|
"Self-Portraits: Inside and Out"
|
March
6 - March 26, 2005 |
This is our 2005 Women's Week exhibit. Intended as part of this
theme is the literal self-portrait, but also the art that is self-portrait
no matter what we intend, and the self-portrait of something inside
that is no less self than a face or arm. This is the 4th annual
juried exhibit. This
exhibit is funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council
through the Lowell Cultural Council.
Visit the "Self-Portraits"
web site for information about the artists and events that are part
of this show. Contact
Mandy Shear with questions or comments. Visit
past shows: 2004, 2003,
2002 |
| ESSENCE
OF CULTURE: An exhibition of cultural expression through performing,
visual and theater arts
- 2nd Annual Exhibition |
February
5 - 26, 2005 |
Ph2
Studio presents:
The Second Annual "Essence of Culture" exhibit. The show
this year is made of work that is the artist's interpretation of Ancestors
and Culture fatures a variety of artists of color from the Merrimack
Valley region and beyond.
Curators of the show are Rachel Bauman and Pam Goncalves.
The Artist Reception is February 5 from 4 to 8pm in the Ayer Lofts
Gallery.
|
| Ayer
Lofts Holiday members show |
November
27, 2004 - January 1, 2005 |
Come
by for gifts and collecting art. Jewelry, paintings, photographs,
and more. Regular hours: Thursday 6-9, Sat and Sun 1-4 or call/email
for appt: 978-970-3556/ayerloftsemail.
|
| Ayer
Lofts Group Show |
October/November 2004 |
The
latest work of our member artists was showcased in this fall salon. |
| With
and Without Words/ Con y Sin Palabras |
September/October
2004 |
This
show, curated by artist Raquel Bauman included works by artists who
use words within their painting, poems written in response to paintings
and paintings done in response to poems. Among the works was "Este
Instante" which, in the words of Bauman, "was created in
response to the last moment that I was able to cling to the belief
that unlike the rest of humans on the planet, I was safe on American
soil." An installation by Pamela Goncalves included a reconstructed
book with images and words or wisdom. Visitors were encouraged to
sit in a rocking chair, contemplate a message board with bits of wisdom
passed to on by ancestors and encouraged to jot down rememberances
passed on to them. |
| Small
Works for Small Spaces |
August
1 - 31, 2004 |
In conjunction
with the Lowell Quilt Festival, Ayer Lofts hosted this exhibit of
small format fiber work that goes beyond the popular conception of
"quilt" and featured more than two-dozen artists from around
the world.
Opening reception: August 5th, 6-8pm
Special Hours: Thursday through Sunday, 1-5pm
Curated by Maxine Farkas
Juried by Joan Loewenberg, Gay Tracy and Maxine Farkas
View list of
Artists |
| Summer
Salon |
July
3 - 25, 2004 |
A variety
of work from painting to photography will be on exhibit in the gallery
and halls to showcase resident artists' work. New resident Lizzie
Upitis (who hosts a meditation session in the gallery each week) will
be showing her fiber-art as part of our community for the first time. |
|
With Wings...this Self am I |
June
3 - June 27, 2004 |
Artists:
Meg Landers, Barbara Gagel and Karen Dimit
Media: Photography, print making and sculpture
Opening reception: June 5th from 4 -7 pm
Artists gallery talk and poetry reading: June 18th
at 7:30 pm
See preview: Barbara
Gagel (printmaking), Meg
Landers (photography), Karen
Dimit (sculpture)
Hours: Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm
and Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 9:00 pm
|
|
HOPE |
May
15 - May 31, 2004 |
Visiting
artist Kathleen Gordon displays her composition called "HOPE".
The piece is centered around the experience of Multiple Sclerosis
and the medical treatment for the disease. A colorful sunburst measuring
42 inches square comprising 708 glass syringes. Also showing are works
by resident artists at Ayer Lofts. |
| Doors
Open |
May
7, 2004 |
Doors
Open offers a look inside thirty of the
city's fabulous historic buildings, many not normally open to the
public, including Ayer Lofts. |
| Lowell
High School Annual Show |
April
26 - May 10 |
Students
from Lowell High School art department display work in a variety of
media. |
| HAKIM
RAQUIB: ICONS AND DREAMS, an Exhibit of Photography and Digital Prints |
April
3 - April 17, 2004 |
Resident
artist Hakim Raquib shares his collection of works inspired from images
captured in Asia, Africa, United States and Europe. |
| Mother?
Questioning our assumptions about mothers, mothering, and women |
February
26 - March 28, 2004 |
Ayer
Lofts Art Gallery marks Lowell
Women’s Week 2004 with an exhibit
that asks the question “Mother?”
This
exhibit is funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council
through the Lowell Cultural Council.
Visit the "Mother?" web site
for information about the artists and events that are part of this
show. Contact Mandy Shear
with questions or comments. Visit
last year's
show and the
year before that.
More
about this year's show:
- cover
story by John Terra in
the Encore magazine of the Nashua Telegraph
on 3/11/04;
- review,
"The
Artist's Eye" by John Greenwald in The Lowell Sun
on 3/21/04';
- Lifestyle
story, Local
art lovers turn out for 'Mother?' by Mary Sampas in
The Lowell Sun on 3/23/04
Thanks to everyone at the newspapers and radio stations, One Lowell,
Lowell Telecommunications, and other local organizations, and
especially the Lowell Cultural Council and the Lowell Women's
Week Committee for making this happen and helping us get the word
out!!
"Mother?" Exhibit Web Site
|
| ESSENCE
OF CULTURE: An exhibition of cultural expression through performing,
visual and theater arts |
February
1 - February 22, 2004 |
This
exhibition connects past to present and future cultural experiences.
It's intention is not only to share art, but to stimulate discussion
of social, political, historical, and artistic issues.
Opening Reception: Sunday, February 8, 3-5pm.
Movie Presentations and Discussions: In addition
to the work presented during the show, we will be showing a series
of movies, each followed by an opportunity for discussion, on Saturday
afternoons from 4-7pm in the gallery:
*February 7: Amistad
*February 14: Imitation of Life
*February 21: For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide
When the
Rainbow is Enuf
Closing reception, Sunday, February 22, 3-5pm.
This exhibition has been curated by resident artists Raquel Bauman
and Pamela Goncalves and sponsored in part by the Lowell Cultural
Council.
|
| Ayer
Lofts Group Show |
October
25, 2003 - January 1, 2004 |
The
latest work of our member artists is showcased in this fall salon,
including photography, painting, mixed-media, pottery, jewelry, and
fashion. There are some wonderful smaller objects and wearable art
that would make great gifts for the holidays. We'll be open during
our usual hours on Thursday evenings from 6-9 and Saturdays and Sundays
from 1-4pm. |
| Lobby
Exhibits |
Fall
2003 |
Currently
showing in our main lobby and 2nd and 3rd floor lobbies are shows
of work by Yari Levan, painter from Cambodia, paintings by Kathleen
Cammarata, as well as work by Pam Goncalves, Eleni Zohdi, Raquel Bauman,
and other resident artists. |
| Middlesex
Beat Open Studios |
October
25 and 26, 2003 |
Lowell
had over 50 artists participating and hundreds of visitors from Lowell,
New Hampshire towns, Boston, and beyond! The Ayer Lofts Gallery was
open during this county-wide event with a group show that will extend
into the winter. Six Ayer Lofts artists opened their studios to the
public. We all had a great time and appeciated the many visitors who
came to experience the work and the space, and to share their art
thoughts with us. See the Middlesex Beat's Open Studio listings (list
of participating artists) and the Cultural
Office of Lowell for details on which studios were open at Ayer
Lofts and elsewhere in Lowell. Some local artists showed their work
at Lowell area businesses and organizations as well. |
| ELENI
ZOHDI - solo show |
October
1-20, 2003 |
This
solo show by resident artist Eleni Zohdi showed off her work of the
last year - painting, sculpture, everyday objects, and high fashion. |
| RAQUEL
BAUMAN: De Colores |
September
11-24, 2003 |
The
work of resident artist Raquel Bauman was featured in this show along
with artists Pamela Goncalves, Pamela Wamala, and Eleni Zohdi. Bauman
creates colorful portraits and landscapes using tissue paper, paint,
and ink. Goncalves painting and sculpture is all about texture - wood,
paper, beads, shells. Wamala uses pastels to paint rich, sumptuous
landscapes and objects. Zohdi's paintings and multimedia work often
convey her homeland of Greece in their colors and textures. Please
come see our first show since the installation of our new front door! |
| AYER
LOFTS ARTISTS' SUMMER SALON |
Summer
2003 |
Work
by Ayer Loftians, including several artists who have joined us since
the last group salon, were on display this summer. Thanks to the hundreds
of visitors from around Massachusetts who came through the Gallery
during Lowell Folk Festival weekend (July 26/27). It was great to
have you here! |
| "Graphic
Expression" - Lowell Area Highschool Student Show |
May
15 - June 1, 2003 |
Lowell
area students were invited to submit drawings and other work for a
show at the Ayer Lofts Gallery curated by resident artist Kathleen
Taussig. We will be open Thursdays from 6-8:30pm, and Fridays, Saturdays
and Sundays from 1-4pm, or by appointment. The opening reception was
held May 15th, 6-8pm. Visitors remarked on the plethora of talent
and skill among the students at Lowell High and Lowell Greater Tech.
The gallery very much appreciates the students and their schools sharing
this work with us and the larger community. |
| Doors
Open Lowell |
May
9, 2003 |
Ayer
Lofts participated in the second annual Doors Open Lowell. This event
provided an inside look at thirty of Lowell's historic buildings.
The buildings, located through Lowell's historic district, were linked
together by theme and open to the public during Friday or Saturday,
May 9th and 10th. For
more information, contact the National Park Service or the Lowell
Historic Board at Lowell City Hall or visit http://www.doorsopenlowell.org. |
| Windows
and Doors: work by resident artists |
April
12 - May 9, 2003 |
Resident
artists all received the same instructions and parameters to make
work for this "Doors and Windows" show--follow the theme
in the title and use only one size and type of board. The result was
a mix of painting, drawing, and, mixed media that reflected literal
and metaphorical doors and windows by many of the resident artists
at Ayer Lofts as well as other artists in and around Lowell. Included
werre Eleni Zohdi, Amy Boger, Raquel Bauman, Jodi Hays Gresham, Michele
Auger, Pam Goncalves, Hakim Raqib, and many others. On display in
the lobby gallery were the panels of Kathleen Taussig, whose rich
explorations in color and material led the way into the main gallery.
Our intention was to manifest a new door that provides better public
access to the gallery than our current, indirect entry. A closing
reception was held in conjunction with "Doors Open Lowell"
on May 9 from 6-9pm. |
DAY
BY DAY: artwork inspired by the intimacies of the human family in
everyday life
(click title to see web site for show) |
February
16 - March 30, 2003 |
Ayer
Lofts Art Gallery and the Central Massachusetts Branch of the Women's
Caucus for Art co-sponsored this year's exhibit in celebration of
Lowell Women's Week 2003.
Each year for the past several years, we put together a show for
this city-wide event.
Visit the Day by Day web site for information
about the artists and events that are part of this show. Contact
Mandy Shear with questions
or comments. Visit
last year's show.
Also showing at Ayer Lofts in March:
In Le Petite Gallerie (outside the main gallery): Eleni
Zohdi’s “Nail Designs”
In the Lobby Gallery: “New Work by Resident Artists”
|
M.R.
TRUELSEN: The Laudario di Cortona
|
January
16 - February 2, 2003 |
M.
R. Truelsen's mixed media works were inspired by a 13th-century
medieval Italian songbook called "The Laudario" and by
the ancient and ongoing tradition of community singing in the Tuscan
hill town of Cortona. Her colorful pieces use paper bas relief,
drawing, collage, and relief printing in combination to suggest
the lively continuity of this singing tradition.
On
Sunday, February 2, a closing reception, open to the public, featured
the singing of Italian praise songs as well as American shape-note
tunes. |
| MICHAEL
ROGOVSKY: Before and After: The Aids Series,
mapping the devastation of a global epidemic |
December
2002 |
In
conjunction with World Aids Day, Ayer Lofts hosted an exhibit of powerful
portraits by Michael Rogovsky in the Lobby Gallery. The show's opening
was celebrated in concert with a reception for the Paper Prayers show
on December 1, 2002. |
| Paper
Prayers Exhibit |
November
1 - December 1, 2002 |
Ayer
Lofts hosted an exhibit of Paper Prayers to benefit the Boston Pediatric
AIDS Project. Closing Reception was held on December 1, 2002, from
1-4pm.
This exhibit was based on a Japanese tradition of offering decorated
strips of paper as a prayer for well-being which was borrowed several
years ago by the Howard Yezerski Gallery in Boston in conjunction
with World AIDS Day and has since grown to involve many regional art
galleries. Michele Auger and the Gallery Committee invited all, both
the public and local and regional artists, to participate by donating
handmade prayers prior to and throughout the exhibit, or by purchasing
prayers during the exhibit. This exhibit was entirely dependent on
donated Paper Prayers. We received prayers from many artists. It was
exciting to walk by new prayers each morning and see them already
taken by a visitor by the time we walked by again later in the day.
Thanks to all who participated. Your generous support of this event
had direct impact on its success. |
| FALL
SALON & HOLIDAY GIFT SHOW |
October
19 - January 31, 2002 |
The
Opening Reception will be held on October 19 from 11-3pm. The work
of resident artists will be featured with an emphasis on gifts for
the winter holidays. |
| Lowell
Open Studios Weekend |
October
19 & October 20, 2002 |
The
Middlesex Beat arts magazine sponsored its annual Open Studios for
Middlesex County this weekend. Lowell artists opened their studios
and homes for visitors as part of this event. Look for more information
at: www.middlesexbeat.com
At Ayer Lofts, we had quite a few studios open plus a new show in
the gallery. Artists whose studios were open for visitors included:
Ted Lavash; Raquel Bauman; Mandy Shear with friends Sharon Speldenner,
Ted Smykal, and Jennifer Fuchel; Kathleen Taussig; Pam Goncalves and
Hakim Raquib; Heather Duram; Eleni Zohdi; and Amy Boger. The Third
Floor lobby featured a group exhibit available to the public only
during Open Studios Weekend and featuring the work of resident artists
Pam Goncalves, Kevin Gannon, Joyce Cadena, Kathleen Taussig, and others.
The fifth floor featured a photography exhibit curated by Michele
Auger. Also, Ayer Loftian Barbara Gagel shared her work at her studio
in Littleton as part of the Middlesex Beat Open Studios Weekend. |
| RAQUEL
BAUMAN: Arte de Raquel y sus Amigo(a)s |
September
12 - October 13, 2002 |
The
work of resident artist Raquel Bauman was featured in this solo show
along with art and performance by friends. The show was a celebration
of friendship and of the arts and culture of the Latino world. Events
included a special performance of traditional Mexican dances, the
showing of films such as "Like Water for Chocolate" and "The Tango
Lesson" with discussions afterward, storytelling and musical performances.
Thanks to all who participated in this wonderful collaboration. |
| AYER
LOFTS ARTISTS' SUMMER SALON |
June
27 - August 31, 2002 |
Work
by Ayer Loftians, including several artists who have joined us since
the last group salon, were on display this summer. Thanks to the hundreds
of visitors from around Massachusetts who came through the Gallery
during Lowell Folk Festival weekend (July 27/28). It was great to
have you here! |
| "Doors
Open Lowell" |
May
17, 2002 |
The
gallery and some private studios were open on Friday evening, May
17th, as part of "Doors Open Lowell" -- an event sponsored locally
by the National Park Service and the Lowell Historic Board which offers
public access to private buildings of historical significance to help
raise awareness about the benefits and importance of historic preservation.
Lowell was the first U.S. city to participate in this international
event. For more information, contact the National Park Service or
the Lowell Historic Board at Lowell City Hall. |
| FIRST
IMPRESSIONS |
May
2 - 30, 2002 |
Students
from the Greater Lowell Technical and Vocational High School exhibited
work ranging from graphic and computer design to fashion. The gallery
was open during our normal hours: Saturdays and Sundays from 1-4pm,
Thursday evenings from 6-9pm. The gallery was also open early on Saturday,
May 4th, at 11am as part of the Middlesex Community College "Family
Arts Day" on Middle Street. |
| Lowell
High School Art Students |
March
- April 2002 |
Students
majoring in art at the Lowell High School, mainly graduating seniors,
put together an exhibit of their work. The show ran from late March
into early April 2002. |
| WOMEN:
STRUGGLE, SURVIVAL, AND TRIUMPH |
February
28 - March 10, 2002 |
Work
by 19 artists from across North America were selected for this show
in honor of Lowell Women's Week. Lowell Women's Week is a powerful
community event that celebrates women through performances, lectures,
exhibits, and other programming. Visit LOWELL
WOMEN'S WEEK for more information. It is significant to note that
this was our first show to include work by outside artists. The experience
has created an incredible sense of connection between Ayer Lofts artists
and the larger artistic community in Massachusetts and beyond. |
| Coming
to Closure: A Poetry Reading |
March
10, 2002 |
The
evening was hosted by resident artist and poet, Sheila Willard. Willard
read from her own work and was joined by two other Lowell poets, Jean
Trounstine and Ann Mulvey. Resident Artist, Eleni Zohdi opened the
reading by presenting a poem from her own work and serving the meal
she described in it. It was a mesmerizing and powerful evening. |
| Tea
and Scones with the Artists |
March
9, 2002 |
Artists
from the "Women: Struggle, Survival, and Triumph" exhibit were on
hand to discuss their work and share an afternoon tea. |
| FALL/WINTER
SALON: 2001 |
October
2001- February 2002 |
Ayer
Lofts Resident Artists presented their work for our annual "Fall Salon"
exhibit. The show featured painting, mixed media, sculpture, pottery,
fashion, and craft work. Smaller works of art and crafts were also
offered during this show in anticipation of the holiday season. |
| BURST |
May
- September 2001 |
Ayer
Lofts resident artists celebrated the coming of the warm weather and
festivals by filling the gallery with art, crafts, and fashions. Visitors
say they love to come see the the art and want to take something away
but cannot always afford a major piece. Residents responded by making
affordable, smaller works for this show. The idea was a great success.
|
| Hellenic
School Student Art |
May
2001 |
Children
from the hellenic school displayed their work in our lobby gallery. |
| Lowell
High School Art Students |
April
2001 |
Students
majoring in art at the Lowell High School, mainly graduating seniors,
put together an exhibit of their work. The show featured painting,
drawing, photography, and sculpture. |
| Greek
Dancers |
March
2001 |
Children
from the Greek community in Lowell came to dance for Greek Independence
Day. The gallery was filled with children's laughter, proud parents
and friends. We can't believe everyone fit! |
| Irish
Dancers |
March
2001 |
Young
women and girls from Lowell came to the Gallery to dance the story
of the Lowell Mill Girls as part of our Lowell Women's Week celebrations.
The dances featured sounds and movements that mimicked those of a
typical day in a Lowell Mill Girl's life. The group was trained by
a wonderful dancer, formerly a professional Irish Step Dancer, whose
mission is to engender a love of Irish culture and history in young
people. Her troupe travels regularly to nursing homes and other venues
to perform these dances. |
| Storytelling
By or About Women |
March
2001 |
Ayer
Lofts Art Gallery hosted two afternoons of "storytelling," kind of
an open-mike but very low-key. Attendees read from stories and poems
by others, such as Maya Angelou and Elizabeth Erhlich, and from their
own work. The big surprise of the second day was the appearance of
no less than 5 Lowell poets who read powerful pieces -- funny, sad,
poignant, and pointed. Among these surprise poets were Rita Lipman
and Anne Mulvey. It was a most enjoyable afternoon. |
| Le
Petit Gallery presents "Little Women" |
March
2001 |
Children
from Eleni Zohdi's classes at Lowell's Girls Incorporated displayed
their artwork about the subject of women and girls as part of the
celebrations for Lowell Women's Week. Their work was displayed in
the gallery foyer, known affectionately as "Le Petit Gallery." |
| WOMAN |
March
2001 - April 2001 |
Resident
artists at Ayer Lofts displayed work about the subject of "Woman"
and touched on everything from beauty and sexuality to work and power.
Lowell Women's Week is a powerful community event that celebrates
women through performances, lectures, exhibits, and other programming.
Visit LOWELL WOMEN'S WEEK
for more information. |
| BLACK,
WHITE, and SHADES OF GRAY |
January
2001 - March 2001 |
Lowell
Winterfest celebrations included this winter theme show in the Ayer
Lofts Art Gallery with work from a number of resident artists filling
the walls and hot cider filling our cups. The show was featured on
the Lowell Sun's Winterfest activity map and we got over 200 visitors! |
| FALL
SALON: 2000 |
November
2000 - January 2001 |
This
was our first show after getting settled into our new building. Resident
artists showed a variety of work, mostly painting, sculpture, and
photography. The Mayor and the City Council of Lowell came to officially
open the gallery in a ribbon-cutting ceremony during the opening reception.
Irish painter, Deborah Donnelly, one of our original members, was
the driving force behind this first show. Many people helped to make
it happen. The show was timed to complement Lowell's City of Lights
Festival. |
