From the Publisher – November 2021

What a year. The sun is blazing through my office window on a mid-October day. Should it really be 75 degrees outside? Probably not, yet after the past 18 months or so, I’ll take the sunshine wherever I can find it.

With six issues under our belt since relaunching last January, we’ve spent considerable time lately thinking about this past year. Honestly, I thought the country as a whole would be in better shape. The last few weeks have shown progress against the virus yet we’re all still living cautiously. And we’re dealing with other symptoms, like supply chain issues and a paper shortage that’s causing much grief throughout the publishing world. You may have noticed Art New England was quite late recently and for that I am very sorry. Our paper allotment did not arrive in time to meet the press date, sparking a Murphy’s Law ripple effect. Even the post office is still experiencing labor shortages, delivery delays, and the prices are going up.

And yet we made it through. I can look at this year through a narrow lens or a wide one. I choose the latter. Yes, there were problems along the way. Yes, my staff is stretched thin and coping with the challenges of working remotely yet I’m so grateful to them. And to ANE’s ever-growing stable of writers whose passion and dedication to the magazine—and to arts and culture—have been very inspiring all year.

I also want to thank ANE’s subscribers who have gotten back into the groove of writing letters. Actual letters—to me—which I love. I was chastised for polybagging the magazine early on. We felt we had to since the magazine was being mangled in the postal process. Yet we agreed with the reader and unless we have an insert, there will be no more polybagging. We were asked to highlight more photography and include a lovely piece on Karen Olson in this issue by Deb Hemley. Mostly, we’ve been told that the magazine reads great and looks great. That the covers pop and create conversations, that the editorial is interesting, well-written, inclusive, and diverse. And that we write about the art and the stories being made in this eclectic and fascinating region. Job well done, Art New England team. You pulled it all together, right in front of me, and I still don’t know exactly how you did it. Write more letters to me, Dear Reader. They’re appreciated.

And, of course, spend some time with this issue you’re holding. Plan a few cultural indulgences over the holidays, like a day with our feature subjects including Titian at the Gardner and Frida Kahlo at the Rose. Have you met ceramicist Tasha Chemel on page 12? Painters Hollis Heichemer and Alex Kanevsky on page 22? Curator Jasmin Agosto on page 14? Seek them out. And seek out the holiday shows described in the Exhibition Listings sections. Art makes a great gift this season. Support the craft fairs in your area. Art is the one supply chain item that is not affected by the pandemic. Art abounds. It’s amazing what was created this year and how deep the work went. I cannot think of a more meaningful gift—unless you were to give the gift of an Art New England subscription.

As we upload this last issue of 2021, I’m relieved to have this year almost in the rear view mirror. I’m hopeful for 2022 and that we’ll enter it stronger, with more wisdom than we had a year ago, and armed with science and experience. 2022 will be another year of voting, vaccinating, and validating our personal and shared experiences in this indescribable moment in time. So while I hope for snow in the near future, if the sun wants to shine all winter long as well, that’s fine by me. Here’s to new beginnings.

Enjoy the issue,

Tim Montgomery
Publisher