Berkshire Museum

Exhibitions

Powered Narratives: Photographer John Stanmeyer

BerkshireNow: Michael Boroniec
September 4 - November 22, 2015

Mboroniec_Spiral_Black webThe BerkshireNow gallery space at the Berkshire Museum will feature a solo exhibition of complex ceramics by Michael Boroniec, September 4 through November 22, 2015. Berkshire Museum is part of Pittsfield’s monthly First Fridays Artswalk events, when admission to the BerkshireNow gallery will be free to the public, from 5 to 8 p.m., on September 4, October 2, and November 6. An opening reception for BerkshireNow: Michael Boroniec will be held on Friday, September 4, at 5 p.m., part of September’s First Fridays Artswalk.

Boroniec is known for creating distinct bodies of work and BerkshireNow: Michael Boroniec includes a number of the sculptor’s signature spiral vases as well as work from his series built on casts of human skulls.

By slicing the familiar vase form into a visually exciting coil, unwinding upwards in space, Boroniec’s spirals create a sense of energy not often seen in ceramic sculpture. “What began with teapots and a single spiral, has evolved into a series of vases that vary in form, degree of expansion, and number of coils,” says Boroniec. “Each vessel is wheel thrown then deconstructed. This process reveals aspects of the vase that most rarely encounter. Within the walls, maker’s marks become evident and contribute to the texture. The resultant ribbon effect, reminiscent of a wheel trimming, lends fragility, elegance, and motion to a medium generally perceived as hard and heavy. This emphasizes a resistance of gravity, allowing negative space to unravel and become part of the form. The result is a body of sculptural objects, resembling and born of functional vessels.”

The exhibition also includes a number of skulls. The human skull has been woven into art history for centuries; artists from the Flemish vanity painters of the 17th century to Andy Warhol and Jim Dine have interpreted the skull. “One cannot deny the depths of death and the soul while confronted with a skull,” says Boroniec. This series of skulls, in one vein, portrays pop icons, as the skull itself undeniably is a kitsch pop reference. The other vein exhibits the skull as a decorative object.

Both bodies of work illustrate Boroniec’s extremely high level of technical expertise in throwing and glazing and reflect his focus on ceramic as a dialog between the historical and contemporary implications of clay as a fine art material.

Though Boroniec’s primary material is clay, he has also found success in painting and print making. Boroniec received a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design in 2006 with a concentration in ceramic material.“In a world that is increasingly interconnected, with globalization a reality and artistic traditions rapidly evolving in contemporary art, Immortal Present offers an insightful look at how East Asian art of yesterday and today is meaningful and relevant to international audiences,” says Van Shields, Berkshire Museum’s executive director. “We are proud to bring an exhibition of this range and impact to the community.”BerkshireNow is a gallery devoted to showcasing the work of Berkshires artists. It will feature four exhibits a year, including solo artists and group shows.
Part labyrinth, part artful fun-house, If/Then is designed to challenge the visitors to think differently about their surroundings, much as early learners experience the world, as a surprising place full of discovery and adventure. Each gallery holds a new adventure for kids, families, and visitors of all ages as they encounter the artful installations and physical, emotional, and magical interactions along the way.

Hudson River School
Ongoing

Magnificent landscapes created by a group of 19th-century painters known as the Hudson River School express the artists’ fascination with the extraordinary natural beauty of the region.

Important works by Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Cole, Thomas Hill, George Inness, Thomas Moran, and Aaron Draper Shattuck are all represented in the Berkshire Museum’s collection. The paintings are detailed representational renderings of wilderness scenes, whether a view of a verdant valley, a thickly forested mountainside, or the expanse of a mighty river. The play of light on the landscape, an expanse of sky, or the tumbling water in a fast-flowing stream expressed the skills of the artists in carefully observing and then rendering the realistic scenery.

Permanent exhibitions