Destination: New England
Prior to the pandemic, Art New England focused on one Destination at a time each issue. When ANE relaunched, it took a while for destinations to re-open and we decided that we’d welcome anyone and everyone across the region and wait out an organic return to the previous approach. Destination: New England allows for more flexibility, through every season.
Summer is here! Don’t waste a moment or a weekend. All you need for that special summer getaway is right here in New England: art, poetry, performances, all sparking relaxation, contemplation, and fascination. And always a little education. Have fun and pack lightly as you embark on an adventure of art and intrigue.
Massachusetts Design Art and Technology Institute (DATMA)
New Bedford, MA
Massachusetts Design Art and Technology Institute (DATMA), a non-collecting art institute based in New Bedford, MA, is celebrating its fifth anniversary with free public exhibitions and events. SHELTER 2023 kicked off June 22 and continues through October with robust programming of exhibitions, workshops, lectures and three outdoor art pieces. Threshold by sculptor Mark Reigelman celebrates the principles of equality and community-building integral to the history of New Bedford. Our Woven Story by multi-media installation artist Maxwell Emcays is inspired by the visual forms of African Baobab trees and Wampanoag Wetu structures. Community Tides by muralist Silvia Lopez Chavez is a collaborative work with the students at New Bedford High School. DATMA is also starting Open Studios on the Sidewalk, an outdoor print exhibition featuring South Coast artists, which is on view at Tonnessen Park and the entrance of the Seastreak Ferry building. Visit New Bedford any time throughout the summer and fall to see the incredible work of DATMA in the region.
The Providence Biennial for Contemporary Art
Providence, RI
The Providence Biennial for Contemporary Art launches its tenth exhibition on July 13 in creative partnership with the WaterFire Arts Center. Curating Commemoration: Poiesis / Remedy is a concurrent presentation of two vibrant exhibitions by two rising curators in mentorship with the Biennial. Each responds remarkably to the commemoration theme. Nearly fifty greater Providence artists, emerging and established, are featured. Melaine Ferdinand-King’s Poiesis and Joel Rosario Tapia’s Remedy emphasize the individuality of curatorial perspectives. Ferdinand-King’s Poiesis theme derives from the Greek term for “to make,” referring to the act or process of creation through the art of an evolving, engaged city. Tapia’s Remedy addresses experiences of social injustice through the anti-dote of Providence artists’ “doing the work of self-identifying and walking in their truths.” Stop by the WaterFire Arts Center and experience the work of these rising curators and the local artists featured in the exhibition.
The Art Drive
Dartmouth and Westport, MA
The Art Drive, an open studio tour event organized by Dartmouth and Westport artists, is back for its fifteenth year. On August 4, 5, and 6, thirty-one artists will share their work in an open studio tour event throughout Dartmouth and Westport. This event is intended to be a unique opportunity to visit working artists in their unusual and dramatic studio settings, spotted among the area’s villages, lovely farmland and seacoast. The Art Drive showcases professional works created by some of the area’s premier painters, ceramic artists, photographers, jewelers, fiber artists, woodworkers, and metal artists. Art lovers and collectors alike will enjoy a great day trip or weekend escape while touring the historic South Coast towns of Dartmouth and Westport, MA. With only fifteen miles separating the studios, visitors will enjoy a scenic drive through this picturesque area with ample time for a picnic lunch at the beach or dinner at one of the many area restaurants. Visitors are encouraged to wear a mask, as most studios will require their visitors to adhere to CDC guidance for the safety and health of all artists and visitors. Preview works by this year’s participating artists online and plan your trip by viewing the interactive map.
the lakes gallery at chi-lin
Laconia, NH
Located in a restored 1780s farmhouse and surrounded by Japanese gardens, the lakes gallery provides a lovely historic setting in which to view art and take a rest in Laconia, NH. When visiting, don’t expect a traditional gallery experience. Artwork is hung in the historic hallways, stairwells and rooms upstairs in the farmhouse. This summer, the Lakes Gallery is exploring something new. A two-part exhibit in July and August features pairs of artists considering the same concept with their own unique points of view. The exhibits are multi-media, incorporating poetry and photography as well as painting, sculpture and more. Featured pairs include Maundy Mitchell and Deborah Weiss, Patricia Giebutowski and Christina Pitsch, Laurinda O’Connor and Lisa Mossel, Gay Freeborn and Sarah Audsley, and Scott Hutchinson and Debra Claffey in July. Ala Khaki and Alice Garik, Sage Sohiar and Melanie Chicoine, Jan Roy and Verne Orlosk, Alec Richardson and Deb Dawson,and Mary Graham and Timothy Muskat are featured in August. Join the Lakes Gallery at openings on July 1 and August 10 for artist talks and poetry readings.
Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA
Berkshire Museum has brought the wonders of the world to Berkshire County for 120 years with its diverse collection of over 40,000 objects and robust programming. Visit this summer and see Romance & Nature: Art of the Hudson River School, on view through October 1. This 2,000-square-foot exhibition features the highlights of Berkshire Museum’s Hudson River School collection, such as works by Thomas Hill, Albert Bierstadt, and George Innes, as well as a collection of lithographs from famed artist and ornithologist John James Audubon. The exhibition explores how the relationship of these prominent 19th-century American artists developed with the natural world. All works featured are part of Berkshire Museum’s permanent collection. Located in the heart of downtown Pittsfield, MA, the Museum is perfectly positioned for visitors to enjoy the amenities of the city before or after exploring all that Berkshire Museum has to offer.
Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, NH
Located in Manchester, the Currier Museum of Art is a central part of the New Hampshire art scene. If you plan to visit during the weekend, stop by the Winter Garden for brunch, every Sunday starting at 10 a.m., for live music and food and drink specials. Call ahead to reserve a tour of the only two Frank Lloyd Wright houses in New England available for public tours, the Kalil House and the Zimmerman House, or, for a more casual visit, drop in on Art After Work: Free Thursday Nights weekly from 5 to 8 p.m. for free admission, live music and refreshments. Explore brilliant exhibits, such as The Living Forest: UÝRA, on view through September 24. This exhibition is trans-indigenous Brazilian artist UÝRA’s first solo exhibition at a U.S. institution. The Living Forest features photographs and videos that span the artist’s entire trajectory, including past performance pieces and recent photography appearances. Whenever and however you choose to visit, you are sure to have a full day of art and beauty at the Currier.
