Thursday, October 6, 2016

Autumn News

Now on view:
Feature Creatures: On the Loose from the Permanent Collection


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.  

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)






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.





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