Previous Exhibits

Bugs: A Closer Look
Photography by Liz Tompkins
September – November 2019

The artwork of photographer Liz Tompkins, takes a closer look at … bugs. Please don’t stop reading! Bugs are everywhere and many folks just don’t like these little critters. Yet insects are the largest known group of animals, making up three quarters of animal species. That’s a lot of bugs!

Part of the image problem of bugs is that most of them are very small, averaging less than 6mm long. It’s hard to appreciate something you can’t see. That’s where photographer Liz Tompkins steps in. Her photographs zoom in on their subject, enlarging their details and features, helping the viewer to differentiate between types of tiny bugs, to appreciate their varied structures and colors and movements.

“I began photographing insects a few years ago under our porch lights, to get over my fear of little flying things,” says Tompkins, a Malden-based artist. “The little flying things turned out to be pretty interesting when they were magnified thirty times. My wonder at the diversity of life grows with each new bug I discover. I invite you to share in that wonder.”

Tompkins is a retired 7th grade science teacher from the Malden Public Schools which, she says, explains her interest in pretty much anything. She began showing her work at the first Window Arts Malden event in 2007. She also participated in The Gallery at 480 Main Street and her bugs have also made an appearance at the Malden Public Library.

“Bugs: A Closer Look” will be on view through November 30. A reception with the artist will be held on Wednesday, October 23, from 6:30 – 8:00pm. It will include a lively discussion about bugs and their wonders. The MATV Gallery is located at MATV, Malden’s Media Center, at 145 Pleasant Street. Hours are Mondays – Thursday, 10am – 9pm; Fridays, 10am – 6pm; and Saturday, 10am – 2pm.

NAIDOC Aboriginal Art –    An international poster exhibit

From the collection of STEPHEN LEWIS

On View: June 12 – August 22, 2019 in the MATV Gallery, MATV, Malden’s Media Center, 145 Pleasant St, Malden, MA -2148

Public Reception & Discussion: Thursday, July 18, 2019,  6:30 – 8:30pm

NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. NAIDOC Week – a celebration of the culture, history, and achievements of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples –  is held the first week of July each year. The first NAIDOC poster was created in 1972.

Not all of the posters in this exhibit are about NAIDOC, however. Other posters are by Aboriginal artists or about Aboriginal rights, history and culture.

Posters are a unique form of communication – they broadcast a call to action, using the written word to communicate an idea. Posters are a form of art that goes to the people rather than people having to go to a museum to see it. The posters in this exhibit feature themes such as the journey from childhood to adulthood, and the inherent dignity of all people.

Stephen Lewis is a long-time activist in the labor movement, and the former Treasurer of his union. Stephen has exhibited at a number of public libraries in Massachusetts, Boston and Malden City Halls, and two of the state Heritage parks. He has presented at the annual conference of the National Council on Public History, and on some cable television programs. He can be reached by email at lewisposters@gmail.com or at Facebook under labor/progressive political posters. The posters/photos were contributed by friends, collected at conferences, visits to some of the organizations, and from connections made through the internet. In total, Stephen’s private collection contains more than 8,600 works of art.

This project is supported in part by LIUNA Local 22, Carpenters State Council, and Asbestos Workers Local 6

“My Vision: An Exhibition of Indian Art”
By Kumkum Sharma

On View: April 1 – May 31, 2019
Public Reception: Thursday, May 16, 6:30 – 8:30pm

Artist Kumkum Sharma is a painter from the state of Uttar in Pradesh, India. Her work is in the Indian folk art style, depicting various themes that extend from Nature and village life to expressions of her inner feelings about Life. All paintings are in gouache, using the bright colors of Indian folk art.

Kumkum, born in 1948, is the fourth of six children and grew up in several cities and towns in the western part of the Indian state of Uttar, living for many years in the city of Meerut. After her marriage to Rajendra Bhushan Sharma in 1977, she lived for extended periods in the high mountains along the Tibetan border in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Kumkum studied art during her school years, but since then is largely self-taught. Some of her works reflect the deepest part of her soul, while others depict the life of Indian society around her. Certain paintings are replications of Indian folk art, commonly drawn on walls during festivals.

In 2012, Kumkum nearly lost her eyesight due to a reaction to medicine. It took some time to regain sight enough to paint and she still has not fully recovered.

Both originals and prints are on display in the MATV Gallery.The artist has shown work in several galleries in India.  This is her eight exhibition in the United States.Join us for a reception on Thursday, May 16. A selection of Indian delicacies will be served and we will gather to hear a talk given by the artist’s sister, Sudha Newman.

 

“Images & Impressions” in the MATV Gallery
October 2018 – January 2019

The MATV Gallery at Malden’s Media Center is pleased to present a new exhibit, “Images and Impressions,” which features the work of two local artists—photographic images by David Harris and woodcut/linoleum prints by Dominique Lecomte.

David Harris began taking photographs of student life in the early 1970s.  At the time he was committed to using the camera as a means of documenting the tumultuous events of the time.  In the intervening years, his subject matter changed, but his determination to use the camera to document has remained.  He describes is work as “in situ,” a phrase meaning “in its original place.” He insists that every place is filled with images to behold if we look closely enough; the camera is a means of capturing the hidden beauty in our everyday experience.  His work often concentrates on detail of metal surfaces – from construction sites to train cars.  Originally focused primarily on rust, he has expanded the work to include other painted and distressed metal surfaces.  In recent years he has added work documenting his travels, with images shown here from Panama City, Lisbon, and Arcadia.   Much of the work on exhibit was shot with film on a 35 mm SLR, with the more recent work from DSLR.  All images are printed digitally.

Dominique Lecomte grew up in a small town in France and studied at the Ecole de l’Image in Epinal. He specialized in creating oils, acrylics and etchings. After getting his master’s in French and Philosophy, he came to the U.S., – by way of Cambodia between 1992 and 1994, to teach in a private school near Boston. It is then he decided to specialize in linocuts and woodcuts, mainly due to lack of studio space. His prints are whimsical and contemporary, celebrating simple pleasures and the joy of living. His aim is to bring a smile or a positive feeling to people who view or purchase his artwork. Lecomte’s work is represented in private and public collections in Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Ecuador, England, France, Italy, Japan, Norway, Sweden, and the USA.  You can view a short MATV-produced video about the artist here.

“Images and Impressions” is on view during MATV business hours: Mondays – Thursdays, 10am – 9pm; Fridays, 10am – 6pm; and Saturdays, 10am – 2pm. Although there is no formal reception planned, please stay tuned for other upcoming events at MATV which will feature the gallery exhibit as a component.  All are invited to view and enjoy the artwork. All the art is available for purchase.

Here’s a video featuring one of the artists in the current exhibit:

“Chance Encounter”
Artwork by Kamil Abdushukur and James Blandini

Abstract by Kamil Abdushukur (left). “The Morning Moon” by James Blandini (right).

The current exhibit (July – September 2018) at the MATV Gallery at Malden’s Media Center will mark a first-time meeting of local artists James Blandini and Kamil Abdushukur. The two men hail from different cultures and parts of the world and their art shares little by way of style and content. But an unexpected opening at the MATV Gallery and a desire from both to exhibit their work formed the basis for this exhibit. Despite this random pairing, the exhibit took shape in a way that complimented and supported their creative styles, while also creating something new as a unified whole.

According to artist James Blandini, a Boston area native and second generation Italian American, his paintings and drawings are an exploration of the human condition and the search for spirituality through realistic portrayal. He is drawn to the rich visual imagery found in the New Testament, the Hebrew Bible, mythology, other spiritual traditions and works of literature. Often using his own image as the subject, Blandini explores how these paths connect with him both visually and emotionally. He is most inspired by the drawings, composition and color palette of the Italian Renaissance and the Baroque periods, as well as the German Expressionists movement. He feels grateful and blessed to carry on the tradition of expressing ideas and emotions through pictorial images, one of humanity’s most fundamental and ancient means of expression and communication.

Painting by Kamil Abdushukur

Kamil Abdushukur was born in the city of Qomul, Xinjiang China, and was a professional painter with the Xinjiang Art Academy. His art has been exhibited widely in Northwest China, as well as in other parts of his home country. By invitation, he has also exhibited his work in Osnabruck, Germany, at the Morgenland Festival and in Malaysia at the Langkawi Art Biennale.

Abdushukur immigrated with his family to America in 2015 and is now living in Melrose. He left most of his body of work up until that point in China, much of it very large pieces, and has since created new work. He does not feel he has a specific style but likes to continually explore different media and techniques. The work displayed in the MATV Gallery exhibit features two distinct styles of the artist’s current body of work. His abstract acrylic paintings are created with kitchen tools and window ice scrapers, rather than traditional brushes. Abdushukur says he loves the abstract style because it does not limit his imagination and simply allows him to express what he is feeling.

Print by Kamil Abdushukur

His prints incorporate a Turkish style of marbling art known as Ebru, which is then transformed into a pattern with a mandala quality, though rectangular in form. The work begins as drops of color designed on oily water from which a print is made. The print is then imported into Photoshop where it is digitally enhanced to create the new print. The artist loves the freedom of painting and exploring through this creative process.

Abdushukur’s work has been shown in Miami and locally here in Malden, most recently at The Gallery at 480 Main Street.

“Pilgrimmage to Karbala” by James Blandini

Though both men were somewhat involved in the installation process, they have not yet had a chance to meet. That opportunity will come at the public reception on Wednesday, Aug. 1, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. All are invited to attend. A variety of summer salads will be served, along with other refreshments, and there will be a time for gathering and a chance for participants to express their reaction to the exhibit, and also allow the artists to share their thoughts.

The MATV Gallery is located at 145 Pleasant Street in Malden. Exhibit hours are Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The facility will be closed to the public the week of August 27. The exhibit “Chance Encounter” will run through Sept. 28, 2018.

 

Artwork by Ilya Staskevich

The MATV Gallery is pleased to present the artwork of Ilya Staskevich through February 28, 2018.

Painted mostly in oils, the beautifully framed artwork features a variety of subjects including portrait, landscape, still life and abstractions. Staskevich states, “The artwork depends on my soul and spirit condition, on my mood and what God puts in my heart during the process of creation.”

Born in Belarus, Staskevich studied art at the Minsk Art School, served in the Soviet army, and later worked on artistic design for industrial engineering plants in Moscow. In 1985, he migrated to the United States and has since created art as a hobby.

Staskevich says of his process, “Each work must be a reflection of a divine harmony, that is, the ratio of parts to the whole. The artwork is considered finished if nothing can be taken away or added.”

———-

“CELEBRATION” Artwork by Efon Elad

Cameroonian-born Efon Elad presents his paintings in the MATV Gallery, June – September 2017. Much of his artwork has a narrative style, presenting a glimpse of traditional cultures in Cameroon and other parts of West Africa. Other paintings depict snapshots of the artist’s life in the Boston area, where he has lived for over 30 years. Still others are inspired by stories and songs that have captivated his imagination. Several of his abstract paintings are also included.

Despite adverse circumstances in his life, Elad chooses to approach living as a celebration, in the way he has known and learned from childhood. Daily rituals, simple moments, dreams, stories and songs inspire in him a sense of gratitude and jubilation. It with these deep feelings of gratitude and jubilation that the artist shares his work with our Malden community. Stay tuned for a reception with the artist, sure to be a celebration in itself.

The MATV Gallery is located at MATV, Malden’s Media Center, at 145 Pleasant St. in Malden. Hours are Monday – Thursday, 10am – 9pm, Friday, 10am – 6pm, and Saturday, 10am – 2pm.

More info about the artist and the background of this exhibit can be found here.

———

 

 

 

“EMBROIDERY WORK BY ANNA THAI”

“Embroidery Work by Anna Thai” is on exhibit at the MATV Gallery through April 21, 2017. A closing exhibit with the artist will be held on Wednesday, April 12 from 6:30 – 8:00pm.

The MATV Gallery is open Monday – Thursday, 10am – 9pm; Friday, 10am – 6pm; and Saturday, 10am – 2pm. For more information, call 781-321-6400 or visit https://matv.org.

————————-

Pictures at an Exhibition: A Tribute to Friendships Nov. 9 2016-Jan 12, 2017
 
15321561_10209070253416706_651867077_o

The MATV Gallery at Malden’s Media Center is pleased to display this community art event inspired by Modest Mussorgsky’s musical tribute to his artist friend Viktor Hartmann. A recording of the Pictures at an Exhibition: A Tribute to Friendships concert on November 5th is available via QR code on site. Come check out the pieces and listen to the recording for a multi-media arts experience.

A reception with the artists will be held on Thursday January 12th, 6:30-8:30pm.

 
 
PAST EXHIBIT:
 
Truth of Life, Sept. 26th- Nov. 4th, 2016

Boston-based artist Youngsheen Jhe is intrigued by mannequins. These lifeless figures are juxtaposed with the daily life of real humans in nearly every painting featured in this exhibit.

Jhe, a South Korean native, says, “My work derives in part from my first experience as a foreigner in the United States.” The mixing of inanimate models with the modern life of people reveals insights into the human condition on a number of levels. The artist adds, “I have a strong desire to describe the unfiltered story of everyday humans.”

In exploring her subject matter, it’s the similarities between these two forms that often appear, both haunting and ironic, or at times, peaceful and contemplative. Jhe’s paintings have been widely exhibited in the Boston area and New York City.dsc_0144

The MATV Gallery at Malden’s Media Center is pleased to display the stirring art of Youngsheen Jhe in the exhibit “Truth of Life” through November 4.

A reception with the artist will be held on Thursday, October 20 from 6:00 – 8:00pm. Hours for the MATV Gallery are Monday – Thursday, 10am – 9pm; Friday, 10am – 6pm; and Saturday, 10am – 2pm.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbQTmDKN5gU&w=560&h=315]

“SUMMER MASH-UP” July 11 – August 26, 2016

The MATV Gallery is pleased to exhibit a variety of artwork from a group of local artists through August 26th, 2016 at MATV, Malden’s Media Center.

The exhibit showcases a mashup of artwork from select members of the Malden Sketch Group. Rod Peterson captures local buildings and environments in his beautifully rendered watercolor landscapes. Cambia Davis’ etchings of rabbits engaged in a variety of human-like activities, in her “Lapinville series,” are delightful and whimsical. Nick Palky’s eclectic selections vary from ink on paper to oil paint. Judy Greulich’s oil portraits are coated in elegance and stir in its observer a reciprocated presence. Elizabeth Scorsello’s sketches are engaging as they are vulnerable, capturing the essence of nude figures or passengers on a train. And Sharon Santillo collage and mixed media result in playful silhouettes of the active human form.

As one of the longest-running life drawing groups in the Boston area, the Malden Sketch Group is comprised of artists who meet twice a week to sketch live models. This exhibit is a chance to see a more extensive display of artwork from select members.

The MATV Gallery will host a reception on Wednesday, July 20th from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. View the exhibit, connect with the artists and take part in a discussion around local art, while enjoying a variety of summer salads prepared for the mashup evening.

PAST EXHIBITS:

Middle School Art Exhibit: May 10 – June 17, 2016

index

Together Apart: Slicing and Dicing Ideas and Images

MATV presents two local artists in the exhibit “Together Apart: Slicing and Dicing Ideas and Images,” which runs through April 15, 2016.

austin-open-door_searsLisa L. Sears, currently based in Malden, is a vibrant and eclectic artist whose work spans many realms of art expression. Sears is featuring both collages and black and white photographs in this exhibit. Sears’ photographs are thoughtful and inspiring, and her collages portray dream-like scenes that feature the deconstruction and reintegration of images in a way that creates an interesting balance between fantasy and objectivity.

Jen Moltoni, based in Melrose, is a collage artist and painter, who is featuring both paintings and collages in this display. Moltoni’s ocean- inspired paintings are assembled using several canvases to reconstruct the images that inspire her. Her collages are composed of hand-painted papers and photographs that have be cut up and then reassembled into scenes of nature and whimsy.

moltoni_mussel3Originally from Maine, and currently settled on a lovely tree-lined street in Melrose, Jen Moltoni is a collage/mixed media artist and painter with no formal training. She draws inspiration from her numerous trips to beaches throughout New England. Her collage process is simple. She takes pictures of the beach, the sky, found objects, trees, she paints various weights and types of paper, finding joy in the swirling and mixing of color, and then cuts it all up. Her blank canvases a then become a playground of form and shape, eventually featuring scenes inspired by nature. She feels that the empty space is as important as the colored pieces of her work. She is also pleased to be including some of her paintings in this exhibit. Inspired by the ocean and seashells, each painting is composed of several connecting canvases, giving each a puzzle-like quality. Jen is an emerging artist who regularly shows her work in and around Melrose, as well as in many locations across the greater Boston area.

MATV, Malden’s Media Center, is pleased to present the works of these talented and emerging artists in this thought -provoking and colorful display. The MATV Gallery is located at MATV, 145 Pleasant Street. Hours are Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The facility is handicapped accessible.

A Lifetime of Art: Brunnhilde S. Costanza
Formerly at the MATV Gallery through January, 2016

The MATV Gallery is pleased to exhibit a lifetime survey of the work of Brunnhilde S. Costanza (1924 -2008) through January 30, 2016 at MATV, Malden’s Media Center. The mother of Suzanne Costanza, a Malden resident, the exhibit is the first solo exhibit of the late artist’s work.

Stein Costanza lived and worked in New York City, throughout her life, raising a family of three children and teaching art in the New York City public schools at the junior high and high school level. Throughout her life, she explored ways to make art materials and the artistic process accessible to her students, to whom she taught in an often financially and time-challenged setting. Her commitment to public art education was expressed through her own experimentation with art forms that were relatively simple and inexpensive, yet were imbued with creativity, strong technique and varied expression.DSC_0004

Exhibit hours are Monday – Thursday, 10am – 9pm; Fridays, 10am – 6pm; and Saturday, 10am – 2pm. The gallery is located at MATV, Malden’s Media Center at 145 Pleasant Street.

The MATV Gallery in collaboration with Malden Arts will host a combined reception and art salon on Thursday, December 10 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. View the exhibit, meet the artist’s family, connect with other artists and art appreciators in the community and take part in a discussion around public art education and what happens to one’s artwork after one dies.

Tondo prnt acryl IMG_1732