Through New Eyes Exhibition

An Exhibit of Original Artwork inspired by the collection of the Andover Center for Art and Culture. March 9 through April 20, 2024

I was asked to produce a piece for this exhibition and to look at the collection and choose an item that inspired me.

As part of this challenge to find inspiration for my piece, I settled on two objects in the Andover Center for History and Culture’s collection.  The first was a pair of boots by the fire place and the second was the Plaid Maternity Dress. Both were clothing and therefore had a sense of lived in presence revealed in their

worn condition.  I chose the Plaid Maternity Dress, because it is a timeless design with strong formal elements that is both practical and meant to

reveal a certain beauty during pregnancy in its over-all shape. It appears to be symmetrical but has great variation in the pattern where the clothing folds and fits the body. For example, the buttons are along the center cut of the dress, but the pattern on either side of the buttons is not symmetrical. The dress patterns change when elements like the sleaves meet the shoulders and continue to change with any movement and overlap. The dress’s three dimensions provide a foreshortened or flattened affect depending on the viewpoint.

I also felt free to intensify colors and change the orientation of various elements in order to embolden the patterns, to move away from the clothing reference, and to connect the viewer with the abstract patterns and color interplay.  The shift in my interpretation to bright and vibrant colors, are meant to evoke excitement and energy.

I believe this piece engages the viewer in the beauty of repetition, color, permutation and serendipity. What do you think? Please share your thoughts and feelings about the piece..... and if you have a chance take a look at the piece and exhibit at the Andover Center for History and Culture, 97 Main St, Andover, MA 01810. Hours of operation, Wednesday through Saturday 10AM to 4 PM. 978-475-2236