Tuesday, August 30, 2016

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.  

77 Main Street
Maynard, MA 01754
978-897-3825
info@6bridgesgallery.com

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

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, 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