Still Lifes
Exhibition: September 28 to November 12
Reception: Saturday October 8 from 2 to 4 pm
The still life has always been a popular subject in the art world. Whether intended to represent the beauty of valuable objects, allegorical and religious symbolism, or the fleeting, ephemeral qualities of life, such paintings have been the subject of admiration for patrons throughout history. From Rembrandt to Cezanne to Braque, artists with drastically different styles and approaches to form have mastered the genre. The artists represented in The Whistler House Museum of Art's collection are no different, ranging from George Loftus Noyes and his post-impressionistic floral arrangement to Arshile Gorky, who painted modernist pink roses.
The Whistler House's latest exhibition features still life paintings from artists who are members of the Lowell Art Association, Inc, the oldest incorporated art association in the country. Still Lifes will include both traditional and more modern approaches to the subject through more than fifty paintings by twelve well-known New England artists who were invited to participate in the show. Included in the exhibition will be works by Dee Lessard, Todd Casey, Priti Lathia, Deirdre Grunwald, Lisa Kovvuri, Mary Rose O'Connell, Helene Levasseur, Jennifer McCalmont, Lucinda Britton, Melody Phaneuf, Meredith Fife Day, and Mary Minifie.
From traditional golden hues reminiscent of the seventeenth-century Dutch masters to dynamic strokes and splashes of color, the works in Still Lifes demonstrate a variety of interpretations of the traditional genre. Unique compositions feature flowers, sculptures, pumpkins, and an array of subjects as the artists pay homage to still life paintings and explore the possibilities of representing objects in pigment. "It is so interesting to see the varied interpretations of still lifes by the artists of the Lowell Art Association," says President and Executive Director Sara Bogosian. "We invite guests of all ages to experience this impressive and skillful collection of paintings."
Image: "Con Spirito", Melody Phaneuf.
