Art & Cultural Events List

Nave Gallery Celebrates Fifth Anniversary
36th Exhibition Opens May 2nd
'Alter-Ego, Images Made with Toy Cameras and Alternative Photographic
Processes'

SOMERVILLE, Mass. – The Nave Gallery opened May 15, 2004. This May
ARTSomerville and the Nave celebrate its 5th anniversary with their 36th
exhibition, appropriately entitled ‘Alter-Ego’. Since its inception the
Nave has become known as an innovative and alternative venue for visual
artists and musicians alike. Curated by two young artists, Greer Muldowney
and Bridget Kane, 'Alter-Ego, Images Made with Toy Cameras and Alternative
Photographic Processes' showcases work that bucks the trend in the
today’s world of photography.

Curators’ statement:
During times of change, there are always those who rebel. In the current
era of digital media, many photographers are reaching for ways to create
work that is relevant in the world today, but by using manual processes
that have enriched photography since its inception. Be it with taped up
plastic toy cameras from the 1970s, to making their own pinhole cameras, to
creating cyanotypes outside in the sun—these are not photographers who
simply want to plug in their memory card and click away to create an image.
There is a lot of trial and error, duct-tape and elbow grease in making
each of these images.

Many alternative photographers live by the mantra “don’t think, just
shoot”. There are minimal options and settings in the cameras, and much
is is left to chance, intuition and happy accidents. The process takes on
a life of its own--be it light leaks in the camera, one frame overlapping
to the next, or variations in environment and chemistry-- the intentional
loss of control over the medium gives the artist an ability to let go of
what might be sacred, as what is being captured through these mediums many
times is unknown until the film is processed. It is a balance of give and
take between the artist and the medium.

These photographers portray work that is whimsical, nostalgic and engrossed
in their respective mediums to create the work that has been chosen to
display. With polaroid, cyantope and other analogue techniques falling to
the wayside in this digital age, we hope to celebrate these artists and
their unique processes at the Nave.

ARTISTS
Leslie Bastress
Heather Blakney
Kayla Brenes
Mark Richard Brown
Derrick Burbel
Christina
Myriah Leshea Douglas
Erica Frisk
Alice Grossman
Mellisa Gruntkosky
Janisha
Theresa Kelliher
Ariel Kessler
Mary Kocol
Cassandra Martin
Karen Molloy
Natasha Moustache
Dana Mueller
Denyse Murphy
Eric Nichols
Cade Overton
O Gustavo Plascencia
Serrah Russell
Shayna
Erika Sidor
Annie Smidt
Roberta Stone
David Strasburger
Andy Takats
Tricia
Molly Van Nice
V VanSant
Ann Zelle
Lexie Zippin

During Somerville Open Studios, the Nave will be hosting free poetry
readings by local New England writers in the gallery. For a full schedule
and lineup:
http://www.artsomerville.org/event/2009/poetrySOS.html

Also join us on May 16, as local bands come together to celebrate the Nave
Gallery’s fifth anniversary with a special tribute show at PA’s Lounge
featuring the music of Pixies lead singer and songwriter, Frank Black.

Performing on two stages at the Union Square music venue, musicians
participating in the tribute night include The Big Disappointments,
Doomstar!, Tony The Bookie Orchestra, Choo Choo La Rouge, Wrong Reasons,
Rococo La Boy, Audrey Ryan and Stephen Brodsky, Thom from Bon Savants, Ryan
Lee Crosby, Vanessa Hayes, and Caitlin Frame. The songs cover a wide range
of Frank Black’s back catalogue, ranging from the Pixies to his solo
efforts. The show begins at 8:00 pm and the cover charge is $8. For more
information:http://www.artsomerville.org/event/2009/frankBlack.html

Since its debut in 2004, the Gallery has showcased more 400 artists from
across the globe, including 6 countries. Additionally, the Nave hosts a
variety of alternative music performers, many of whom are recorded and
posted online at Jamendo, the free Internet music platform and community.

The Nave Gallery, located in Teele Square, Somerville, MA, is a
collaborative effort between ARTSomerville and the Clarendon Hill
Presbyterian Church. Solely operated by volunteers, the Nave Gallery
provides exhibition space for both local and regional artists. Area
musicians are regularly featured and the Gallery provides a great
opportunity for visitors to purchase affordably priced original art. The
Nave Gallery participates every summer in Davis Square’s ArtBeat
celebration; sponsors Project Mum, an open-air summer dance party under the
McGrath Highway in Somerville, MA; and has sponsored music festivals in
collaboration with the Somerville Open Studios. For more information, visit
artsomerville.org.