formed from ceramics molded inside the mask that was formed to my face and which was used to attach my head to the treatment table.  This allowed the radiologist to focus the radiation more accurately.  As treatment progressed, the side effects worsened and continued months after treatment ended.  I was well aware that the radiation itself was poison thus the snakes for hair on the first mask to represent transforming poison into medicine.  I lost 40 lbs. because I could eat fewer and fewer foods without feeling as if my mouth was on fire.  I did what I was told with a vengeance and more…incorporating alternative medicine and Ritual as well with full awareness that the placebo effect was real and not caring particularly what cured me as long as I was cured.  The second mask has eagle wings to indicate my passage to wellness after being told I was cancer free.  The rainbows are a tribute to Padmasambava, an Indian Guru credited with bringing Buddhism to Tibet in the 8th century and who is said to be the only person to achieve a rainbow body while still alive.  I used his image in meditation sunce he is also credited with curing cancer.

The Show Invitation is now available on Facebook in my feed marked “Public” or on the Davis Gallery website.