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Commentary Robert Whitcomb Commentary Robert Whitcomb

'Cosmic center'

stupa
''Fountainhead Stupa''  (assemblage), by DANIEL STUPAR, in his show at Cade Tompkins Projects, Providence, through March 7.
The gallery says:
"Daniel Stupar’s  recent work is inspired by the metaphysical concepts associated with axis mundi or cosmic center. In this construct an axis mundi is both a physical and spiritual marker of sorts, designating a point as geographic center of earth as well as a kind of column suggesting transcendence. While axis mundi is typically associated with Hinduism, all cultures throughout history have shared in the mythology. Newari stupa architecture, East Asian pagodas, Muslim minarets, the spires of Catholic cathedrals, May poles and totem poles all serve as types of axis mundi. In the secular world one can think of skyscrapers, lighthouses, copulas even the Washington monument and perhaps most poignant of these, the two beams of light pointed skyward from Ground Zero'' {in Lower Manhattan}.
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Commentary Robert Whitcomb Commentary Robert Whitcomb

River makes up in beauty what it lacks in miles

friese  

"September on the Lieutenant River'' {in Connecticut} (watercolor mounted on linen), by NANCY FRIESE, in her show "Encircling Trees and Radiant Skies,''  through May 3 at the Newport Art Museum, represented by Cade Tompkins Projects.

Gorgeous, but at this time of the year we'd prefer to visualize May on the Lieutenant River. That's even though September is perhaps consistently the prettiest month in these parts.

The Lieutenant River, best known as a venue for painters and photographers, is a 3.7-mile-long  tidal river in Old Lyme, Conn. It joins the Connecticut River in the estuary, just above the point where that river flows into Long Island Sound. This is a gorgeous part of the Nutmeg State. I'm surprised  that the hedge funders haven't bought much of it yet.

-- Robert Whitcomb

 

 

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Commentary Robert Whitcomb Commentary Robert Whitcomb

William Allen's 'poem-paintings'

Rhody  

Some of the work of  WILLIAM ALLEN, in his "Here Today...'' show  at Cade Tompkins Projects, in Providence.

The gallery tells us that he ''has been working in the world of words and interpretation of visual language and literal language for the past three decades. Allen brings together his wide view of the meaning of words and bright colorful paint to create signs that remind the viewer of the relationship between words and images.  Bringing words to the forefront has been Allen’s longtime focus and fascination.''

In the package above, he  uses  words associated with Rhode Island. (Yes, we know that Cuttyhunk (Island) is in Massachusetts.)

The gallery calls  Mr. Allen's  work in the show ''poem-paintings.''

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art Robert Whitcomb art Robert Whitcomb

Coming in

perrone  

"Approach and Descent'' (drypoint on Japanese paper with hand drawing), by SERENA PERRONE,  announced to New England Diary by Cade Tompkins Projects, Providence, but in "The Big Picture Show''  of prints at the 1285 Avenue of the Americas Art Gallery, New York, through Dec. 5.

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Buffeted

guerra  

 

''to & fro'' (oil on panel, diptych), by ANA GUERRA, at Cade Tompkins Projects, Providence, through Oct. 25.

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Dazed on the coast

Bianco

"Later that Day at Second Beach'' (intaglio with chine colle, screenprint), by ALLISON BIANCO, in her show "The Baby Powder Trick'', at Cade Tompkins Projects, Providence, June 20-Aug. 2.

I saw some young mothers this morning taking their little kids swimming on one of our almost-officially-summer warm humid days. As I saw the kids scampering along, and the mothers following behind, already fatigued, the years peeled away and I was one of those kids seeing the summer spread out to beyond the horizon.

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Window on the web

snyder  

"MiddleWay 2014''  (flo-jet cut stainless steel), by DEAN SNYDER,  in his April 26-June 20 show at Cade Tompkins Projects, Providence.

 

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