Winter News

At the end of year, it is a time to reflect- to look back and also to look ahead... 

In brief, 2016 was a great year for my studio practice. I had four solo shows: one of which was my first solo museum  show at the New Bedford Art Museum. In addition, I participated in three museum shows in Michigan, Maryland and The Netherlands. One of my public art projects became the subject of a controversy that went viral and spawned several petitions, a town proclamation, a welcome home parade and a traveling pop-up show that raised over $1000 to help breast cancer patients and their caregivers. At the end of the day, Seagull Cinderella was named the Unsung Hero by Kristen Pacheco and the People of New Bedford. And last but not least, one of my sculptures stood proudly through one of the most difficult and historic elections in modern history: Madam President, A Monument to the First Woman President of the United States and to the Dream that Every Girl Can Become the President of the USA. 

The Myth Makers (Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein) also had a great year. In April, we built The Wildwood Phoenix in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In May, we moved The Avian Avatars, our national traveling art project, from Muskegon Michigan to New Orleans, Louisiana for a two year loan. In June we built The Dance, a pair of Sandhill Cranes at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin. And in October we built The Mighty Merganser at the Academy Art Museum in Easton, Maryland. Thank you to all of the generous sponsors, donors and funders of our public art projects. We are so lucky to do this work and to connect with individuals and communities through art.

On a more personal note, I lost a hero of mine, my mentor and friend Joseph Wheelwright (1948-2016). He was a great artist, a family man and one of the founding members of the Boston Sculptors Gallery.

Coming up in 2017: we will be publishing new catalogs for myself, Andy Moerlein and the Myth Makers. If you would like to receive one in the mail, please send me your mailing address. Also coming up in 2017:  Only from Maynard, Jan 18th-Feb 25th at Artspace Maynard: a group show featuring the artists in my new hometown, Love/Lust, Feb 8th-26th at the Boston Sculptors Gallery, a members group show and Valentine's inspired fundraiser, 31 Women, March 3rd-31st, a group show at the James Library & Center for the Arts in Norwell in honor of Women's History Month and The Forest Through the Trees, April 18th-May 27th at 6 Bridges Gallery in Maynard, a three person show with nature photographs by Brent Mathison and wood sculptures by Andy Moerlein and I.

Jan. 20-Feb. 5, 2016 "Mermaids," New Bedford Art Museum, New Bedford MA

Feb 24-March 25, 2016 “Zodiac: Donna Dodson,” The St. Botolph Club, Boston MA

July 10-30, 2016 "Avian Heroines," Colo Colo Gallery, New Bedford MA

Sept 7-Oct 9, 2016 "Donna Dodson: Zodiac," Boston Sculptors Gallery, Boston MA

Nov 19, 2016-Feb 26, 2017 "Avian Inspirations: Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein" Academy Art Museum, Easton MD.

 

Autumn News

Now on view:

Feature Creatures: On the Loose from the Permanent Collection

Fuller Craft Museum 

Blue Hippo (above) was recently acquired by the Fuller Craft Museum .
Bequest of Steve and BJ Andrus

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Seagull Cinderella 
Returns to Maynard

October 15, 2016, 3-6 pm

Parade, Art Show and Reception

On October 15 Seagull Cinderella returns to Maynard and will be feted with a parade in downtown Maynard starting at 3:00 pm. Follow her from the Maynard Library to 6 Bridges gallery at 77 Main Street where she will disembark from her carriage and stand proudly outside 6 Bridges Gallery.  A pop-up art show inspired by our courageous gull awaits her fans and supporters inside with a reception from 4p-6p.  See the Call to Artists below for more information on this event.

Update: On Aug 30, 2016 The Stow Wicked Local News posted this story, 'Seagull Cinderella' art piece to return to Maynard.' On October 6, 2016 Denise Shea posted this story to The Maynard Grapevine, Living in a Creative Arts Community and Jacquelyn Jarnagin posted this story to The Beacon Villager, Maynard parade to honor Seagull Cinderella. On October 17, 2016 Holly Camero posted this story to Wicked Local, Seagull Cinderella Paraded Home to Maynard. 

The Backstory:

Donna Dodson created a small wood sculpture of a seagull headed female figure in 2002 that she named “Seagull Cinderella.” Her inspiration for the piece was Marilla from Anne of Green Gables who was corseted and bound by the sweet virtues of her character. The piece was about how we are conditioned by that American mythic princess story, and how we act on it in our lives or how that myth acts on us and how we view women in our society through the lens of the princess myth. 

In 2012, Dodson was invited to submit a proposal for a public art project in Brooklyn and she chose to make a monumental version of the small wood sculpture “Seagull Cinderella.” She used the same color palette of soft pink for the wings and soft yellow on the beak. She stood proud for one whole summer facing the East River and then she moved to Gallery Ehva in Provincetown.

The owner, Ewa Nogiec is known for encouraging artists to take risks and complete work in residence. Since the piece was up through the fall, winter, spring and summer, Ewa grew familiar with the piece and in preparation for the July 4th parade in P’town, suggested that Dodson paint a red white and blue bikini on the sculpture. Dodson did not share her vision for the bikini, but she did imagine seeing neon daisies on the piece instead. So Dodson re-worked the piece on site with neon colors and a daisy chain around the waist.

When the piece came home in 2013, Dodson had another pending invitation for the piece from the Krasl Art Center 2014 Biennial Sculpture Invitational in St Joseph Michigan. Dodson extended the daisy chain from the waist to the floor, giving the mythic American princess a full length gown of neon daisies. When she came home from Michigan in 2015, Dodson decided to install her on her front lawn of her new home on Summer St. She became much adored by her neighbors and served as a landmark until she left to spend the summer in New Bedford in 2016. 

Open Call to Artists to submit creations of all mediums in homage to this glorious sculpture by Donna Dodson of Maynard.

Drop off work on Friday, October 14, 4-6 pm or Saturday, October 15, 10-11 am. Please bring work ready to display on pedestals and tables. Wall space is not available.

Work for this event will be for sale with a portion of the proceeds going to help women with breast cancer at the Virginia Thurston Healing Garden.

6 Bridges Gallery was established in 2014 by a group of artists to create a retail and display gallery in the heart of Maynard, Massachusetts. The ever-changing work in our gallery includes a diverse range of media and artistic styles. All of our artisans are local; many—including our founding members—are residents of the ArtSpace Maynard studios.  

6 Bridges Gallery

77 Main Street

Maynard, MA 01754

978-897-3825

info@6bridgesgallery.com

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Join The Myth Makers: Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein on Thursday October 20th from 6p-8p in New Orleans at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art for an artist talk and hands on workshop during Ogden After Hours. 

We will be sharing our experiences of building the Avian Avatars that are currently installed in downtown New Orleans, Louisiana in the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibition presented by The Helis Foundation. A very special thank you to Michael Manjarris for selecting our work to be included in this city wide public art project: Sculpture for New Orleans.

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Join the Myth Makers: Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein at the Academy Art Museum in Maryland October 28th-November 5th.

THE MYTH MAKERS IN MARYLAND: THE MIGHTY MERGANSER

Members' Reception and Meet the Artists: Friday, November 18, 5:30 - 7:30pm

Artists Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein (aka the Myth Makers), will be present in Easton, MD, from October 29 to November 5, 2016, during which time they will build one of their iconic sapling sculptures on the Museum’s grounds. Literally speaking, the bird sculpture will be based on the Hooded Merganser, a bird which is common in Maryland. Figuratively, however, the artists’ intent is to create a bird sculpture which represents a proud monument to independent thinking and bravery, referencing Eastern Shore native Frederick Douglass, who said, “I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence.”

Although monumental in scale, the ephemeral works of the Myth Makers are temporary in nature. Made from natural materials, they are site specific and respond to their local audience. Meaning to last 3 to 5 years, they appear, fade, and disappear, adding a chapter to the life stories in their communities.

The Mighty Merganser bird sculpture will be constructed with the help of many volunteers (see Call for Volunteers). The large sculpture will stand over 16 feet high and ll a generous space in the Museum’s front yard.

Based in Boston, the Myth Makers have worked in Peru, Switzerland, Canada and China. They have shown their monumental sculptures the “Avian Avatars,” on Broadway in New York, NY; Muskegon, MI; New Orleans, and in many museums in New England.

In the galleries at the Academy Art Museum:

AVIAN INSPIRATIONS:
DONNA DODSON AND ANDY MOERLEIN (THE MYTH MAKERS)

November 19, 2016 - February 26, 2017Members' Reception and Meet the Artists: November 18, 5:30 - 7:30pm

This two person show of Dodson's intimate wood goddess figures and Moerlein's narrative ceramic bird and natural stick figures features over a dozen avian themed works from each artist. This exhibition will give insight into the solo work of two individual sculptors and how they collaborate as the Myth Makers.

September News

Horse (Mother) wood, paint 2015

Zodiac by Donna Dodson
Boston Sculptors Gallery
September 7- October 9, 2016
Gallery Hours: Wed. – Sun. 12 – 6pm

First Friday Receptions: Sept. 9 & Oct. 7, 5-8pm Featuring a world premiere of experimental electronic music by Blue Sky Catastrophe at each reception. 

The Art of Collecting: A Forum & Luncheon: Sept.10, 12-2pm
Panelists include: Arlette Kayafas, Director of Gallery Kayafas, Toni Gaspard, Art Collector, Leah Triplett Harrington, Editor of Big, Red & Shiny and Kalimah Muhammad, Member of Boston Sculptors Gallery. Sponsored by Boston Art Dealers Association & Hosted by Boston Sculptors Gallery

United South End Artists Open Studios:
Sept. 24 & 25, 12-6pm

Global Mashup: A Roundtable Conversation About Aesthetics: Oct. 2, 2-4pm
Panelists include Kemin Hu, Collector and Expert on Chinese Scholar's Rocks, James Kodera, Professor of Religion at Wellesley College and Al Miner, Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Sponsored by Artscope Magazine

Pisces(Clownfish) wood, paint 2016

“The signs of the zodiac are karmic patterns; the planets are the loom, the will is the weaver.”
- Edgar Cayce

Zodiac, Donna Dodson’s fourth solo exhibition at the Boston Sculptors Gallery, will be on view September 7 to October 9, 2016. In her newest body of sculptural work, Dodson has created two parallel series, referencing both the animal characters associated with the Chinese, or Eastern zodiac, as well as the sun signs of the Western zodiac. Dodson’s exhibition offers us a menagerie of compelling creatures carved in wood.

Based on birth years from the beginning of time to the present day, the Chinese zodiac assigns an animal to each year in a repeating twelve-year cycle. Each of the twelve animal characters is believed to possess distinct attributes. With roots in ancient Egypt and Greece, the Western zodiac is based on astrological constellations corresponding to the sun’s position at birth. Over time, each of these constellations has assumed their own unique mythological identity. Curiously, the zodiac has only rarely been the subject of contemporary art.

Carving has taken a new direction in Dodson’s work, and technical surprises and breakthroughs abound. Due to a windfall of wood, she has been able to experiment, creating sculpture in woods such as mulberry, apple, spalted maple, and cherry. The anthropomorphic deities in Dodson’s signature work have morphed into allegories, icons and symbols in which realism and representation play a greater role.

While some interpretations of the Western zodiac characters seem obvious, like Leo the Lion, Taurus the Bull, and Aries the Ram, others resist obvious characterizations. Would anyone associate Aquarius with a Beaver? Or Libra with a Falcon? Virgo with a Penguin? In Zodiac, Dodson takes on these peculiar associations and promises to engage the imagination of the casual viewer as well as that of the art connoisseur.

Zodiac will be shown concurrently with Geology by Andy Moerlein.

Update; Wickedlocal posted a teaser online about my show on August 31, 2016, "Maynard artist to hold solo exhibit in Boston." Paula Ogier posted a very favorable review of our shows on September 7, 2016, "A Visit to the Boston Sculptors Gallery."
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As many of you may have heard, Jessica Bregoli selected my sculpture, Seagull Cinderella, for the Seaport Art Walk in New Bedford this summer. I installed the sculpture on a highly visible site pre-selected by the Seaport Art Walk Committee at thebeginning of June. After being on view for about a month or so, a petition was filed by a local resident to "Remove the Seagull Statue in Downtown New Bedford." Therein started the Seagull Cinderella Controversy. (Click on the link for the story)

Coming up in October...

Seagull Cinderella Returns to Maynard

October 15, 2016, 3-6 pm

Parade, Art Show and Reception

Seagull Cinderella returns home to Maynard on October 15. Welcome her back from her triumphant tour of New Bedford with a parade in downtown Maynard and art show at 6 Bridges Gallery, 77 Main Street, Maynard.

Many of you remember Seagull Cinderella standing tall in her front yard on Summer Street in Maynard.  She spent a few weeks in New Bedford, MA this summer where our intrepid gull found herself embroiled in a bit of an uproar. They were talking about her far and wide.  But Seagull Cinderella stood fast.  Her supporters rallied around and created art in her honor.

On October 15 Seagull Cinderella returns to Maynard and will be feted with a parade in downtown Maynard starting at 3:00 pm. Follow her from the Maynard library to 6 Bridges gallery at 77 Main Street where she will disembark from her carriage and stand proudly outside 6 Bridges Gallery.  A pop-up art show inspired by our courageous gull awaits her fans and supporters inside.  A portion of the proceeds from the art sale will be donated to the Virginia Thurston Healing Garden.

Open Call to Artists to submit creations of all mediums in homage to this glorious sculpture by Donna Dodson of Maynard.

Drop off work on Friday, October 14, 4-6 pm or Saturday, October 15, 10-11 am. Please bring work ready to display on pedestals and tables. Wall space is not available.

Work for this event will be for sale with a portion of the proceeds going to help women with breast cancer at the Virginia Thurston Healing Garden.

6 Bridges Gallery was established in 2014 by a group of artists to create a retail and display gallery in the heart of Maynard, Massachusetts. The ever-changing work in our gallery includes a diverse range of media and artistic styles. All of our artisans are local; many—including our founding members—are residents of the ArtSpace Maynard studios.  

6 Bridges Gallery

77 Main Street

Maynard, MA 01754

978-897-3825

info@6bridgesgallery.com

Seagull Cinderella Controversy

Seagull Cinderella, 2016, styrofoam, cement, acrylic, 8ftx4ftx4ft by Donna Dodson

Seagull Cinderella is as common as the birds we see at the beach. Yet she is uncommon, like Marilla in Anne of Green Gables, corseted and bound by the sweet virtues of her character. Her full length gown is alive with neon daisies and flower power! This piece is Celebrating a Common sea bird as the American mythic princess, Cinderella. 

Jessica Bregoli selected my sculpture, Seagull Cinderella, for the Seaport Art Walk in New Bedford. I installed the sculpture on a highly visible site pre-selected by the Seaport Art Walk Committee on June 9th. After being on view for about a month or so, a petition was filed by a local resident to "Remove the Seagull Statue in Downtown New Bedford." Therein started the public controversy:

July 14th, 2016, The Petition, "Remove The Seagull with Boobs Statue in Downtown New Bedford"

This spawned several counter petitions:

"Stop the petition demanding removal of the seagull statue with boobs" petition:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/…/stop-the-petition-demandi…/

"SAVE New Bedford's 'Boob Duck'- ENHANCE its bust!" petition
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/…/save-new-bedfords-%22boob…/

"Petition To Have The Breasts Chiseled Off of the Venus Demilo because they make Raymond C. Uncomfortable" petition, which states: "Because art should clearly be censored so you dont have to look at suggestive breasts."
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/170/671/273/…

"Make The A** Bigger on the Seagull Statue In Downtown New Bedford," petition

And then came the media frenzy:

July 20th, 2016, Fun 107 FM, "Remove Seagull with Boobs Statue in Downtown New Bedford or not? By Christine Fox

July 20th, PYX 106 FM, "Mass. City Wants Statue Of Seagull With Boobs Removed."

July 21st, 2016, The Boston Globe, "Should this busty seagull statue remain in New Bedford?" by Sophie Haigney

July 21st, 2016, South Coast Today, "Seagull Cinderella: Love or hate her. She has got people talking in New Bedford," by Curt Brown

July 22nd, 2016, Boston Magazine, "New Bedford Residents Are Feuding Over a ‘Seagull with Boobs’," by Madeline Bilis

July 23rd, South Coast Today, "A 'Seagull' flying: Inspired artists start sticker movement in response to criticism," by Mike Lawrence.

July 24th, 2016, WJAR Channel 10 News, "Petition started to remove controversial sculpture," by Matt Reed

July 24th, 2106, WBZ-TV News, "Hundreds Sign Petition Demanding Removal Of Seagull Scuplture," by Kathryn Hauser.

July 25th, 2016, The Daily Beast, "This Is The ‘Seagull Cinderella’ Sculpture Outraging Massachusetts," by Tim Teeman

July 25th, 2016, Artnet, "Why Are People Going Crazy over this Public Art Sculpture?" by Brian Boucher

July 26th, 2016, New York Magazine, "What Are People Mad About Now? Oh, It’s a Seagull Sculpture With Big Boobs," by Gabriella Paiella

July 26th, 2016, Latest.com, "SEAGULL WITH BIG BREASTS FREAKS OUT LOCAL COMMUNITY," by Peter Van Buren

July 26th, 2016, Fine Art Biblio, "'Seagull Cinderella' Donna Dodson." 

July 29th, 2016, WHDH7 News Boston, "Petition calls for removal of ‘Seagull Cinderella’ in New Bedford," by Kris Anderson. Also posted on Youtube.

July 29th, Reddit.com, "New Bedford Residents are feduing over a Seagull with Boobs"

August 1st, 2016, Mashable, "Seagull with boobs statue is tearing a Massachusetts town apart," by Andrea Romano

August 1st, 2016, The Daily Dot, "Angry man wants town's statue of seagull with boobs removed," by David Britton

August 1st, 2016, IHeartRADIO, "Seagull Boobs?," by Klinger

August 1st, 2016, Brobible, "Boston-Hating Guy Wants Statue Of Seagull With Boobs Removed Because It Makes His Town Look Like A Joke," by Neal Lynch

August 1st, 2016, RapidNews.com, "SEAGULL CONDITION OF THE BREAST IS TEARING THE CITY APART MASSACHUSETTS."

August 1st, 2016, Someecards.com, "Seagull statue with big boobs causes even more massive controversy in Massachusetts town," by May Wilkerson

August 1st, 2016, Pop Culture Madness World News, "Seagull Cinderella’s Massive ‘Assets’ Are Stirring Up Controversy In Massachusetts," by Kristyn Clarke

August 1st, 2016, The Daily Mail, "Sculpture of a seagull with BOOBS is ruffling feathers in a Massachusetts city as locals brand it 'offensive' and 'juvenile' and demand it is removed," by Alexandra Genova

August 1st, 2016, #follownews.com, "Boston-Hating Guy Wants Statue Of Seagull With Boobs Removed Because It Makes His Town Look Like A Joke."

August 1st, 2016, cheezburger.com, "Drama Plagues a Small Town as They Argue Over This Seagull With Boobs."

August 1st, 2016, NVS24.com, "Newly installed 'Boob Seagull' statue is ruffling feathers in a Massachusetts city after locals brand it 'offensive' and 'juvenile'"

August 1st, 2016, Metachat.com, "Hey Wanna See a statue of a Seagull With Boobs?"

August 1st, 2016, News from Niue, "Seagull with boobs statue is tearing a Massachusetts town apart."

August 1st, 2016, Reddit,"New Bedford Residents Are Feuding Over a ‘Seagull with Boobs'"

August 1st, 2016, Sputnik News ( Turkey), "Memeli Marti Heykeli Bir Kenti Ikiye Boldu."

August 1st, 2016, United States Today, "Seagull with boobs statue is tearing a Massachusetts town apart."

August 2nd, 2016, WEEI FM, "People in New Bedford freaking out about statue of seagull with boobs," by Jerry Thornton

August 2nd, 2016, Americanuck Radio, "SEAGULL WITH BOOBS STATUE IS TEARING A MASSACHUSETTS TOWN APART."

August 2nd, 2016, International Skeptics Forum, "Boob Seagull statue has outraged folks in Massachusetts."

August 2nd, 2016, Angle News, "Newly installed 'Boob Seagull' statue in Massachusetts city branded offensive by locals."

August 2nd, 2016, Mogaz News "Newly installed 'Boob Seagull' statue is ruffling feathers ..."

August 3rd, 2016, jummyjeenz.com, "Proud to be a Woman," by Deana Tavares

August 9th, 2016, South Coast Today, "Attention Benefits Seagull Princess Artist and Community," by Jamie Uretsky

On August 13th, Jessica Bregoli, Eric Johnson and Gallery X organized  A Seagull Cinderella Pop-up Show in support for my sculpture since alot of the media coverage was negative and did not give voice to the people who loved the sculpture. Artists created stickers with hand drawn images of Seagull Cinderella and sold them in all of the galleries in New Bedford. All of the proceeds will be donated to a charity in New Bedford that serves women with breast cancer. The pop up show featured t-shirts, necklaces, collages, comics, paintings and sculptures inspired by Seagull Cinderella.

August 14th, 2016, jummyjeenz.com, "Seagull Cindy Goes to the Beach," by Deana Tavares

On August 19th, Seagull Cinderella has a visit from a new friend, The Princess of Whales:

August 19th, 2016, Boston Globe, "New friend joins New Bedford ‘seagull’ sculpture," by Steve Annear

August 19th, 2016, South Coast Today, "'Seagull Cinderella' sculpture briefly gets whale friend at Route 18 intersection," by Mike Lawrence

August 19th, 2016, 1420 WBSM and Fun 107 FM, "‘Seagull Cinderella’ Gets New Friend, Albeit for a Few Hours," by Greg Desrosiers

Summer News

I am pleased to announce that there is alot of news to share this summer! Below please find some highlights from my solo career as well as news from The Myth Makers' projects with Andy Moerlein:

Coming up in July, my solo show in New Bedford...

Donna Dodson: Avian Heroines

July 10-30, 2016

Reception Saturday July 16, 2016 5p-8p

Colo Colo Gallery

New Bedford, Mass.

Image: Culture Vulture I, 38" tall, wood, paint by Donna Dodson

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Also in New Bedford: Public Art

Seaport Art Walk: Cultural Aspects curated by Jessica Bregoli

On view June-October 2016

Seagull Cinderella by Donna Dodson, styrofoam, cement, acrylic, 8ftx4ftx4ft

Seagull Cinderella is as common as the birds we see at the beach. Yet she is uncommon, like Marilla in Anne of Green Gables, corseted and bound by the sweet virtues of her character. Her full length gown is alive with neon daisies and flower power! This piece is Celebrating a Common sea bird as the American mythic princess, Cinderella. 

Update: Eric Bosco covered this story for South Coast today on June 14, 2016, Seagull whimsy takes flight on Route 18 for 2nd annual Seaport Art Walk. Don Wilkinson covered this story on June 23, 2016 for South Coast Today, Embrace the whimsy of the Seaport Art Walk in New Bedford.

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Back by popular demand in Boston:

Madam President

On view June 2016-May 2017

Madam President: A Monument to the First Female President of the USA and to the Dream that Every Girl Can Become The President of the USA by Donna Dodson, 13 ft tall, poplar wood, paint

Courtesy of GTI Properties, Mario Nicosia, V. Lessard & Sons and The Boston Sculptors Gallery.

Update: Christian Bergeron covered this story in the Boston Guardian on June 24, 2016, Say Hello to SoWA's Madame President.

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In the Netherlands:

Ooievaars in de Kunst ( Storks in Art)

Group Show - Curated by Piet de Bakker

July 3rd-August 28, 2016

Museum Het Petershuis

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In Anchorage Alaska:

Donna Dodson & Andy Moerlein: New work

Reception: Sunday July 24th, 2016, 1p-3p

blue hollomon gallery

Mama Duck, 18" tall, mulberry wood & paint

Fade so Fast by Andy Moerlein, ceramic, wood, paint

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RECENT NEWS FROM THE MYTH MAKERS:

In April we created the Wildwood Phoenix in Harrisburg Pennsylvania:

In May we moved The Avian Avatars from Muskegon Michigan to Louisiana to join Sculpture for New Orleans:

In June, we built The Dance of the Sandhill Crane at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau Wisconsin:

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Save the Date:

Donna Dodson: Zodiac

Andy Moerlein: Geology

Concurrent Solo Shows at the Boston Sculptors Gallery

September 7th-October 9th 2016

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Coming Soon!

October-November 2016:

The Myth Makers will be Artists in Residence at the Academy Art Museum in Easton Maryland!

February News

“The Chinese Zodiac Series” by Donna Dodson

Curated by Cathryn Griffith, The St. Botolph Club

  199 Commonwealth Ave, Boston: 617-536-7570 

Exhibition Dates: February 24^th-March 25^th 2016

Opening Reception: Wednesday, February 24^th 5:30p-7p

Installation of "Zodiac" by Donna Dodson at the St. Botolph Club in Boston

"The signs of the Zodiac are Karmic Patterns; the Planets are the Looms; the Will is the Weaver." 
-Edgar Cayce

In Donna Dodson’s premiere show at The St. Botolph’s Club, she brings together her signature vocabulary of animal headed mythological figures with her favorite material- wood. Dodson has created a new body of work called The Chinese Zodiac for this exhibition. This references the twelve animals that are associated with the ancient system of belief in China. Unlike the Western zodiac, where each sign is associated with the month a person was born, the Eastern zodiac is based on birth years from the beginning of time to the present day. A different animal is associated with each year and its attributes characterize that year. The order of the animals is fixed and repeats every 12 years. With the exception of Ai Wei Wei’s “Circle of Animals: Zodiac Heads,” a large scale bronze public art installation that toured the world, the Chinese zodiac has not been revisited by contemporary artists.

 

Historically artists such as Audubon, Bernini and Hokusai have brought realistic images of animals to life with stylizations that resist anthropomorphism. But in Dodson’s work, she sees the animal head and body language of her figures as representations of certain personality types that evoke larger than life characters. The animal symbols in the zodiac seek to explain personal fortune and global events based on animal characteristics and their larger conceptual influences on human nature. There are twelve animals in the Chinese Zodiac: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit/hare, dragon, snake, horse, goat/sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig/boar. The fact that Dodson’s animal heads are attached to human bodies, reveals her vision of inner resonance and outer force of will that the Chinese Zodiac implies.

 

Update: Holly Camero featured Andy Moerlein and I on Wicked local. We are the talk of the town. Denishe also featured us on her blog, The Maynard Grapevine. Art New England interviewed Andy Moerlein and I about our recent trip to China on behalf of the Boston Sculptors Gallery (see below).

Boston Sculptors Gallery starts the New Year with a visit to China

Boston Sculptors Gallery members Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein along with Carole Feuerman of the Carole A. Feuerman Sculpture Foundation  and Michael Manjarris representing Sculpture for New Orleans,  were invited by Gertrud   Aeschlimann of Art-st-Urban to attend the Changchun World Sculpture Park Conference held in Changchun China from January 10th to January 12th 2016 and to participate in the first preliminary meeting of the International Sculpture Park Union. All three organizations became members of the Union.

During the conference, representatives of the new member organizations visited the Changchun World Sculpture Park – the largest sculpture park in the world with a work of art from every country. Dodson and Moerlein gave a presentation on the Boston Sculptors Gallery’s recent public art projects: highlighting the unique ways this cooperative gallery has initiated major public art projects in both public, urban and private historic settings. Likewise, Carole Feuerman presented information about the International Sculpture Center and the Carole Feuerman Foundation highlighting the latter's recent international group exhibition "Mixing Medias." Michael Manjarris discussed the objectives and outcomes of his large scale public art project, "Sculpture for New Orleans." Gary Garrido Schneider from Grounds for Sculpture highlighted the recent initiatives they are undertaking to address cultural tourism, and Charles Haude from the J Seward Johnson Foundation featured images of their recent monumental installations. Each new member organization presented the challenges they are facing and proposed new solutions that can be realized by working together in the ISPU.

 

Part of the conference was the adoption of the International Sculpture Park Union constitution, as well as the elected leadership of the Union. The first Sculpture Park Union president Chinese Wang Mingshan (Changchun World Sculpture Park curator) handed over the union leadership to Gertrud Aeschlimann, representing the Art-St-Urban Sculpture Park in Lucerne, Switzerland, while the Union's Secretary General was elected to the Chinese representative Wang Xuezhan.

 

The International Sculpture Park Union was founded in 2014, on September 4th in Changchun, China. The founding document was signed by 5 sculpture parks: Changchun WorldSculpture Park (People's Republic), Art-St-Urban (Switzerland), Beddington Art Galleries & Gardens (France), Chianti Sculpture Park (Italy), Pedvāle Open-Air Art Museum (Latvia).

Grounds for Sculpture, represented by Gary Garrido Schenider, Sculpture for New Orleans, represented by Michael Manjarris, The Carole Feuerman Foundation, represented by Carole Feuerman, The J Seward Johnson Atelier, represented by Charles Haude and The Juming Museum in Taiwan, represented by Dr. Shun-Ling Wu, were sworn in as the newest members of the ISPU alongside the Boston Sculptors Gallery represented by Dodson and Moerlein during this ISPU conference.

 

The International Sculpture Park Union's objectives are to:

* To promote and facilitate cooperation between the private and public organizations which share common objectives with the association so that they can effectively cooperate in the global, national and regional level to discuss common problems and search for solutions;

* To strengthen the friendly cooperation and mobility between sculpture parks around the world to promote their development;

* To promote the exchange of information;

* To encourage and promote the creation of different studies aimed at improving communication and cooperation between sculpture parks.

The main union activities are exhibitions exchange, exchange of information and the association's promotion of seminars and conferences to share experiences sculpture park management and marketing, as well as share practical and theoretical experience with countries wishing to build a sculpture park.