Are you someone who constantly runs out of things to do despite always wanting to bask in the heat of summer activities? One recommendation would be to visit the exhibition, “PRIED,” which displays extraordinary, thought-provoking art pieces made by 40 LGBTQI+ artists around the New England area.
The show runs through June 30 at Boston’s Society of Arts + Crafts. Together, the art pieces create an ambiance of celebration that drives home this certain narrative: individuality within the context of self-image.
Executive Director Brigitte Martin says it best, telling The Rainbow Times: “The artists in this exhibition offer unique perspectives on the objects and ideas we encounter every day. [Curators] Izzy [Berdan], Dave [J. Bermingham], and the Boston LBGTQI+ Artist Alliance have developed an exhibition that starts with the idea of queer craft but ultimately speaks to everyone.”
Reports The Rainbow Times:
“PRIED” aims to challenge the notion of “queer craft,” recognizing works that don’t focus solely on the makers’ sexual identity, but instead show how these artists wrestle with broader social issues and their places in the world. The title suggests both the annual celebration of the gay community’s achievements and the idea of delving uninvited into someone’s personal affairs.
“Each June, Pride Month is embraced as a means of release, hedonism, and validation,” Bermingham says, “but for many queer, trans, and non-binary persons, it is instead an opportunity to question notions of queerness, community, and sexuality, as well as our place in the public and private realms of our respective societies.
The exhibition features work by artists in almost all areas of craft making, from textiles and pottery to woodworking, furniture, jewelry making, and more. Highlighted artists include:
Vivian Beer—an award-winning, New England-based furniture maker who creates sleek and striking pieces, including benches and chairs;
Larry Buller—a mixed-media and ceramics artist whose work touches on transgressive themes surrounding masculinity;
Arthur Halvorsen—a ceramics artist working out of Mudflat Studios in Somerville, Mass., who creates large, lavishly vibrant pottery pieces;
Brian Kenny—a multidisciplinary artist working in murals, textiles, video and performance, who will create an in-gallery mural for the show; and
Matt Lambert—a jewelry and metal artist from Detroit, Mich., whose work questions traditional approaches to jewelry and adornment.
The Society of Arts + Crafts is located at 100 Pier 4 Blvd., 2nd floor (entrance on Seaport Ave.). Gallery hours are Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Thu 10 a.m.-9 p.m., and Sun 11 a.m.-5 p.m.. Closed Mon. For more details, visit societyofcrafts.org or call 617-266-1810.
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