Friday, August 31, 2007

Secrets that Bind



Artist Cathy McLaurin from Lawrence, Mass., is breaking new ground with her art as she reaches out to others while maintaining an artist's focus on the visual. I first met Cathy when she was bringing her "Secrets" installation to North Carolina. Check it out at http://www.cathymclaurin.com/SecretsMain.html Since then Cathy has related to me some of the provocative responses it has created. While there are other artists working in similar direction, Cathy's works maintains a raw honesty that comes from a place of caring. Cathy has recently conducted a residency in Texas where she worked with teenage single mothers. I look forward to seeing more on this project when it is posted on her site.

If you live in the Boston area be sure to catch her current show, Swaddled Babies and Dead AnimalsSeptember 15 – October 12, 2007, Opening Reception: Saturday September 15, 3-6pm
250 Canal Street, Lawrence, MALocated in Washington Mills, 4th floor Gallery hours: Fridays September 21–October 12 10-3Additional hours by appointment: 978-387-2947

Doing good in the UK

Have you heard of Banksy or the Date Farmers? These hot contemporary artists exhibit at Leonard Street Gallery in London, run apparently by a company called Novas Group Homes. This company sounds to good to be true. Check them out at www.novas.org. From their website: "The Novas Group was established in 1998 and over the last three years the organisation has transformed itself from predominately a provider of large hostels for homeless people to be at the cutting edge of tackling social disadvantage through social enterprise, innovation and positive impact. " I've been told that they donate their gallery sales commission (50%) back to their non-profit projects. This company deserves a closer study. What a template for doing good while doing business in the USA.

Welcome

Welcome to this bog on art and activism. Be prepared to be challenged and provoked as the definition of art and community involvement are stretched and mutated into new forms-some worthwhile and others elegant mistakes.