At the Edge ...

The Portsmouth Museum of Art (they recently dropped "Fine") held its grande opening in June of 2009. In the past year, significant changes have been made. Former curator, Ruthie Treadwell who helped launch the museum is out, and artist Katherine Doyle is in. The new mission and vision statements define the museum as an institution of education. This clarification will end an earlier practice of selling art. Their current goal is to enrich the local cultural landscape by developing partnerships, creating collaborative opportunities among artist and art organizations an by presenting a complete art experience that includes literature and poetry, performance art, film and other technologies and to initiate an on-going public dialogue around art.

This past Thursday evening marked the official opening of their current exhibition, "At the Edge: Subversive Ideas and New Forms".

This show explores intent and expression created with a range of materials and techniques. Each artist sets their sights on an 'edge' with his or her own visual language. They challenge viewers preconceived notions about familiar objects and art forms. Walter Martin and Paloma Munoz take the expected kitch of snowglobes and transform them into vulnerable little worlds. The tables are turned with Tony Oursler's sculpture as digital images of eyes peer out from an amoeba-like splat. Tseng Kwong Chi's 1983 photograph of choreographer Bill T. Jones, painted by Keith Haring, celebrates art and movement with the body as living canvas. Ray Caesar digitally creates incredibly detailed and strangely haunting worlds in beautifully rendered images that are both delightful and disturbing. 'My Mother's Legacy' is a series of bowls presenting a poem that commemorates Boston artist Sarah Hutt's mother's life. Commentary on current political and social events is presented with a wry sense of humor as Daniel McDonald's band of bobble-head mummies struggles with 'Restricted Access to Medical Care'. A sampling of Judy Chicago's iconic plates, a print by Jeff Koons and a story quilt by Faith Ringgold are among the gems in this show that you won't want to miss.

I was thrilled by the opportunity to curate a small exhibition in the main lobby space in conjunction with the new show! Three Graces is very pleased and proud to present works by Denise Duong, Amy Gross, Nicole Maloof and Kelly Vivanco.


Here are a few photos of the show (starting in the main lobby) ...

... and to the main exhibition ...

More pictures from "At the Edge" can be seen on our flickr.

All of the works in the main lobby are indeed for sale! You can view all of the works by Kelly Vivanco, Denise Duong, Amy Gross and Nicole Maloof here in our online shop!

The Portsmouth Museum of Art is located at One Harbour Place (in between the Seacoast Repertory Theatre and Prescott Park). "At the Edge" and our Satellite Exhibition run thru July 11th.