Suddenly, it feels like summer! As "Accumulations," the late-summer show of my year's work as artist in residence approaches, I wanted to take this time to remind the Concord community about a group-sourced artist's book I will be binding as a part of the exhibit. The editioned book, entitled "Hold," will contain transfer prints of black and white sketches of empty... Keep Reading »
The Umbrella Blog
April 27, 2016 by Miranda
-written by The Umbrella's 2015-2016 Artist-in-Residence, Sarah FaganIt's Earth Month at the Umbrella. As a nod to the gallery's current Mother Earth-revering show entitled "It's About Time," I write about just that.In the late fall, it is hard to watch daylight slip away. Days shorten at a seemingly alarming rate, taking me off guard year after year. And turning back the... Keep Reading »
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April 20, 2016 by Laura
Mary Curtin: Arranging Entertainment for the Earth Day ParadeWritten by Dan KempConcord, MA (April 2015) - Mary Curtin began her journey to Musketaquid Arts & Environment’s Earth Day as a Cyclops. A young Emerson graduate with a background in traditional theater, she was walking down Newbury Street in Boston and noticed a sign for a puppet production of The... Keep Reading »
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April 2, 2016 by Laura
"Politicians don't bring people together. Artists do."–Richard Daley, Former Mayor of ChicagoGreat places depend on their artists in order to thrive.Communities around the world are facing critical challenges that require creative ideas and solutions. From income equality to healthcare to education, all challenges could use an artist’s mind, a creative question or a... Keep Reading »
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March 28, 2016 by Miranda
-written by The Umbrella's 2015-2106 Artist-in-Residence, Sarah FaganLast week, I gave my second community presentation as Artist In Residence at the Umbrella. I shared some of my favorite contemporary artists working in the trend of archiving and cataloguing -- artists that make use of found daily objects, detritus, or other "readymades" such as sounds, memories, or... Keep Reading »
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March 14, 2016 by Laura
Development Intern from Lesley University - Emily LairdBy Alice Lesch KellyAlice is a writer in Newton who specializes in health and the arts. Her website is alicekelly.net. *Update: Emily is now working as a staff member in The Umbrella's Development office! Visitors to The Umbrella experience a dazzling array of artistic expression. But what... Keep Reading »
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March 2, 2016 by Laura
-written by Saran Fagan,2015-2016 Artist-in-Residence"All art is quite useless." Thus states playwright Oscar Wilde in the introduction to his sole novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray. I tend to agree.Perhaps a gentler way to put it is to quote one of Concord's own, Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Beauty is its own excuse for being." There can be pressure on... Keep Reading »
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January 28, 2016 by Miranda
-written by Saran Fagan, the 2015-2016 Artist-in-ResidenceA logic problem I first heard in grade school has jumped to the forefront of my mind upon changes and revelations in the decades since. Allow me to share the problem as I remember it:"A farmer dies. He has left 17 sheep to be divided a certain way amongst his three sons. One half are to go to his eldest son, one... Keep Reading »
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December 28, 2015 by Miranda
Throughout the summer and fall, the community of Miranda's Hearth built a tiny house on The Umbrella's front lawn as a public art project. The exterior of the house was finished on November 21, 2015 and is documented in a two minute timelapse video, shown below. It took nearly 800 hours, spread out over 34 weekends days with 3-4 volunteers per day to build the... Keep Reading »
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December 23, 2015 by Miranda
written by Sarah Fagan,2015-2016 Artist-in-ResidenceWith winter upon us, one of my favorite outdoor activities enters an off season: mushroom hunting. Mushrooms are quite extraordinary beings. They are more closely related to animals than plants. Some are choice eating, and fetch high market prices. Mushrooms are powerful, and can kill and heal alike. They are... Keep Reading »
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