STITCH: Syntax / Action / Reaction
February 16 – March 24, 2018
OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, February 16, 6-8 PM
Panel Discussion, Moderated by Trevor Smith of PEM: Saturday, March 3, 2 PM
SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS
All events are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. Download the pdf here.
February 20, 21, 22 & 23 // 10 AM-6 PM: Needle Drawings by Samantha Bates
For Samantha Bates’ STITCH residency she will form small needle drawings carrying the works to and beyond their structural integrity and capacity to bow. In the gallery she will continue to erode Attrition.
Tuesday, February 20 // 4-6 PM: “Broadsides, 70 out of 454, 1788” by Destiny Palmer
In this interactive performance, artist Destiny Palmer will cut, sew, and discuss the history of broadsides and quilting while working on her piece “Broadsides, 70 out of 454, 1788”.
Wednesday, February 21 // 2-6 PM: “Should/Shouldn’t” by Merill Comeau
In conjunction with Foundational Garments Merill Comeau will be interviewing gallery visitors about messages they received from their family of origin about what was the appropriate behavior for their biological gender. These collected messages may be used by Comeau in the future either in audio form or embroidered as text on works of art exploring the tension between what family elders want to impart and what offspring want to become.
Friday, February 23 // 10:30 AM-1:30 PM: Michelle Lougee working in the gallery
Michelle Lougee will be in the gallery creating new work with found plastic bags.
Friday, February 23 // 4-6 PM: “Under Primping” by Samantha Fields
“Under Primping” is a performative installation, it lives as a relic/site when not activated. The activation/performance consists of people working/laboring over a petticoat sculpture while being read to from a library of selected books consisting of texts written by women discussing art, studio practice, feminist theory, queer theory, race, and a history of handwork. The public is welcome to sit with their own handwork and listen, or just observe.
Saturday, February 24 // 12-4 PM: “A Woman’s Work Is Never Done” by Merill Comeau
As part of Women’s Work is Never Done, an installation of hand sewn clothing elements, Merill Comeau will be in the gallery teaching herself more methods of stitching and fabric manipulation. As she teaches herself new skills she will ponder and discuss with visitors contemporary and historical roles of the maker/wearer, women’s work, craft, hobby, and plying a trade.
Tuesday, February 27 // 4-6 PM: “Broadsides, 70 out of 454, 1788” by Destiny Palmer (see February 20)
February 28 & March 1 // 12-4 PM: “Our Lady of Good Voyage” by Maria Molteni
Using as many bricks as she is able to, Maria Molteni will work with them in the New Art Center as one stage of a long-term project to arrange bricks as protective talismans, stacked to mark future urban tide levels in Boston. Molteni will clean them, chipping off any mortar that is still attached, then calling upon past iterations of Haint Blue/Revolving Spectrum investigations, by which a hand-mixed blue paint is applied to architectural motifs for spiritual protection, she will paint the bricks various shades of blue. The final step in the process will be stitching the bricks together with rope into more porous and organic arrangements that mimic waves or softer net-like structures.
February 28, March 1, 2 & 3// 12-6 PM: “Uniforms” by Victoria Marsh
Victoria Marsh will be working on a project to embroider the animal-ladies on her husband’s Merchant Marine coveralls that he wears when working on large ships. The suits have burn holes and tears in them from hard use, all of which will be mended with the embroidery. Marsh will wear a uniform while working on the project and once completed her husband will wear one on the ship while working, blurring traditional gender lines.
Friday, March 2 // 12-2 PM: “stripped text, read aloud” performance by Judith Leemann
Judith Leemann will read aloud in the gallery from texts gathered around the themes of the exhibition. The reading aloud will be live-streamed.
Saturday, March 3 // 2-4 PM: Panel Discussion moderated by Trevor Smith
Join us for a conversation with STITCH artists and panel moderator Trevor Smith, Curator of the Present Tense at the Peabody Essex Museum.
Wednesday, March 7 // 2-6 PM: “Should/Shouldn’t” by Merill Comeau (see February 21)
Friday, March 9 // 4-6 PM: “Under Primping” by Samantha Fields (see February 23)
Friday, March 9 // 12-3 PM: Michelle Lougee working in the gallery (see February 23)
Saturday, March 10 // 12-4 PM: “A Woman’s Work Is Never Done” by Merill Comeau (see February 24)
Tuesday, March 13 // 4-6 PM: “Broadsides, 70 out of 454, 1788” by Destiny Palmer (see February 20)
Friday, March 16 // 4-6 PM: “Under Primping” by Samantha Fields (see February 23)
Saturday, March 17 // 12-1 PM: Meditation Workshop with Angela U. Drakeford ($15) (see February 17)
Saturday, March 17 // 1-4 PM: Crocheted Mandala with Michelle Lougee ($15)
Join exhibiting artist Michelle Lougee in creating a plastic wish for the universe. Lougee uses repurposed plastic to create organic forms which emphasize ever present plastic in our culture. Using “plarn” (ie: plastic yarn), participants will create a colorful plastic mandala to represent the cosmos. All materials provided. Register at www.newartcenter.org
This program is sponsored in part by JP Knit & Stitch, who will teach participants the basics of crocheting if they do not yet know how. JP Knit & Stitch is a yarn + fabric shop with a community soul located in the heart of Jamaica Plain, MA, offering a carefully selected range of yarn , fabric, and notions, along with monthly knitting, sewing, embroidery, crochet classes. Learn more about them at http://jpknitandstitch.com/
Tuesday, March 20 // 4-6 PM: “Broadsides, 70 out of 454, 1788” by Destiny Palmer (see February 20)
Wednesday, March 21 // 2-6 PM: “Should/Shouldn’t” by Merill Comeau (see February 21)
Friday, March 23 // 4-6 PM: “Under Primping” by Samantha Fields (see February 23)
Download the PDF here: STITCH_Events Flyer