Discover the art of Jaeok Lee whose three-dimensional practice is deeply influenced by the Korean folk art, traditions, and rituals that she grew up surrounded by. Kaffee Kang's work is firmly rooted in concepts of identity, such as gender roles, minority status, the immigrant mentality, the political divide, aging, and body image.
Imagine you lived in Victorian era Concord and you heard a knock on the door. Grasping the door’s handle, you open it and see a hopeful suitor standing on the granite doorstep, handing you a small bouquet with a red rose in the center and tied with a piece of lace. If you reached out with your right hand, took the bouquet, and pressed it to your heart, it meant you were saying “Yes, I accept your affections!” If you took the nosegay and held it upside down by your side it meant, “I’ll keep the flowers, but it’s a hard ‘no’ from me and you can move along.” And if you took the nosegay, admired it, and both the flower and you instantly started shriveling and disintegrating into dust, it meant you were likely a character in a Nathaniel Hawthorne story.
Outdoor exploration is a fabulous means to slowly emerge from our strange, long year of hibernation. What better way to enliven ourselves than to view art in nature. Both have an extreme impact on our happiness index.
The Go Out Doors project was initiated by The Umbrella Arts Center in 2020 with the goal of bringing art to public spaces and answering the questions: What happens if you open the door and step outside? What happens if the opportunity to engage presents itself? What might we discover if, on foot or wheel, we find ourselves on a path through the woods – hidden from the roads we travel daily?
As summer arrives in Concord, we are delighted to see many of our town’s extraordinary art venues continuing their online programs and adding live events as national, state, and local governments issue updated guidance on safely coming together during COVID-19. This summer will bring exciting visual arts programs, a concert, and even live theatre once again.
As part of the exhibition, Every Path Laid Open: Women of Concord and the Quest for Equality, the Concord Museum is hosting a film series called Summer Under the Stars, a celebration of movies made by and about women. The films will address historical and contemporary issues of women’s rights, reform, and activism, celebrating female heroes - the fictional, historical, and super. The series kicks off on Thursday, June 10 at 8:15 p.m. with the 2019 film adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel, Little Women. On the eve of Juneteenth, to celebrate and continue the conversation raised by Harriet Tubman’s heroic efforts to free enslaved people through the underground railroad, the Museum will host Harriet (Thursday, June 17 at 8:15 p.m.). Two additional films will be scheduled for later in the summer.
Spring is an awakening of Nature…along with arguments! Buds, birds, insects, plants, amphibians, and animals gather energy and burst forth. Arrivals from the South are seen each day. Color brightens and the chatter of birds, insects, and animals is heard as they say “That is mine!”
As we move into spring, many of Concord’s beloved cultural institutions are presenting new and exciting exhibitions, performances, and more. Some are live, others online. All celebrate the talent, vision, and creativity of Concord’s artistic community. Join them in welcoming spring!
Meet artists Ray Ciemny and Lynne D. Klemmer. In his free time, Ray loves turning discarded and unused metal into stunning works of art for homes and gardens. In her latest series, titled Redux, Lynne weaves Inuit, Aboriginal, and American folk-art references throughout her paintings.
There’s no stopping love. World-wide pandemic or not, we are living love with our family, friends, and community. We are taking care of ourselves and helping others in whatever ways that we can. We might be staying local and keeping six feet apart, but we’re grabbing those lemons, making lemonade, and embracing the surprising sweetnesses of this time.
