Local Printmaking

The Printmakers of Cape Cod and Coastal Printmakers from the South Shore of Massachusetts have collaborated on an exhibit that is currently on view at the South Shore Art Center in Cohasset, MA.

Here are just a few of the pieces that have been curated with the theme Botanicals Reinterpreted.

The prints depict a wide range of sizes and techniques that are representative of each groups diverse printmakers.

The exhibit runs thru May 21, 2018 in the Dillon Gallery.  For more information about the exhibit visit the South Shore Art Center website.

What’s Out There

detail of Parallel by Bryan McFarlane at Gallery Naga

During the cold winter months is a perfect time to enjoy the visual arts inside.  After spending a couple of months in Florida it was worth getting out in the cooler weather in Massachusetts to visit a couple of local exhibits.  The Gallery Naga in Boston currently has a 40th Anniversary:  Artists M – V  thru February 24, 2018 and the South Shore Art Center is featuring Shapes and Shadows thru February 18, 2018.

Birds in Flight by Todd McKie at Gallery Naga

Gallery Naga is celebrating 40 years by featuring a single piece by each of their gallery artists.  Right now the exhibit has artists M thru V that includes a wide array of styles and mediums from paint, photography mixed media and sculpture.

Waves Crashing Sharksmouth by Julia von Metzsch Ramos at Gallery Naga

The many art pieces are beautiful and appealing to a wide variety of tastes.  Gallery Naga is always a welcome diversion to experience contemporary art created by Boston and New England artists while exploring Newbury Street.

Shapes and Shadows at the South Shore Art Center

At the South Shore Art Center their current exhibit is Shapes and Shadows juried by Abigail Ogilvy, Abigail Ogilvy Gallery in Boston, MA.

Anita by Colin Moore included in Shapes and Shadows

This exhibit includes selected pieces by the SSAC Gallery Artists.  The collection is diverse and yet cohesive and highlights the strengths and talents of its artists.

Sweet Dreams, Bitter Fruit by Jan McElhinny at the SSAC

Both of these exhibits will lift your spirits and raise your appreciation for the creativity found locally in Eastern Massachusetts and New England.

Sightlines & Small Works @ SSAC

Sightlines Juried Exhibit

The current exhibit in the Bancroft Gallery at the South Shore Art Center in Cohasset, MA is the National Juried Show Sightlines juried by Adam Adelson Director of Adelson Galleries Boston || 520 Harrison Avenue Boston, MA 02118.  As with many juried exhibits this one has a very diverse array of mediums such as painting, sculpture and photography.

Viktor Genel MeconoMorph, 2017 sculpture

The theme of Sightlines is interpreted with a kaleidoscope of artists’ visions like this sculptural piece MeconoMorph by Victor Genel that is central to the exhibit.  The entire construction is created with business cards that are transformed into art.  If you are interested in getting your biz card integrated into an art project you can send your card to MeconoMorph.

Sightlines Exhibit

One of my mixed media pieces entitled the Louvre is included in the Sightlines exhibit and I’m thrilled to be included with so many talented artists.

Small Works

The SSAC also has a Small Works Exhibit and Sale by SSAC Gallery Artists in the Dillon Gallery.  It’s a good time to snag original artwork with all prices $500 or less.

White Cat by Susan Ahearn

This beautiful painting by artist Susan Ahearn from Hingham, MA is included in the Small Works show.  My guess is that it is already sold but she has plenty more paintings available and is always creating new pieces.

Small Works pieces

Three of my Small Works mixed media pieces are included in this exhibit along with other SSAC Gallery Artists including my friend Trish Berube whose monotypes are featured in the photo above on the left in small black frames.  Plan a trip to the South Shore Art Center at 119 Ripley Road in Cohasset, MA to see both the Sightlines and Small Works shows which will be open until December 22, 2017.  Support local arts.

Narrow Land Pottery

Narrow Land Bowl by Joe McCaffery.

One of my side interests is pottery and throughout the years I’ve collected several unique pieces that give me inspiration on a daily basis.  Most of my collection were made by local potters that I’ve been lucky to follow as their careers have evolved.  On a recent trip to Cape Cod I made my yearly stop at Narrow Land Pottery to visit Joe McCaffery and his endless supply of entertaining corgis and to check out his latest ceramic creations.

Ceramics shop at Narrow Land Pottery.

Narrow Land Pottery is conveniently located right on Route 6 in Wellfleet, MA where Joe lives, works and sells his creations.  Over the years I have stopped by and picked up bowls, cups and vases but this year I was struck by the change in Joe’s work revealing not a just a productive side but a clear change in the approach to his work.  Although Joe has been successful in managing a career as a potter he has taken flight into new territory that reveals more depth, creativity and courage.  He’ll probably get mad that I said so…

Vase by Joe McCaffery.

Although Joe has a kiln on site throughout his career he has carved out time to participate in wood-fire kiln firing hosted by well-known potter Chris Gustin.  Working in this method makes the final outcome of the glazes somewhat unpredictable and left up to chance.  As a monotype printmaker this type of unpredictability is appealing and lends itself to the Japanese philosophy of wabi sabi thereby appreciating the beauty of imperfection.

Pitcher by Joe McCaffery.

As a beginner collector of ceramics Narrow Land Pottery is the perfect place to start as Joe’s pieces are a very fine quality at affordable prices.  Each piece is handcrafted and one-of-a-kind so if you find something you like it’s best to pick it up as you’ll never find it again anywhere.  Narrow Land Pottery is open throughout the year and you can also find some of Joe’s museum quality pieces at Gary Marotta Fine Art in Provincetown, MA.

 

Legacy @ the SSAC

Legacy Exhibit @ the SSAC

This past Monday I took some time to visit the Legacy exhibit at the South Shore Art Center in Cohasset, MA.   The concept was created by Susan Denniston, Kelly Knight, Anne Plaisance and Lorraine Sullivan as an interwoven visual diary of womanhood that incorporates the past and present for each of the four women artists.

Painting by Anne Plaisance

The exhibit has a variety of art pieces from paintings, collages, mixed media and sculptures that express each woman’s vision while incorporating pieces of their history.

Box construction by Anne Plaisance

This aesthetically pleasing three-dimensional construction by Anne Plaisance has a variety of butterflies cut from many types of paper that has an interesting effect by creating shadows and subtle movements.

Legacy @the SSAC

Take a trip to visit this engaging exhibit that has an overall design coherency while telling a story that reveals insight into the artists’ personal identities.  The show continues thru April 9th, 2017.  On Sunday, March 19th, there is scheduled an Exhibition Program:  Legacy Day with an Artists’ Talk at 2 pm.

Currently @ the MFA in Boston

Untitled, 1994 by Terry Winters.

One of the great advantages of living near the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is that I can drop everything and visit this sanctuary of priceless works of art that spans throughout history.  After being out of town for a few months I visited the museum as a spontaneous decision not expecting to see much change in the exhibits, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Works by Terry Winters at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

In the Clementine Brown Gallery is an exhibit of over 50 works on paper by New York artist Terry Winters.  The power and strength of the imagery hit me as soon as I walked into the gallery.

Folio 1985-86 by Terry Winters

As a printmaker I was particularly interested in this Folio series of lithographs.  The prints are impressive while viewing them in person which reveals more clearly the complexity of the multiple layers of ink.  Even the black inks are more than one black, along with white and silver inks.

Works by Terry Winters.

This exhibit alone was well worth the trip as I was inspired by the organic imagery and technicality of the artistic processes.  Simplicity merged with complexity is visual compelling.

Albiquiu Trees VII, 1953 by Georgia O’Keefe.

A Making Modern exhibit is currently on view in several galleries in the Americas Wing of the museum.  It features several important pieces of Modern Art from the 2oth century.  This small painted sketch (approx. 8″x10″) by Georgia O’Keefe was a personal favorite as it encompasses an ethereal landscape while verging on the abstract.

Adit, No. 2, 1923 by Stuart Davis.

Another favorite was this illustrative painting by Stuart Davis.  Apparently it belongs to a series of work inspired by the streets of Paris that where visited by Davis in 1928.  Although he never returned to Paris this style of painting architectural compositions with thick paint in a two-dimensional style continued throughout his career.

Kahlo and Her Circle.

Any opportunity to explore Frida Kahlo along with her friends and family is thought-provoking.  One of the galleries has a display of various photos by well-known photographers, sketches by Diego Rivera and the recently acquired Dos Mujeres painting by Kahlo altogether that creates a clearer vision of her life and times.

Evening Sounds, about 1925-30 by Helen Torr.

Although I’m not very familiar with the work of Helen Torr, this smaller painting by her drew me in to investigate further.  She was the wife of artist Arthur Dove and they lived and worked together for many years in Long Island, New York.

Study for Monumental Head, 1972 by John Wilson.

In the Frances Vrachos and Mary Stamas Galleries are the Wilson/Cortor exhibits through August 6, 2017.  These two artists where dedicated to the exploration of the African American experience through their art.  This particular sketch was by John Wilson that was used in the 15-year development of a bronze head sculpture entitled Eternal Presence that was commissioned in 1982 and completed in 1987 for the grounds of the Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists in Roxbury, MA.

These are just a few of my favorite pieces currently on view at the MFA.  To truly appreciate these works I recommend visiting the museum in person to be genuinely inspired.

Frida @ the Dali

Frida @ the Dali

Frida Kahlo at The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida is an inspirational exhibit that spans the life of one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century.  With a selection of 15 paintings, seven drawings, several personal photographs including a biographical video that depicts the life and times of the artist that explains the circumstances of Frida’s life that contributed to her artistic expressions.

Frida’s audience

The exhibit is designed as a timeline of the artist’s life.  The arrangement of paintings, drawings and photographs starting with her devastating bus accident in 1925 when she was 18 that haunted Frida with pain for the rest of her life, meeting Diego Rivera who caused her much psychological agony along with her personal conflicts that are depicted thru her artwork.

Retrato de Alicia Galant

This early painting of Alicia Galant was a friend of the family who lived nearby in Coyoacán is beautiful with a velvety quality to the paint application.  Frida’s mother bought her paints while she was convalescing from her bus accident and she started to create portraits of people that she knew.  This portrait painting was signed on the back:  “My first work of art, Frida Kahlo 1927.”

Photographs depicting Frida’s Life.

Frida was a muse for an assortment of well known photographers throughout her lifetime including her father, Guillermo Kahlo.  There are several photographs and videos sprinkled throughout the the exhibit.

Frida Kahlo by Julien Levy.

This photograph reveals an uninhibited Frida posing for the photographer.  Later on I discovered this image had been cropped from the original to disclose less of her nude figure.

Frida sketchbook pages.

There are several pages from Frida’s sketchbooks on display that reveal the spontaneity of her creative process.

mi nana y yo

‘My Nurse and I’ on canvas, 1937 depicts the memory when Frida’s younger sister Cristina was born and Frida was put under the care of a wet nurse who was an indigenous woman. In this painting the wet nurse has a blank expression of a pre-Colombian mask while Frida has the head of an adult and body of a child.  Frida’s artwork takes on this type of symbolism after her miscarriage while living in Detroit with her husband Diego while he is working on a large mural commission.  Her boldness in confronting her life struggles are astounding when seeing her artwork that’s revealing with a very personal and raw perspective.  As Frida continued to paint it seemed like the medium was like writing for her, as the primitive symbolism evolved, technically her painting style remained consistent throughout her artistic journey.

Frida with Chiquaqua at La Casa Azul.

It’s so rare to be able to enjoy an art exhibit dedicated wholly to this inspiring artist that I recommend going out of your way to visit this show.  The Frida Kahlo exhibit is currently at The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, FL thru April 17, 2017.

welcome 2017

mixed media #7726

It’s the end of another memorable year and I’m  currently working on a ‘clean canvas’ an looking forward to an experimental outcome ahead.  In 2016 I had committed myself to three solo exhibits that kept me occupied with, not only new work but, sorting out the logistics of presentations and marketing in order to get folks to come and see the projects that I had invested so much time in.  It seemed like I just finished with one show and I needed to plan out the next one.  One tip that helped me get through all three shows is that I consistently create new work every week so that I am continually adding to my portfolio and thereby reducing the pressure of creating work for a specific show.

mixed media #7765

Right now I’m exploring and working on new projects and thinking about my transitions as an artist.  Focusing on abstract mixed media pieces has been my passion lately as I work with colors and textures while exploring with marks and subtractive processes that will guide me to a finished piece.  Paintings can be so unpredictable as to how they begin and when they are completed.  Some come out fast while others are slow and have their moments of agony.  Is this one finished or do I push further?  Bold or delicate?  Balanced or decidedly off-center?

mixed media #7763

For the past few weeks I’ve started several 6″ x 6″ panels in an effort to push the envelope with techniques and designs without the commitment of painting large.  Each piece is a small study that allows me to relax and not worry about the outcome as much as I would with larger canvases which encourages me to take more risks.  For now these studies are my daily exercises that fine tune my vision and are inspiring me to work BIG.  It’s a luxury to just be able to relax and explore…  What are your artistic habits?

Retrospect Exhibit at Thayer Gallery

Opening Reception: Thursday October 13, 2016 from 6 to 8pm

Thayer Art Gallery at Thayer Academy-located in the lower level of Thayer’s Southworth Library  745 Washington St. Braintree, MA  02184

Thayer Gallery Hours:  Mon-Fri|8am-3pm (when school is in session)  During regular hours the gallery is locked-for access call security 617.371.5217

Illustrations by Donna Ingemanson and installation by Charlotte Nickerson.

This exhibit highlights my career as an illustrator and artist in a timeline with personal selections of art and licensed products.  Current pieces include digital, painting, mixed media and monotype printmaking.

Throughout my artistic career it has always been a journey of exploration and expansion. For years, as a student, designer, art director, illustrator and simply as an artist, my objectives always seemed like I was climbing to reach a goal, whether it was to perfect my skills, succeed at commercial assignments, run a solo business and, most importantly, enjoy the time allotted to me on this planet. My aspirations seemed to segue from one desire to the next while moving forward and still using strengths that I had learned in the past.

mixed media pieces 2016

As an artist it seems like there’s always a bit of discontent and a desire to somehow make something better. There are so many masterful artists from the past and the present that it’s easy to become discouraged. In my mind I try to see the beauty in other art pieces and use it for inspiration in my own work.

Exhibiting my artwork is new for me as I have always been too busy creating art for corporate projects, editorial pieces and licensing to have time to get my work physically out into the world. This exhibit is a selection of pieces from the past 20 years that starts with the ‘Studio Wall’ which is a display of how assignments start with sketches and finished art and then translate to tangible products. Many of my newer pieces are still being licensed along with a large library of past art images.

So as I continue on my artistic path of discovery and creation right now I am taking the time to pause and reflect on the steps that have brought me to this moment.

-Donna Ingemanson October 2016

Special Thanks to Karen Koskores, Charlotte Nickerson and Image Resolutions.

Looking into the Crystal Ball

‘Chatter’ mixed media 30″x22″

June 17, 18 & 19th, 2016 are the dates for the South Shore Art Center’s Art Festival on the Green in Cohasset, MA.  It’s an honor to be included with several other talented artists in the Juried and Members Exhibits under the event tents.  It’s worth the trek to the South Shore as there are several activities that happen in conjunction with the festival such as musical performances, art exhibits and 90+ juried craft artisans.  Fri, June 17, 1-7   Sat, June 18, 10-7   Sun, 19 Noon-5   Rain or Shine!

‘Buddha’ mixed media digital

This piece entitled ‘Buddha’ was inspired by a solar plate etching that I worked on recently in black and white.  It was transformed into a digital piece by combining photography and monotypes in photoshop.  A framed, printed version is included in the Members Exhibit under the events tent during the Arts Festival and a canvas version is part of the Coastal Printmakers Exhibit upstairs inside the South Shore Art Center throughout the Summer.

‘Vernal’ mixed media digital

Starting July 6th thru August 2016 my work is being featured in a Solo Exhibit at the Paul Pratt Library in Cohasset, Ma hosted by the South Shore Art Center.  This exhibit will have a diverse variety of pieces that will all be recent artworks.  The Opening reception is Friday July 15th, 2016  6-8pm.  This exhibit is sponsored by my very talented friends at Image Resolutions in Norwell, MA.  Please visit.