meredith cutler :: arts marketing :: artist

This just in from the wire: The South Shore Art Center is currently accepting entries for its upcoming National Drawing Show, celebrating the diversity and range of drawing as an art form. This show will be juried by Rachel Rosenfield Lato, the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park's Director of Curatorial Affairs. Click here for a downloadable prospectus. Entries are due October 1st. Hup! Hup!

Above: Sequence Block 5, Mixed-media drawing by Meredith Cutler

I'm already hard at work researching year-end exhibits and events for the close of 2008 issue of Artscope Magazine. It's always an exciting and overwhelming process, given the tenacious exuberance of our itty-city's art scene. Given that, I was overjoyed to discover the topic of yesterday's Design*Sponge guest blog post. Fellow East-sider Christine Chitnis compiled the Providence City Guide for Design*Sponge's ongoing roster of city-specific design guides - all excellent resources for design-o'-philes on the go!

Above: "Waterfire" by Heather Katsoulis

With press releases and colorful exhibit announcements scattered about my studio floor, I was more than happy to add a few key arts destinations to the comments section, including: AS220, The Steelyard and CAV. A must read! Thanks to Grace and Christine for helping to highlight Providence as an arts and design destination.

It's the third Thursday of the month, which means Gallery Night for those of you in or around the Providence area. The calendar page's turn to September generally initiates the re-opening (or reinvigoration) of galleries and educational institutions, so it's a great time to explore the city's art scene. Step outside and into the fresh, early evening air and check out the premiere shows of a new season.

Above: "Of Mind and Matter" by Ken Takashi Horii - on view at the Chazan Gallery at Wheeler.

Opening tonight at the Chazan Gallery at Wheeler: "Of Mind and Matter" by sculptor and RISD professor Ken Takashi Horii. I had the pleasure of interviewing Ken for the current issue of Artscope Magazine and can wholeheartedly recommend this exhibit, which features Horii's sculptural and ink-drawing investigations into perceptions of allusion and illusion. Referencing Western Rorschach ink-blot tests embedded and alongside the diagrammatic structures of Tantric Buddhism, this show is bound to open many doors for observation and conversation.

Above: "Waterfire: Superman Building" by Anthony Tomaselli - on view at Gallery Z

Over on the expanding gallery roster of Federal Hill, the "Rhode Island Italian Artists" exhibit is showing at Gallery Z, featuring local landscapes by Anthony Tomaselli alongside other small works in painting by Stephanie Marzella, photography by Angelo Marinosci and Salvatore Mancini, and renowned sculptor and painter Angelo Rosati. Tip: This tax-free zone is a great stop for local art enthusiasts and collectors.

Above: "White Tara Mandala" (detail) - Kancha Lama, on view at the Providence College Robert and Mary Anne Reilly Gallery.

School is definitely back in session, and Providence College's art galleries are hopping once again. At the Hunt-Cavanaugh Gallery, check out "Some Measure - Martha Groome Paintings" (on view through October 16th). Nearby at the Reilly Gallery, visit tonight's sneak preview opening of "Tribute To Tibet", featuring Tibetan "thangka" paintings and other artifacts from area collections. As part of this exhibit, two monks from the Dalai Lama’s Namgyal Monastery (in Ithaca, New York), will create a Sand Mandala in the Gallery between September 21st -27th. On the afternoon of September 27th the monks will dismantle the Mandala, with the remnants to be ritually poured into the river by WaterPlace Park during that Saturday evening's WaterFire event.

It was not the lovliest of autumn weekends, but overcast skies didn't stop me from checking out the Providence Open Market on Saturday, newly relocated to Lippett Park (where Blackstone Blvd. intersects Hope St.)

Luckily for the vendors, I wasn't the only one unphased by the gloomy weather - a good group of East Siders held court, inspecting various goodies on display by local artisans and foodies. I was a bit disappointed to find that there were only two foodie stalls, but I'll get over it...I had already hit up Pastiche (pictured below) for some artisan cookies!

With some gift shopping to do, I was happy to encounter fellow East-Side indie artisan Kim Clark of Lucky Bird Studio. With a sharp eye for color and pattern, she incorporates revived papers (chiyogami-style), tiny beads, findings and hardware into microcosmic, epoxy-set collages - then reborn as earrings, pendants, hair pins or bracelets. Her signature pieces in this style live in small, copper-plated brass settings (about the size of a penny). I had a hard time picking just one! Kim's website, a bit of eye-candy in itself, does a great job at highlighting her wide selection of patterns and products.

Returning home after chit-chatting with Leigh Medieros of Warren's new Yes Gallery + Studio, I ran into Bravo the cat - who awaited me in ambush on my front steps. I care for my semi-feral friend and his scrappy pal Matilda when their sponsors (my landlords) are away. I just have to mention Bravo, because he is such a bizarre alley cat. Resembling a notch-eared, gigantic version of my enormously beloved (and sadly deceased) luxury cat, Phaedrus, Bravo's got quite an overbite...and simply cannot get enough love, which he demands by biting me!

Besides caring for emotionally needy, semi-feral garden cats - I also support the ASPCA and encourage everyone to check out their local chapter. Right now, the ASPCA needs our help to support their efforts to rescue animals affected by the recent Gulf Coast hurricanes. Every little bit helps!

The Providence Open Market has two more Saturdays in store for us this season: September 20th and 27th.

In the blink of an eye, my complexion has transformed back from sun-kissed to milky white, and the freshest breezes are blowing spicy scents of drying leaves and sweet concord grapes down the streets of Providence's East Side. The calendar lies, but it's autumn, I swear!

Above: "Monochromatic Fruit Set" by Revo on Etsy - handblown glass

It's the perfect time of year to visit Providence's farmers' markets, which are currently overflowing with Macintosh apples, the last of the pears, corn, squash, and a wide variety of lovely bitter greens (my favorite!). While enjoying the crispy, local tastes of autumn, I'm currently coveting the handblown glass fruit of Pennsylvania-based artist Anthony Biancaniello. His fruit sets are available on Etsy in a variety of autumn colors, and would look simply smashing in my vintage Danish china fruit bowl...(hint).