Forged in Isolation
About the Exhibition:
March 2020 disrupted our daily lives and left us to navigate the feelings of loneliness and confinement. As artists this was exceptionally challenging taking a toll on our mental health while our resolve to create waned. As time went on, the constraints of life under lockdown eased up for some and we began to venture forward. Artists in this exhibit pay tribute to their personal determination to overcome a challenging situation through art.
Exhibiting Artists:
Jenny Bergman, Rachel Bingham, Alex Blaisdell, Shari Caplan, Sarah Deckro, Kathleen Dunn, Steven Edson, Fernando Fula, Weiying Huang, Jared Katsiane, Maggie Loh, Lydia Mullan, Anne Nydam, Iris Osterman, Robin Radin, Katarina Romanik, Rani Sarin, Stacy Shorr, Lyasya Sinkovski, Benjamin Stalnaker, Eric Taylor , Christine Tierney, and Towana Wright.
Forged in Isolation is on view from November 4, 2022 through January 4, 2023, with a public reception to be held on November 10, 2022, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday 9-5, and Saturday 9-2 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
The Jamaica Plain Branch Library is pleased to continue their rotating art program, supported by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library in partnership with Uforge. To close out 2022, the library presents a group exhibition of 24 New England-based artists.
About the Exhibition:
March 2020 disrupted our daily lives and left us to navigate the feelings of loneliness and confinement. As artists this was exceptionally challenging taking a toll on our mental health while our resolve to create waned. As time went on, the constraints of life under lockdown eased up for some and we began to venture forward.
Artists in this exhibit pay tribute to their personal determination to overcome a challenging situation through art.
Exhibiting Artists:
Jenny Bergman, Rachel Bingham (Samantha Valentine), Alex Blaisdell, Shari Caplan, Sarah Deckro, Kathleen Dunn, Steven Edson, Fernando Fula, Weiying Huang, Jared Katsiane, Maggie Loh, Lydia Mullan, Anne Nydam, Iris Osterman, Robin Radin, Katarina Romanik, Rani Sarin, Stacy Shorr, Lyasya Sinkovski, Benjamin Stalnaker, Eric Taylor , Christine Tierney, and Towana Wright.
Forged in Isolation is on view from November 4, 2022 through January 4, 2023, with a public reception to be held on November 10, 2022, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday 9-5, and Saturday 9-2 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
Inquiries? Please contact the artist directly.
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by
The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
Eli Portman: A City in 7 Years
Portman specializes in detailed, studied renderings of city- and landscapes in ink and watercolor, exploring what he describes as “the dissonance between perceived unique individual solitude in a crowded environment, and the commonness and sameness of such feelings.” Often drawn from his own photographs, his images of familiar Boston landmarks like the Boston Public Library and the Gardner Museum tap into shared experiences of those who live in or visit the city, while offering quiet, reflective interpretations of these environments.
Eli Portman: A City in 7 Years is on view from September 2 through October 28, 2022, with a public reception to be held on September 8, 2022, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday 9-5, and Saturday 9-2 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
The Jamaica Plain Branch Library is pleased to continue their rotating art program, supported by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library in partnership with Uforge. This fall, the library presents a solo exhibition of Boston artist Eli Portman.
Portman specializes in detailed, studied renderings of city- and landscapes in ink and watercolor, exploring what he describes as “the dissonance between perceived unique individual solitude in a crowded environment, and the commonness and sameness of such feelings.” Often drawn from his own photographs, his images of familiar Boston landmarks like the Boston Public Library and the Gardner Museum tap into shared experiences of those who live in or visit the city, while offering quiet, reflective interpretations of these environments. Soft washes of color and subtle effects of light are often paired with thin linework creating sketchy shadows or intricate details. As the artist states, “I manipulate the openness and tightness of visual spaces and interiors to reflect the claustrophobia of society's open spaces,” offering a view of urban architecture simultaneously personal and universal.
Eli Portman: A City in 7 Years is on view from September 2 through October 28, 2022, with a public reception to be held on September 8, 2022, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday 9-5, and Saturday 9-2 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
Inquiries? www.eliportman.com
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by
The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
Dawn Colsia: Preserving Nature in the City: A Daily Walk Around Jamaica Pond
Her recent series captures the diversity of Jamaica Pond, both its natural wonders of flora and fauna like turtles, herons, and the movement of the water, as well as the people and pets who frequent the space, walking, exercising, reading, fishing, and relaxing. Serene and introspective, rich in detail and color, the photographs invite viewers to pause and reflect on the spectacular beauties of nature and their own connection to the natural world.
Dawn Colsia: Preserving Nature in the City: A Daily Walk Around Jamaica Pond is on view from July 11 - August 31, 2022, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, July 28, 2022, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday 9-5, and Saturday 9-2 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
The Jamaica Plain Branch Library is pleased to continue their rotating art program, supported by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library in partnership with Uforge. This summer, the library presents a solo exhibition of local photographer Dawn Colsia.
Prior to becoming a full-time artist, Colsia practiced law, was a mediator, and worked to improve policy for people with disabilities. She has since combined her passion for social change with her life-long love of photography, using her work to create awareness and foster dialogue about important political and cultural issues. Her recent series captures the diversity of Jamaica Pond, both its natural wonders of flora and fauna like turtles, herons, and the movement of the water, as well as the people and pets who frequent the space, walking, exercising, reading, fishing, and relaxing. Serene and introspective, rich in detail and color, the photographs invite viewers to pause and reflect on the spectacular beauties of nature and their own connection to the natural world. Colsia says, “Every morning I walk around Jamaica Pond with my camera in one hand and my dog in the other. What started as a daily walk has become my morning meditation and reflection on the role nature has played in my life.” The work also acts as a call to protect and preserve such environments, which offer a respite from bustling city life.
Dawn Colsia: Preserving Nature in the City: A Daily Walk Around Jamaica Pond is on view from July 11-August 31, 2022, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, July 28, 2022, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday 9-5, and Saturday 9-2 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
Inquiries? www.dawncolsia.com
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by
The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
Jan Donley: Reading & Riding
Her compositions explore connections between people, nature, public spaces, and the written word, especially relevant now during our recent experiences of isolation. A teacher as well as a writer and artist, Donley says, “My students come from all over the world, and they remind me that home is fragile and varied and elusive. Just the word ‘home’ can bring a smile or a tear… I write and draw in an attempt to locate home, some center point that grounds me.”
Jan Donley: Reading & Riding is on view from May 6 through July 6, 2022 with a virtual artist meet-and-greet on Thursday, May 12, 2022 from 6:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
The Jamaica Plain Branch Library is pleased to continue their rotating art program, supported by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library in partnership with Uforge. This spring, the library presents a solo exhibition of New York-based artist Jan Donley (formerly of Jamaica Plain).
Though she studied traditional techniques, Donley has unexpectedly found the iPad to be her main canvas, believing that digital art is an important disruption to the art world. Her works on view display a distinctive collage style, combining digitally painted figures with text from various literary sources, including Lorraine Hansberry, Virginia Woolf, Emily Dickinson, and James Baldwin. Her compositions explore connections between people, nature, public spaces, and the written word, especially relevant now during our recent experiences of isolation. A teacher as well as a writer and artist, Donley says, “My students come from all over the world, and they remind me that home is fragile and varied and elusive. Just the word ‘home’ can bring a smile or a tear… I write and draw in an attempt to locate home, some center point that grounds me.” She is represented by Stewart Clifford Gallery in Provincetown and has exhibited in Massachusetts and New York.
Jan Donley: Reading & Riding is on view from May 6 through July 6, 2022 with a virtual artist meet-and-greet on Thursday, May 12, 2022 from 6:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
Inquiries? www.jandonley.com
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by
The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
Marnie Jain: In Close Proximity 2.0
With a steady hand and an incredible eye for detail, Jain is known for her delightful collage compositions featuring all manner of flora and fauna, with rabbits, frogs, birds, and snakes hidden among flowers and forest greenery. Using bright colors and a range of found imagery, her constructions are playful, textured, and often enlightening.
Marnie Jain: In Close Proximity is on view from March 6 through April 30, 2020, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, March 12, 5:30 - 7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.This exhibition is proudly sponsored by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
The Jamaica Plain Branch Library is proud to announce a new exhibition as part of their rotating art program, supported by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library in partnership with Uforge. For the second show in 2020, the library presents a solo exhibition of Jamaica Plain-based collage artist Marnie Jain.
With a steady hand and an incredible eye for detail, Jain is known for her delightful collage compositions featuring all manner of flora and fauna, with rabbits, frogs, birds, and snakes hidden among flowers and forest greenery. Using bright colors and a range of found imagery, her constructions are playful, textured, and often enlightening. Boasting a selection of primarily new works, In Close Proximity highlights insects, reptiles, and animals that inhabit Jamaica Plain, along with some imaginary creatures. The artist elaborates: “This show is a recognition that there is more to our environment and neighborhood than we visibly see, that the natural world is abundant with co-existing species, and that all of it holds beauty.” Though she has exhibited in numerous spaces, including the Attleboro Arts Museum, the Loring-Greenough House, the Concord Center for Visual Arts, and Uforge Gallery, this is Jain’s first solo exhibition.
Marnie Jain: In Close Proximity is on view from March 6 through April 30, 2020, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, March 12, 5:30 - 7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
Inquiries? www.marniejain.com
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by
The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
Garrow Throop: The beauty of light
A graduate of RISD, Garrow Throop brings over 40 years of design experience to this series of mixed media works inspired by the natural beauty of Cape Cod. His illusionistic landscapes feature soft, loose brush strokes depicting idyllic scenes of the beach and nearby locales, but upon closer inspection the use of photographs becomes apparent even as the two mediums blend seamlessly. The resulting works are colorful and wistful, evoking the movement of cool sea breezes as well as the stillness of a quiet day.
Garrow Throop: Imagination: The Beauty of Light is on view from January 7 through March 2, 2022, with an artist meet-and-greet to be held on Thursday, January 20 from 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday 9-5 (closed Saturday & Sunday. The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
The Jamaica Plain Branch Library is thrilled to announce the return of their rotating art program, supported by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library in partnership with Uforge. For the first show of 2022, the library presents a solo exhibition of Newton-based artist Garrow Throop.
A graduate of RISD, Throop brings over 40 years of design experience to this series of mixed media works inspired by the natural beauty of Cape Cod. His illusionistic landscapes feature soft, loose brush strokes depicting idyllic scenes of the beach and nearby locales, but upon closer inspection the use of photographs becomes apparent even as the two mediums blend seamlessly. The resulting works are colorful and wistful, evoking the movement of cool sea breezes as well as the stillness of a quiet day. Of his process, the artist says, “I love the combination that the realism of photography and the fantasy of watercolor and acrylic painting gives me. My journey has slowly morphed from one to the other and it has given me an insight into what we actually see and what we think we see.” Throop is represented by Jobi Gallery in Truro and has shown throughout Massachusetts.
Garrow Throop: Imagination: The Beauty of Light is on view from January 7 through March 2, 2022, with a virtual artist meet-and-greet to be held on Thursday, January 20 from 5:30-6:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday 9-5 (closed Saturday & Sunday. The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
Inquiries? www.gtvisual.com
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by
The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
Marnie Jain: In Close Proximity
With a steady hand and an incredible eye for detail, Marnie Jain is known for her delightful collage compositions featuring all manner of flora and fauna, with rabbits, frogs, birds, and snakes hidden among flowers and forest greenery.
Marnie Jain: In Close Proximity is on view from March 6 through April 30, 2020. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
The Jamaica Plain Branch Library is proud to announce a new exhibition as part of their rotating art program, supported by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library in partnership with Uforge. For the second show in 2020, the library presents a solo exhibition of Jamaica Plain-based collage artist Marnie Jain.
With a steady hand and an incredible eye for detail, Marnie Jain is known for her delightful collage compositions featuring all manner of flora and fauna, with rabbits, frogs, birds, and snakes hidden among flowers and forest greenery. Using bright colors and a range of found imagery, her constructions are playful, textured, and often enlightening. Boasting a selection of primarily new works, In Close Proximity highlights insects, reptiles, and animals that inhabit Jamaica Plain, along with some imaginary creatures. The artist elaborates: “This show is a recognition that there is more to our environment and neighborhood than we visibly see, that the natural world is abundant with co-existing species, and that all of it holds beauty.” Though she has exhibited in numerous spaces, including the Attleboro Arts Museum, the Loring-Greenough House, the Concord Center for Visual Arts, and Uforge Gallery, this is Jain’s first solo exhibition.
Marnie Jain: In Close Proximity is on view from March 6 through April 30, 2020. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
Inquiries? www.marniejain.com
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by
The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
Robin Radin - The Nearness of Us: Photographs from the Neighborhoods of Jamaica Plain
An established photographer, Radin has exhibited throughout the United States since the 1980s. In the work on view, she stays close to home for inspiration, capturing portraits of Jamaica Plain residents. Rendered in stark black and white, her figures often confront the camera directly, though others are pictured more casually, spending time outdoors in the parks, streets, train stations, and other public spaces of the historic neighborhood.
Robin Radin - The Nearness of Us: Photographs from the Neighborhoods of Jamaica Plain is on view from January 10 through February 28, 2020, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, January 16 , 5:30 - 7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
The Jamaica Plain Branch Library is proud to announce a new exhibition as part of their rotating art program, supported by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library in partnership with Uforge. For the first show in 2020, the library presents a solo exhibition of Jamaica Plain-based photographer Robin Radin.
An established photographer, Radin has exhibited throughout the United States since the 1980s. In the work on view, she stays close to home for inspiration, capturing portraits of Jamaica Plain residents. Rendered in stark black and white, her figures often confront the camera directly, though others are pictured more casually, spending time outdoors in the parks, streets, train stations, and other public spaces of the historic neighborhood. She observes relationships between family members, friends, partners, and their surrounding environment, looking for quiet moments occurring within the more frenetic experience of city life. She elaborates, “My work examines the intricacies of human relations: a visual acknowledgement that we are both together as community and family, and alone, as individuals.”
Robin Radin - The Nearness of Us: Photographs from the Neighborhoods of Jamaica Plain is on view from January 10 through February 28, 2020, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, January 16 , 5:30 - 7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
Inquiries? rradinphoto@hotmail.com
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
Andrew Stearns: Always on the Camino at the Jamaica Plain Branch Library
With a BFA in Printmaking and History of Art from MassArt, Andrew Stearns explores the continuously shifting narratives of time and space through the investigation of historical moment, with a particular interest in how history is recorded, or simply fades away.
Andrew Stearns: Always on the Camino is on view from November 8 through December 31, 2019, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, November 14, 5:30 - 7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
The Jamaica Plain Branch Library is proud to announce a new exhibition as part of their rotating art program, supported by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library in partnership with Uforge. For the final show of the year, the library presents a solo exhibition of Jamaica Plain-based printmaker Andrew Stearns.
With a BFA in Printmaking and History of Art from MassArt, Andrew Stearns explores the continuously shifting narratives of time and space through the investigation of historical moment, with a particular interest in how history is recorded, or simply fades away. A mixture of woodcuts and lithographs, the work on view reflects his journey along the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile pilgrimage route leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in northwestern Spain. Stearns employs a graphic, at times-collagelike style, with bold lines and bright hues of orange and chartreuse, mixing architectural, landscape, and figural motifs. The resulting series is an eye-catching journey through the artist’s own memories.
Andrew Stearns: Always on the Camino is on view from November 8 through December 31, 2019, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, November 14, 5:30 - 7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
Inquiries? astearnsart@me.com | www.astearnsart.com
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
Annie Cardinaux: On Softer Ground: Patchwork Landscapes
First learning quilting techniques from her aunt, Annie Cardinaux has turned her longstanding passion for textile crafts into a series of vivid wall hangings. She employs traditional sewing and quilting techniques to create contemporary patchwork landscapes of rolling hills, expansive fields, quiet lakes, and stately tree groves, pulling inspiration from the natural world while working with uniquely saturated fabric color palettes.
On Softer Ground: Patchwork Landscapes by Annie Cardinaux is on view from September 6 through October 31, 2019, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, September 12, 5:30 - 7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library in partnership with Uforge are pleased to announce a new exhibition as part of their rotating art program. After soliciting proposals from a range of local artists, a selection committee comprised of community members and BPL staff has chosen six exceptional artists to fill its gallery space over the course of 2019. This fall, the library presents the first solo exhibition of Jamaica Plain-based fiber artist Annie Cardinaux.
First learning quilting techniques from her aunt, Cardinaux has turned her longstanding passion for textile crafts into a series of vivid wall hangings. She employs traditional sewing and quilting techniques to create contemporary patchwork landscapes of rolling hills, expansive fields, quiet lakes, and stately tree groves, pulling inspiration from the natural world while working with uniquely saturated fabric color palettes. The result is slightly abstracted and at times playful, made all the more personal for the clear presence of the artist’s deft hand in each composition’s lines of thread. The quilted texture of the work offers an aesthetically engaging experience reminiscent of a familiar domestic setting, often evoking nostalgia and surprise from viewers.
On Softer Ground: Patchwork Landscapes by Annie Cardinaux is on view from September 6 through October 31, 2019, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, September 12, 5:30 - 7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
Inquiries? https://www.anniecardinaux.com/
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
Summertime: A Youth Photo Exhibition
The works on view in Summertime include a mixture of subjects and styles - from color to black and white, from still life to portrait, capturing locations like Old Orchard Beach, the Franklin Park Zoo, the Lynch Family Skate Park in Cambridge, and Narragansett, RI. Many reflect the vivacity of contemporary life in the city, while others focus on quiet, reflective moments. The young artists range in age from 11 to 15 years old, hailing from Brookline, Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, Newton, and other Boston-area towns.
Exhibiting artists: Emily Ball (15), Newton; Mini Burell (14), Dorchester; Kayleigh Clancy (14), Dorchester; Claudia Cortell (15), Boston; Jesse Eliot (14), Jamaica Plain; Mia Finnan (12), Brookline; Karianna Franklin (12), Chelsea; Vera Judkins (13), Matunuck, RI; Jamie Leslie (12), Brookline; Mary Matero (13), West Roxbury; Jaire May (12), Roslindale; Celia Meranus (14), Brookline; Gabriel Nigrovic (12), Brookline; Anna Parisi (14), Nahant; Argi Protopapadakis (11), Brookline; Isobel Salemo (13), Roslindale; Annabella Valle (15), Braintree; Tandin Ward (14), Jamaica Plain; and Sofie Wise (15), Braintree.
Summertime: A Youth Photo Exhibition is on view from July 5 through August 31, 2019, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, July 11, 5:30 - 7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library in partnership with Uforge are pleased to announce a new exhibition as part of their rotating art program. After soliciting proposals from a range of local artists, a selection committee comprised of community members and BPL staff has chosen six exceptional artists to fill its gallery space over the course of 2019. The next exhibition, and our first group show features photographs by students in the Big Picture Art House program.
Founded in 2011 by Boston-based photographer Jennifer Connelly, Big Picture Art House trains middle schoolers on DSLR cameras, traveling around Boston to places like Copley Square, the North End, Castle Island, and Chinatown to snap photos. Classes are structured around themes like Storytelling or Street Photography, and some focus on movie-making and documentary. The works on view in Summertime include a mixture of subjects and styles - from color to black and white, from still life to portrait, capturing locations like Old Orchard Beach, the Franklin Park Zoo, the Lynch Family Skate Park in Cambridge, and Narragansett, RI. Many reflect the vivacity of contemporary life in the city, while others focus on quiet, reflective moments. The young artists range in age from 11 to 15 years old, hailing from Brookline, Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, Newton, and other Boston-area towns.
Exhibiting artists: Emily Ball (15), Newton; Mini Burell (14), Dorchester; Kayleigh Clancy (14), Dorchester; Claudia Cortell (15), Boston; Jesse Eliot (14), Jamaica Plain; Mia Finnan (12), Brookline; Karianna Franklin (12), Chelsea; Vera Judkins (13), Matunuck, RI; Jamie Leslie (12), Brookline; Mary Matero (13), West Roxbury; Jaire May (12), Roslindale; Celia Meranus (14), Brookline; Gabriel Nigrovic (12), Brookline; Anna Parisi (14), Nahant; Argi Protopapadakis (11), Brookline; Isobel Salemo (13), Roslindale; Annabella Valle (15), Braintree; Tandin Ward (14), Jamaica Plain; and Sofie Wise (15), Braintree.
Summertime: A Youth Photo Exhibition is on view from July 5 through August 31, 2019, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, July 11, 5:30 - 7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by Optical Designs, Inc., a family-owned and operated business located in the heart of Jamaica Plain, www.opticaldesignsgroup.com.
Stacy Friedman: Repeated Remembrance
A graduate of Mass Art, Stacy Friedman merges a variety of printmaking techniques for a layered, textured style that incorporates photographs and family history to explore lineage, memory, and identity. Rendered in antique browns and faded greys, her silhouetted figures are both anonymous and familiar. They blend and fade into one another, hinting at complex relationships and curious connections. Speaking about her medium, Friedman says, “Printmaking’s inherent capability to preserve traces of previous images, and the ability to print ghosts of a matrix, make it an ideal medium to explore both the parallel and interwoven realms of past and present.”
Stacy Friedman: Repeated Remembrance is on view from March 8 through April 30, 2019, with a public open house to be held by the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Library on Saturday, April 6, 2:30-4:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library in partnership with Uforge are pleased to announce a new exhibition as part of their rotating art program. After soliciting proposals from a range of local artists, a selection committee comprised of community members and BPL staff has chosen six exceptional artists to fill its gallery space over the course of 2019. The next exhibition features the work of Jamaica Plain-based printmaker and educator Stacy Friedman.
A graduate of Mass Art, Friedman merges a variety of printmaking techniques for a layered, textured style that incorporates photographs and family history to explore lineage, memory, and identity. Rendered in antique browns and faded greys, her silhouetted figures are both anonymous and familiar. They blend and fade into one another, hinting at complex relationships and curious connections. Speaking about her medium, Friedman says, “Printmaking’s inherent capability to preserve traces of previous images, and the ability to print ghosts of a matrix, make it an ideal medium to explore both the parallel and interwoven realms of past and present.”
Stacy Friedman: Repeated Remembrance is on view from March 8 through April 30, 2019, with a public open house to be held by the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Library on Saturday, April 6, 2:30-4:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
Kevin Gillespie: Local Scenes
A resident of Jamaica Plain for over 30 years, Kevin Gillespie paints serene, closely studied scenes of his neighborhood’s many natural wonders, including Jamaica Pond and the Arnold Arboretum. His work, often done en plein air, captures the shadows of tree branches, the ripples of water, and the changes of the season observed along the well-trod paths of the region’s parks. The medium of watercolor allows for subtle gradations in color and texture along with small details like fallen leaves and footprints in the snow.
Kevin Gillespie: Local Scenes is on view from January 4 through February 28, 2019, with a public open house to be held by the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Library on Thursday, January 10, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library in partnership with Uforge are pleased to announce a new exhibition as part of their rotating art program. After soliciting proposals from a range of local artists, a selection committee comprised of community members and BPL staff has chosen six exceptional artists to fill its gallery space over the course of 2019. The first exhibition of the year will highlight the watercolor landscapes of local artist Kevin Gillespie.
A resident of Jamaica Plain for over 30 years, Gillespie paints serene, closely studied scenes of his neighborhood’s many natural wonders, including Jamaica Pond and the Arnold Arboretum. His work, often done en plein air, captures the shadows of tree branches, the ripples of water, and the changes of the season observed along the well-trod paths of the region’s parks. The medium of watercolor allows for subtle gradations in color and texture along with small details like fallen leaves and footprints in the snow.
Kevin Gillespie: Local Scenes is on view from January 4 through February 28, 2019, with a public opening reception on Thursday, January 10, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
Myles Dunigan: Is the Dark Going to Catch Us
A graduate of both RISD and the University of Kansas, Myles Dunigan combines different printmaking styles with photography and other media to produce layered, textured landscapes that straddle the line between abstraction and realism, equally reminiscent of the black and white photographs of Ansel Adams and the mixed media experiments of Anselm Kiefer.
Myles Dunigan: Is the Dark Going to Catch Us is on view from November 2 through December 31, 2018, with a public open house to be held by the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Library on Thursday, November 8, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library in partnership with Uforge are pleased to announce a new exhibition as part of their rotating art program. After soliciting proposals from a range of local artists, a selection committee comprised of community members and BPL staff have chosen six exceptional artists to fill its gallery space over the course of 2018. The final exhibition of the year showcases the recent prints of Massachusetts native Myles Dunigan.
A graduate of both RISD and the University of Kansas, Myles Dunigan combines different printmaking styles with photography and other media to produce layered, textured landscapes that straddle the line between abstraction and realism, equally reminiscent of the black and white photographs of Ansel Adams and the mixed media experiments of Anselm Kiefer. Rendered in dark, antique hues, hints of scattered flora and mountain terrain weave in and out of more ambiguous motifs resembling cloud bursts or the surface of water. The artist intentionally merges a traditional subject with newer technologies, saying of his work: “In an era of technological saturation and cataclysmic weather, I draw upon the tropes of landscape painting to digitally forge new spaces that evoke the sublime and uncanny.”
Myles Dunigan: Is the Dark Going to Catch Us is on view from November 2 through December 31, 2018, with a public open house to be held by the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Library on Thursday, November 8, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
Kristen Gossler: Confluence
A graduate of RISD, Kristen Gossler creates complex layered works built up from a variety of materials, including water-based pigment, screen printing ink, sumi ink, and acrylic paint. Each of her expressive abstract paintings poses a question, seeking to engage the viewer in an interactive experience. She pulls from a mental inventory of repeated forms found in both the natural and manmade worlds, provoking a familiarity and comfort in the viewer through subliminal means, as well as encouraging personal connection with the work.
Kristen Gossler: Confluence is on view from September 7 through October 31, 2018, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, September 13, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library in partnership with Uforge are pleased to announce a new exhibition as part of their rotating art program. After soliciting proposals from a range of local artists, a selection committee comprised of community members and BPL staff have chosen six exceptional artists to fill its gallery space over the course of 2018. During the months of September and October, a series of abstract ink paintings by Providence-based artist Kristen Gossler will be exhibited.
A graduate of RISD, Kristen Gossler creates complex layered works built up from a variety of materials, including water-based pigment, screen printing ink, sumi ink, and acrylic paint. Each of her expressive abstract paintings poses a question, seeking to engage the viewer in an interactive experience. She pulls from a mental inventory of repeated forms found in both the natural and man-made worlds, provoking a familiarity and comfort in the viewer through subliminal means, as well as encouraging personal connection with the work. Of her use of the forms, Gossler says: “The unconscious use of these symbols is not art – it is the cognitive filter of the artist that gives these paintings relevance and meaning as a body of work.” Her recent “Confluence” series deals in earthy browns, warm yellows, soft greens, and burnt oranges, centering bold shapes and natural textures.
Kristen Gossler: Confluence is on view from September 7 through October 31, 2018, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, September 13, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
Joni Lohr: Unfinished Stories - A Social Documentary
For 50 years, Lohr has been turning her camera towards the world around her, capturing the energy of live musical performances, the camaraderie between friends, the ghosts of abandoned buildings, and the spontaneity of urban life. For her, art is about storytelling, and she uses photography to communicate infinite narratives for viewers to interpret.
Joni Lohr: Unfinished Stories - A Social Documentary is on view from July 6 through August 31, 2018, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, July 12, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library in partnership with Uforge are pleased to announce a new exhibition as part of their rotating art program. After soliciting proposals from a range of local artists, a selection committee comprised of community members and BPL staff have chosen six exceptional artists to fill its gallery space over the course of 2018. This summer will showcase the work of Jamaica Plain-based documentary photographer Joni Lohr.
For 50 years, Lohr has been turning her camera towards the world around her, capturing the energy of live musical performances, the camaraderie between friends, the ghosts of abandoned buildings, and the spontaneity of urban life. For her, art is about storytelling, and she uses photography to communicate infinite narratives for viewers to interpret. The works on view at the JP Branch Library offer a range of stories, all printed in soft tones of black and white, with some familiar Boston-area locations and some ambiguous. The subjects in her photographs laugh, play, wait, walk, talk, teach, and observe, some engaging with one another and others seemingly isolated from the world around them. Together the exhibition acts as a portrait of city life as viewed through Lohr’s eyes, one of interaction and introspection, of starts and stops, and incredible variety.
Joni Lohr: Unfinished Stories - A Social Documentary is on view from July 6 through August 31, 2018, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, July 12, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Boston Cultural Council, a local agency which is funded by the Mass Cultural Council, and administered by the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture.
Maureen O'Connor: Just Ducky
A graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art, O’Connor has been exhibiting in Boston since the early 1980s, and her work held in numerous public and private collections, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Goodwin and Proctor, and Fidelity Investments. She is known for her playful still lifes of so-called tchotchke’s -- miscellaneous objects collected around the home -- and candy, often paired with floral or polka dot wallpaper.
Maureen O’Connor: Just Ducky is on view from May 4 through June 30, 2018, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, May 10, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by Optical Designs, Inc., a family-owned and operated business located in the heart of Jamaica Plain.
The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library in partnership with Uforge are pleased to announce a new exhibition as part of their rotating art program. After soliciting proposals from a range of local artists, a selection committee comprised of community members and BPL staff have chosen six exceptional artists to fill its gallery space over the course of 2018. During the months of May and June, a series of charming works by Boston-based painter Maureen O’Connor will be exhibited.
A graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art, O’Connor has been exhibiting in Boston since the early 1980s, and her work held in numerous public and private collections, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Goodwin and Proctor, and Fidelity Investments. She is known for her playful still lifes of so-called tchotchke’s -- miscellaneous objects collected around the home -- and candy, often paired with floral or polka dot wallpaper. Lively and bright, her paintings are tinged with nostalgia, recalling 1970s interiors with their fun patterns and decidedly analog subjects. Her works on view in Just Ducky focus on her favorite subject: a pair of ceramic ducks given to her by her former roommate’s mother. These small inanimate knick knacks find new life under O’Connor’s brush, turning their seemingly quizzical expressions on gumball machines, rubber ducky toys, flowers, and each other. Each work allows the artist the opportunity to explore interactions of light and shadow, color and pattern, and a variety of surfaces.
Maureen O’Connor: Just Ducky is on view from May 4 through June 30, 2018, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, May 10, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by Optical Designs, Inc., a family-owned and operated business located in the heart of Jamaica Plain.
Cassandra Klos: Mars on Earth
Raised in New Hampshire, Klos studied art and psychology at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. Her projects focus on manipulating the validity of photography and creating dual realities that breathe life into situations where visual manifestations may not be available.
Cassandra Klos: Mars on Earth is on view from March 2 through April 30, 2018, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, March 8, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library in partnership with Uforge are pleased to announce a new exhibition as part of their rotating art program. After soliciting proposals from a range of local artists, a selection committee comprised of community members and BPL staff have chosen six exceptional artists to fill its gallery space over the course of 2018. During the months of March and April, a project by Boston-based photographer and conceptual artist Cassandra Klos will be featured.
Raised in New Hampshire, Klos studied art and psychology at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. Her projects focus on manipulating the validity of photography and creating dual realities that breathe life into situations where visual manifestations may not be available. Along with several group and solo exhibitions, her work has been published in The Atlantic and The Boston Globe, and her photojournalism reporting has been published in TIME Magazine and Wired.
In 2017, Klos was artist-in-residence at the Mars Desert Research Station, a space analog facility in Utah that supports Earth-based research in pursuit of the technology, operations, and science required for human space exploration. With prototype space suits and diets consisting only of freeze-dried food, people from around the globe dedicate weeks, or months, of their lives simulating the Mars environment to further the study of leaving Earth behind. Klos’s photographs of the project blur the lines between reality and science-fiction, depicting red desert landscapes, lonely astronauts, space station gadgets, and starry skies.
Cassandra Klos: Mars on Earth is on view from March 2 through April 30, 2018, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, March 8, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Boston Cultural Council, a local agency which is funded by the Mass Cultural Council, and administered by the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture.
Liliana Marquez: RePOPART
Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, Liliana Marquez has always been part of a creative, multicultural environment. She has dedicated her artistic practice to the concept of reclamation, relying on found and recycled materials--often taken from construction sites--to create sculptural wall-hanging abstractions.
Liliana Marquez: RePOPART is on view from January 5 - February 25, 2018, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, January 11, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, Liliana Marquez has always been part of a creative, multicultural environment. She has dedicated her artistic practice to the concept of reclamation, relying on found and recycled materials--often taken from construction sites--to create sculptural wall-hanging abstractions. Her work is flexible, able to be hung at different angles and orientations, grouped together in different ways or shown stand-alone. Her bright colors and bold shapes reflect her background in graphic design, while the varied textures indicate her interest in mass production and reuse, calling back to the processes of Pop Art. For Marquez, “RePOPART is about attitude. RePOPART is an idea that forces us to RE-think ART.”
Liliana Marquez: RePOPART is on view from January 5 - February 25, 2018, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, January 11, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
Juan Murray: Interplay
Juan Murray has been working in local real estate since 1994. As with many working artists, his day job shines through in his artistic practice, which takes the form of black and white urban photography. His architectural images are bold and poetic, steeped in chiaroscuro in his effort to “chase the light” as it interacts with different forms. The extreme contrast of light and dark at times abstracts his subjects, allowing the viewer to take in new details and formal elements of everyday buildings and streets. His figures are generally cast in shadow, dwarfed by their surroundings, signifying a kind of awe for man-made structures while also reflecting the anonymity of urban living. Together the series stands as a visual commentary of the contemporary city experience, with glass-and-concrete architecture towering over residents, allowing equal parts sunshine and darkness to fall.
Juan Murray: Interplay is on view from November 3 through December 30, 2017, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, November 9, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by Optical Designs, Inc., a family-owned and operated business located in the heart of Jamaica Plain.
The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library in partnership with Uforge are pleased to announce a new exhibition held in their recently renovated library space. After soliciting proposals from over 50 local artists and groups, a selection committee comprised of community members and BPL staff chose four exceptional artists to fill its gallery for the rest of 2017, with photography by Juan Murray winning the final slot.
Juan Murray has been working in local real estate since 1994. As with many working artists, his day job shines through in his artistic practice, which takes the form of black and white urban photography. His architectural images are bold and poetic, steeped in chiaroscuro in his effort to “chase the light” as it interacts with different forms. The extreme contrast of light and dark at times abstracts his subjects, allowing the viewer to take in new details and formal elements of everyday buildings and streets. His figures are generally cast in shadow, dwarfed by their surroundings, signifying a kind of awe for man-made structures while also reflecting the anonymity of urban living. Together the series stands as a visual commentary of the contemporary city experience, with glass-and-concrete architecture towering over residents, allowing equal parts sunshine and darkness to fall.
Juan Murray: Interplay is on view from November 3 through December 30, 2017, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, November 9, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by Optical Designs, Inc., a family-owned and operated business located in the heart of Jamaica Plain.