From the Publisher

Welcome to Art New England’s annual Emerging Artists Issue. It seems especially meaningful this year as we emerge from 2020, and the malign shadow of our former president. It’s time to re-engage with life, though perhaps not exactly as we knew it. Perhaps as something better. This is our fourth Emerging Artists Issue and, unsurprisingly, it evokes resiliency, intensity, and a spirit that just feels different. These artists are pushing boundaries, provoking new conversations, creating new forms of communication, and taking new risks—just ask our cover artist Ryan Adams about risk-taking. It’s an incredible group of 10 art makers and we thank this year’s seven nominators. Linger on these pages, visit the artists’ websites, call them up! Work with them, if you can. They have a lot to say.

Ryan’s digital print, We Gonna Be Alright, speaks both to his risk-taking last year as well as to the universal messages of the moment—we have a vaccine, a new president, it’s spring, and while this year will come with its own challenges, we have a chance to take all we learned in 2020, all we endured and all we created, to a new level of awareness in 2021. That is reflected on this cover—and throughout the issue.

Kendrick Lamar’s Hip-Hop lyrics that inspired Ryan’s piece resonate with Julianna Thibodeaux’s wonderful article on the Jean-Michel Basquiat show at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Museum’s newest Artists-in-Residence program (see page 26).

Spring! It also means the return of ANE’s Artist Directory (page 40)—offering even more artists to discover. Buy art this year, dear reader, buy art! This work is powerful, contemplative and would look great on your freshly-painted walls. Didn’t we all do a little redecorating last year?

A few housekeeping notes: I apologize for the postal delays. Without Trump to pick on, I am turning my anger to Mr. DeJoy, postmaster general, who wants to shred the service to save money. We’re running a few days late ourselves. Re-launching the magazine has had its challenges and we appreciate your patience. Our website will continue to carry select content (for the full issue, please subscribe!) as well as Artist Directory and the listing sections. We’re getting great comments regarding the website and appreciate the feedback.

Finally, please note the passing of our dear friend Lois Tarlow. Lois has been an integral part of the Art New England family for many years. Writer Cynthia Close has written a moving tribute beginning on page 22.

Enjoy the issue,

Tim Montgomery
Publisher

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