Artist Feature: Mary Hughes

Mary Hughes

Artist Feature

Having studied fine art and painting in both the US and France, our featured artist, Mary Hughes, has a diversified and stylistic approach to abstract painting.  Drawing much of her inspiration from previous travels, her images are representational of the distinct characteristics and emotions that she experienced during integral moments of her journeys.  

On a recent trip to Ireland, Hughes was fascinated with the hand-laid rock walls that divided the sprawling hills and pastures of the landscape.   She was able to translate the essence of the rock walls into abstract paintings of linear forms and shapes.  The layering of paint symbolized the layers of history of which the rock walls represented.  Each stone had the presence of human life and the labor and placement of each stone was a primary accessory to the cohesive composition of the landscape.  

“The sense of history contained in these walls caught my imagination and I found myself “building” walls in paint.”

The transition of lines and shapes moving across the canvas interpret the rock walls linear organization of the Irish countryside.  The linear translation represents the passing of time, flattened.

As Mary has moved forward in her painting career, her works stray from the literal translation of natures elements and evolve into her own organic free flowing forms and patterns.  However, she still draws some motivation from interesting and unrefined patterns from her surrounding environment.   She interprets the movement of flowing streams and the growth of tree branches into abstract shapes, lines and patterns that convey images of direction. 

“The paintings are now more abstract and less uniform while retaining reference to their original inspiration. Formal issues are explored through unexpected color juxtapositions, repetition and transparency that retain a link to the natural world. “

Mary first joined the Copley Society of Art in April of 2007.  A resident of Boston, Mary received a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Boston University and a MFA from Massachusetts College of Art.  She also studied and attended studio art and language courses at the Lacoste School of Art in France.   She currently serves as a faculty member of the Department of Visual Arts at Northeastern University, where she teaches a variety of courses including 2D Design and Drawing and Painting.  

Over her career history as a painter, Mary has been featured in a variety of articles and publications including: Art New England, The Boston Globe, The New Bedford Standard Times, and Fenway News.

Mary recently led the CoSo Circle's annual "So You Think You Can Paint?" event, at which a Copley artist member presents their work and then guides the participants in creating art of their own.

We are sad to report that Davis John Caroll Jr., a native New England contemporary artist, passed away on February 22, 2011. The artist had recently been accepted as a new member at the Copley Society of Art, with his work Cook Street, Provincetown included in the New Members’ Show: 2011. Yet this was not the first time Carroll had submitted his work to the gallery, for he had been an artist at Copley 40 years prior. After graduating from the Massachusetts College of Art, Carroll developed his style through his work with advertising firms in the Boston and Cambridge area.  By 1969, the artist resigned from the art directorial position he had held to pursue his personal artistic interests. In addition to the Copley Society of Art, Carroll was also a member of the New England Watercolor Society, the American Watercolor Society, and the Boston Watercolor Society. 

Cook Street, Provincetown , acrylic, 27 x 37

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Carroll experimented with materials to perfect his personal innovative techniques, which included painting in watercolor on rice paper, and in oil on silk. In addition to painting, Carroll created lithographs, silk screens, and often employed the flourishes of calligraphy. At times, his serigraph and silkscreen styles made the paintings appear to be three dimensional. Common themes running  through his work are flowers, clipper ships, local neighborhoods, antiques, and other representations of regional New England culture.  Carroll was held in high esteem by his peers and his works were warmly received throughout the New England area, as well as in exhibitions in Florida. 

Commissions from the Strathmore Paper Company, the Hutschenreuther China Company, Germany, the American Horticultural Society, The Franklin Mont and multiple galleries speak to Carroll’s achievements as an artist. Carroll also worked as a teacher in Natick, and after moving to Boston, became a member of St. Ceceilia’s Church and an advocate for the Campaign for Human Rights and the AIDS Action Committee.  Carroll's son, John Davis Carroll, has also chosen an artistic career path. You can see his work at http://johndaviscarroll.com

A memorial service for Davis Carroll will be held in June. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to:

 The AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts

75 Amory Street,

Boston MA, 02119

The Co|So Circle

For many young professionals, the world of fine arts has been intimidating, even unapproachable, and the process of understanding, assessing, and collecting fine art has proved elusive. Yet, many of these individuals are intrigued by the art world and want to learn more - from gaining knowledge regarding the formal aspects of a work of art, to interacting and engaging with the artists themselves through exhibitions and events, to beginning to understand the process of becoming young collectors themselves.

In 2005, Danielle Boudreau founded the Co|So Circle, a collection of young professionals dedicated to promoting the understanding of fine art and art collecting in the Boston area. Boudreau graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Art History from Providence College, went on to earn her MBA degree in 2005 from Babson College, and later became a member of the Young Women’s Advisory Board, attending events such as the Massachusetts Conference for Women. Her work with New Profit Inc., a Boston based venture philanthropy firm, gave her further experience in understanding how to create and sustain a vibrant, community-oriented organization.

The Circle is composed of young professionals in their mid twenties to late thirties, burgeoning in their personal careers, seeking to be involved in the local art world through affiliation with Copley Society of Art. The Copley Society of Art acts as a mentor and cornerstone for the Circle, providing support and a framework for the Circle’s activities. Not coincidentally, many members of the Circle Board of Advisors are also patrons of the Copley Society of Art.

 CoSo Circle members at 2008 Art Tasting

In 2006, the Circle established a scholarship to be awarded to promising young Copley artists, further encouraging the strength of relationships between local artists and their surrounding community. The Circle also works in conjunction with Fresh Paint, Copley's annual springtime fund raising event. During the event, Copley artists set up their easels in various locations around the city – from the Back Bay, to the Fens, to Jamaica Pond, to the Boston Public Library - to capture moments and scenes of Boston. These paintings are then immediately framed and displayed in a week long show, culminating in an auction of those works. The Circle also hosts numerous other events throughout the year, such as Art Tastings, tours of Boston-area collections, workshops, and more.

Most recently, the Circle hosted a special event for its members at the Museum of Fine Arts - a tour in which the participants were led around the new Art of the America's Wing by two of the museum’s leading docents. The recently opened wing showcases more than 5,000 works of art produced in North, Central, and South America over the course of three millennium.

Next up for the Circle is the annual "So You Think You Can Paint!" event, in which Circle members convene at the Copley gallery for cocktails and a painting lesson by a Copley artists member. This year, Mary Hughes will lead the lesson. (March 23rd)

Interested in becoming a Co|So Circle member? Learn more about the Co|So Circle at the Copley Society of Art website.

Artist Exchange: Laurene Krasny Brown

At the Fine Arts Work Center Residency event held on February 16 at the Copley Society of Art, fine and applied paper artist Laurene Krasny Brown spoke of her recent artist residency at the Apothiki Art Center in Paros Cyclades, Greece. The residency lasted for six weeks, and was funded by the Leighton International Artists Exchange Program, a project of the Kansas Artists Coalition. 

Street Outisde Apotheki Studio

Krasny Brown immersed herself in the culture, allowing Greek life and history to find its role in her art. She states: “When you travel, for me, your attention is always heightened. You see more, you hear more. And it is so hard to sustain that in everyday life, that attentiveness. The idea that I could have that sensitivity and use it and just be able to focus on my work and sort of part the waters of my life for a bit and not have a lot of other life responsibilities and be able to do this work – it seemed to me such a luxury and such an opportunity.”

In Greek, the work apothiki roughly translates to the ‘storage of precious things.’ Even before arriving in Greece, Krasny Brown began working with this theme, preparing a series of lithographic monoprints of ancient Greek amphorae to amend while she was there. The paper piece Amphora Archaeology was created as response to the experience of viewing ancient Greek pottery in the museum with the pieced-together shards. 

Amphora Archaeology

In addition to sacred and venerated vessels, Krasny Brown also turned her interest to working with common vernacular objects. “Once I got to Athens I was not only thinking about the storage of precious things, but I also started thinking of the storage of not so precious things… coffee filters, tea bags, endless, endless things.” Paper Bags Clothesline is a set of six blue plastic bags, flattened out nicely, and hung upside down. She explains that “To me they were really beautiful …it’s the story of not so precious things.”

Plastic Bags Clothesline

In the past, Laurene Krasny Brown has worked as a children’s book author and illustrator, a developmental researcher, counselor, and teacher, but now the call to make fine art is her chosen passion, and she pursues it fervently. She finds inspiration from revered artists such as Matisse, Alexander Calder, and Sol Lewitt, in addition to recognizing artistic expression found in home-made goods, such as folk art, hooked rugs, or woven baskets. Visit her website, http://www.laurenekrasnybrown.com/, for more information on the artist. 


Clips from Krasny Brown's Artist Exchange talk can be seen here:



Laurene Krasny Brown: FAWC Artist Exchange Feb. 16, 2011 from Copley Society of Art on Vimeo.

Artist Exchange: James Kubiatowicz

“I use a very limited palette; it’s kind of a derivation of Zorn.” So said James Kubiatowicz at the Copley Society’s recent Artist Exchange, referencing Anders Zorn’s tendency to use only red, yellow, black, and white oil paint.

                         Carbonara, oil on canvas, 14 1/2 x 17 1/2

As seen above, Kubiatowicz’s works take on a certain elegance from the subdued hues of the restricted palette, though he doesn’t rigidly follow the Zorn formula. Joking around with the audience, speaking extemporaneously, the artist made it clear that “rigid” isn’t exactly an apt term for himself or his art. He was there to discuss his recent 30-day artist residency in Provincetown, which followed the decision of the Copley Society Art Committee to award him the Fine Arts Workshop Fellowship. Reminiscing about the experience, Kubiatowicz noted that “it’s the community of Provincetown, colorful, unique personalities,” that made his stay memorable. He also disclosed that of the 30 canvases he took with him, he completed 20, noting that although his subject matter didn’t change, he became looser in his painting, which can certainly be seen in the following work, one he submitted to the Copley Society’s 2010 Holiday Small Works show.

                                              The Gathering, oil on linen, 14 ½ x 12

Clips from Kubiatwicz’s talk can be seen here:

Laurene Krasny Brown spoke next, giving an overview of her artist residency in Paros, Greece. Check back with us on Friday for a description and video clips of her inspiring presentation!

Béatrice Dauge Kaufmann

“Her palette – and my reaction to it – struck me: I almost wanted to eat it. I felt like a kid staring at a cartoon of creamy colors at an ice cream stand, trying to decide which delicious ones to taste.”

 - Linda K. Pilgrim, ArtScope, 2009.

 

Inside You IV,  oil on canvas, 12 x 12

Beatrice Dauge Kaufmann, originally from Switzerland, paints works inspired by Northeastern seascapes with optimism, withholding the usual grey hues of skies and seas to make way for brilliant blues, deep shades of periwinkle, pastel oranges, and touches of white. Over and over again, Dauge comments that her color choices are simply what she sees. In the video ‘Bleu', which accompanied her 2007 Red Room exhibition by the same title at the Copley Society of Art, Dauge describes her color choices in capturing the Cape Cod region, Maine, and Boston landscapes. She states that, "I go to a place and capture the lights and the emotions that touch my soul," and she then uses those emotions as the driving forces for her color choices.

Dauge excels in the abstract format. The lack of formal structure allows her free experimentation with colors, forms, and textures. Dauge lets her feelings lead, challenging herself to push the colors until she lands on something striking. And then, as with a poem, a piece of music, or any form of art, Dauge takes a step back to evaluate, to see how the colors and forms interact to create the entire piece. One stipulation for her is that the eye must continually travel around the piece and should not get bored. Dauge experiments with texture and layering shapes to create spacial depth in her works. Each piece is left without a frame, for it is important for her that her pieces can “breathe and interact with the space around them."


Dauge feels intently that art is and will always be a part of life. She creates to express her feelings and to remain in contact with the emotions, both negative and positive, that color our world. In the end, what brings her meaning is “touching the soul and the imagination of those who see my work, making them think, dream or share in an emotion.”

Visit her website at http://www.beatricedauge.com/

Lynette Shaw

The Copley Society of Art is proud to exhibit the work of abstract expressionist painter Lynette Shaw in our New Members' Show 2011. Born in New York in 1956, Shaw holds degrees from the Academie des Beaus Arts in Paris and Tufts University, and a diploma in painting from the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts. Public collections of her work can be seen in more than 12 locations in and around Boston, such as the new location of Louis Boston on Fan Pier and the Federal Reserve Building. She has been exhibiting since 1980 in the greater New England area. We are pleased to have Lynette Shaw as one of our new members at the Copley Society of Art.



In her younger years, Shaw was smitten with Picasso, visiting and revisiting an exhibition of his work at the Museum of Modern Art with her mother. As Shaw describes in a video produced by Dan Driscoll, she knew that she was a painter by the time she entered the first grade. Process plays a dominant role in Shaw’s work, and she allows herself to be open to the difficulties and supposed ‘mistakes’ that happen along the creative way. While pouring buckets of paint over sprawling expanses of fabric unfurled upon a Nantucket beach, Shaw confesses that the beginnings of a painting can be quite difficult, but that once the process begins, that is when the ‘magic happens.’ Her advice to young artist rings true: be passionate, have faith in both your work and yourself, and remember that, as Shaw's mother always said, “Talent is nothing without hard work.”

Shaw was recently featured in the Winter 2011 edition of Boston Home. The magazine's article The Rescuers focuses not on Shaw’s expansive canvases, but rather on her Federal-style carriage house and garage turned artist’s home and studio. The reconstruction processes included the relocation of floors, the addition of stairs, utilizing the preexisting stone foundations as wainscoting, and even importing a European fireplace to adorn the interior space of her new studio. Later, on the recommendation of Newton-based designer Susan Corson, modern elements of design were incorporated into the space by refurbishing various pieces of furniture and including several of Lynette’s own canvases in the design layout, creating fresh and striking spaces within the home’s traditional architectural framework

On display in the New Members’ Show is Shaw’s piece Midnight Dream, a large work on unstretched canvas. Shaw originally began her painting career working strictly with abstraction, but, as seen in this piece, began to incorporate a horizon line after spending time living in Nantucket. In this work, Shaw sets small areas of glimmering gold against a matte expanse of varying hues of grey, creating an energetic and engaging composition.

Come by and see Lynette Shaw's work exhibited in the New Members' Show here at the Copley Society of Art! The show will run through February 25th, 2011.

Visit her website at http://www.lynetteshaw.com/