Institute of Contemporary Art

With Jack Levine and Karl Zerbe the artist Hyman Bloom, who was born in Latvia in 1913, was a founding member of the Boston Expressionists. He recently passed away at 96. Yeshiva University a memorial exhibition, through January 24, 2010, is traveling from the Danforth Museum curated by Katherine French.

Final summer series Talking Taste presents Frank McClelland proprietor of Sel de la Terre and L'Espalier that combines French culinary traditions transformed by regional ingredients.

Before Charlotte Salomon (1917-1943)and her husband were murdered at Aushwitz, in the South of France, where she had fled from Germany she created 769 works on paper comprising a picture play "Life? or Theatre? A play with music." Attempts to mount the play in Israel resulted in the disaster and conflict that is conveyed in the one woman performance of "The Actors Rehearse the Story of Charlotte Salomon" stunningly performed by Penelope Kreitzer.

During some time in a Maine cottage by the beach we took a day trip to view the Portland Museum of Art's 2009 Biennial. The jurors, Elizabeth Burke, Dan Graham and Denise Markonish selected 17 artists from 970 applicants.

Remembering two of the great 20th Century Avant-Garde Artists, now deceased, and Yoko Ono, very much alive, and presenting important work in the 21st Century.

When General Electric moved out in the late 1980s, with 10,000 lost jobs, Pittsfield fell on hard times. The recovery started in 2003 when the new Mayor, James M. Ruberto, mandated that arts and culture would be a focus for economic development. Megan Whilden disussed how she joined the team in 2005 and the remarkable progress since then that has reshaped the city as a cultural destination.

There are hundreds of artist-in-residence programs world wide. They are available for US artists and architects, writers, musicians and composers to participate. They come with and without application deadlines. And a creatively working person should be able to find a suitable place in the world to work, gain great experiences and new friends - "research and apply."

Innovative theater artist Sebastienne Mundheim recreates a child's fantasy world at the Hunter Center of Mass MoCA in North Adams, using striking, large kinetic paper sculpture, dancers, live musicians, and video projection in a rich mix of the arts. It is said that Sea of Birds is like "Pan's Labyrinth", only on steroids and in person.

Depending upon your point of view the installation "Universal Gym" by the artist Thomas Hirshorn is insightful and provocative or just a cluttered bunch of workout equipment taped to the floor.

The poster was everywhere evoking the calm, collected well-spoken presidential nominee. The ubiquitous image of the cool, elegant, post modern, 21st Century campaign image of Barack Obama was created by street artist/graphic designer/fine artist Shepherd Fairey. Boston's ICA correctly guessed that this 38 year old was worthy of a museum show. An artist of the people and for the people, Fairey wants his art to be affordable and prices it that way. His work has an appeal that resonates. Obama won, and Shepherd Fairey's portrait now hangs in the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery.

With the unanimous decision of the Board of Trustees, Jehuda Reinharz, the President of Brandeis University has decided to close the Rose Art Museum and sell its collection appraised at $350 million but worth about half of that estimate in the current art market. It is a desperate measure to stabalize the cash strapped university whose donors have been hit hard by the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scandal.

In 1977-1980 Cindy Sherman created the 69 photographs in the seminal "Complete Untitied Film Stills." Since then she has continued to use herself as a model for work that has created many themes and personas. The latest series for Metro Pictures explored society women of a certain age with scorching insight, irony and satire.

The materials in this Tara Donovan exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, Boston are as generic as styrofoam cups, drinking straws, compressed blocks of tooth picks and common pins. But the ideas and value of the work are beyond limits.

Between now and 2010 the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is under construction with a massive renovation and additions designed by Lord Norman Foster. But for visitors it's business as usual with and enticing schedule of special exhibitions.

Simultaneous exhibitions of large scale digital images of piles of excrement were recently featured by Yvon Lambert Gallery in New York and Paris. It sustains the controversial reputation of Andres Serrano that started in 1987 when his "Piss Christ" was denounced from the floor of the U.S. Senate.

In the last decade, universities and museums have had star architects create and renovate. Several prominent projects are now underway with high expectations. They stretch from Boston to the Berkshires. Like the Field of Dreams film axiom, "if you build it, they will come," apparently, museums feel the same way. Part I of three parts.

Since opening in 1955, The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute has been distinguished by its quality collections, the depth of its research programs, and the natural beauty of its rustic setting. Working with Pritzker Prize–winning architect Tadao Ando to develop a campus plan that enhances the Institute's setting, expands facilities and reconfigures its galleries, the Clark has recently introduced a star museum building by a star architect.

When the spectacular new Institute of Contemporary Art building opened in 2006, a question arose: Would the art be as great as the building? The Anish Kapoor sculpture exhibit answers with a resounding Yes. This is a must see exhibit.

In 1990 Henry Schwartz was given a retrospective by the Fuller Museum of Art. This provoked a severe depression, ending his activity as an artist, from which he only recently has emerged. Gallery Naga is showing some of the last finished works he created in 1991. It is being described as one of the major gallery events of the season.

For the third year the New England School of Art & Design is hosting the annual exhibition of winners and finalists of the Stephen D. Paine Awards named in memory of a prominent Boston collector and supporter of emerging artists. The Paine Awards are organized by the Boston Art Dealers Association (BADA)

Mega-PBS/NPR Flagship Station WGBH had outgrown its facilities. Harvard University wanted the land and buildings back that the station rented or was lent in order to carry out its master planned Allston neighborhood expansion. The resulting 309,000 square foot structure and its 21st Century capabilities are both impressive and elegant.

In the last decade, London has become one of the major centers of world art. However, Thanksgiving Week 2007 demonstrated that there was not much to be thankful about. No exhibits at the ICA, the Royal Academy and warmed over shows at the Tate Modern and at various other museums and galleries. Not much was visually going on in Old Londontown. A stiff upper lip or a need to just go to the local pub and drink alone?

Sharing a Holiday abroad with ex-pats and services at St Paul's Cathedral while trying to have fun on a weak dollar. The writer's daughter was studying at University College, University of London.So what better way to get a little European culture over an extended holiday week? Their trip to Amsterdam had a few problems, surprises and treats.Part 1 of 2 Parts.

The French and British have been knocking heads across the channel since 1066. Here were compare and contrast the work of two women, Tracey Emin representing Great Britain and Sophie Calle in the French pavilion. Let the games begin.

The good news is that the ICA has a major design show. The bad news is that our critic wishes that this exhibition was better on many levels. However, that said, this is still a must see show for anyone working or interested in design.