Quick Update

Hi All,

I have just returned from a blissful week at the cell-phone and internet free land of the beach. It was great to be away from work, the phone, the computer, and yes, at times, even the studio. Returning was nice though since I gave myself a few extra days to devote just to drawing and getting things for "This Collective Pull" in order. Things in the studio are going well, I have a large pastel drawing that is nearing completion and one more medium piece that is well on it's way. Today is so hot and muggy that it is hard finding the desire to get in there and create all that dust (but I will, I will.)

My application to the Hambidge Center is coming along fine. I have secured my two letters of recommendation (phew!) and I am well on my way to completing the proposal/statement of intent that they require. It seems like a wonderful residency, very focused around contemplation of, and pulling inspiration from, the serene Georgia mountain landscape. Each resident receives their own cabin which includes a studio space and sleeping area. Residents convene each night for a communal meal before heading back to work! Sigh, heaven. Keep your fingers crossed for me as I await the decision from the residency in Australia. I have seven more deadlines for shows and residencies before November 1st! I love being busy like this, no matter how stressful it is!

Speaking of busy....the second incarnation of my curatorial project "This Collective Pull" is in full swing! Myself and two co-curators will be painting, moving, collecting, arranging, hanging and anticipating all this week. The opening is August 22nd at 5:00 pm in Beverly, MA. If you'd like directions to the opening email me at this.collective.pull@gmail.com! I will post photos from the event very soon afterwards!

Now on to the studio, I will post photos from the drawings in progress soon. Is that something people are interested in? Maybe I will start a weekly post updating my work in the studio, currently I only post drawings when they are completed. What do you think?

An up and coming post: the significance of drawings and wondering why they are lower class citizens in the world of painting!

This Collective Pull Part II

As promised, here is an update on my curatorial project, the second installation of "This Collective Pull!" Below is the official press release and post card I designed for the exhibition. It is amazing how much momentum the concept has gained since it's conception this past June. This show will be showcasing the talents of 11 artists, working in the mediums of drawing, painting, photography and ceramics. I am excited to see the turn out for this opening since I have increased my publicity efforts! Any feedback is more than welcome! If you would like more information about the show, you can contact me at this.collective.pull@gmail.com

PRESS RELEASE:

Beverly artists and curators Bea Modisett, Julie O’Boyle and Chris Sharp are happy to announce the launch of the second “This Collective Pull,” a one night only art exhibition, opening on August 22nd at 5:00 pm. Modisett, a 2007 graduate of Montserrat College of Art, conceptualized and initiated the first “This Collective Pull” last June, in an effort to unite local area artists. This initial exhibition spurred O’Boyle and Sharp to jump on board for the second incarnation which will feature the painting, photography, drawing and sculpture of Justin Bothwell, Peter Brefini, Steven Carvalho, David McCoy, Mary Bucci McCoy, Bea Modisett, Julie O’Boyle, Shawn Salinger, Chris Sharp, Sarah Smith, and Adria Sutter. These exhibitions are hung in alternative venues throughout the area in an effort to raise awareness of, and create a stronger collaborative community within, the artists of the North Shore.

For more information on the concept, opening location, or to participate in the next show please email Bea Modisett at this.collective.pull@gmail.com

Quick Update

Hi all,

I am trying my darndest to update this site a bit more, it's hard to blog when all I want to do is be drawing, grilling, hiking, camping, traveling or doing anything that involves being OUTDOORS now that it is finally nice out.  I have had the overwhelming task of balancing my day job with researching and applying for residencies and shows, drawing, cleaning, being outside, organizing my image inventory, blogging, keeping up on email, visiting galleries, visiting museums, and so many more tasks that I feel have become mandatory, when in reality all I want to do is draw, travel and be with friends! I wonder if I will ever get out of my own way.  

On a positive note, I finally sent out my application to the residency in Australia I have been lusting after and gave it a plethora of good luck energy before handing it over to the residency decision making gods. I am also completing an application to a residency in Georgia that would allow me at least a month hiatus from all the aforementioned duties!  I had the difficult task of finding two people to write reference letters for this particular residency, not an easy task! For a perfectly worded take on how annoying these letters can be to obtain and to write, visit Joanne Mattera's blog. 

As of now we have a good roster of artists contributing to the second "This Collective Pull." I will post the official roster after August 3rd when the invitations go out.  Save the date though, August 22nd! It is sure to be a great evening with really great art!

Alright everyone, I need to get to the studio! I spent the last month of weekends away from my beloved space and although I love Boston, D.C, Vermont and Canada trips, I love my studio time as well. So as I said before, I will do my best to post more often on here, even for a quick update. Maybe the next drawing you see will have a Maple leaf, a moose, a bean, some cheese and Obama's face in it! All the best!

Also, check out my friend Julie's blog, OrchidGrey.  It's new and it's fabulous! (She is also helping to co-curate "This Collective Pull")

Update

Hi All,

Quick post. I am in the midst of applying to lots of residency programs and find myself straying from the path with such nice weather. Balance is a hard thing to achieve. Below is a new drawing I recently completed. Also, the second This Collective Pull will be opening in late August. This time I am lucky enough to be collaborating with two dear friends, Julie O'Boyle and Chris Sharp. Keep your eyes peeled for the invite and roster of artist! All the best!

Bea Modisett. Charcoal and pastel on paper. 32" x 32". 2009
(If you click on the photo, you will get a larger image that will show you better detail and surface quality!)

Paint, Paint the Revolution

Hi All,

I just returned from an amazing trip to my place of birth, Washington D.C. for a whirlwind weekend trip. Although originally I made travel plans to go and visit a dear friend who is living down there, my trip also coincided with the Maya Lin exhibition at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and "Paint Made Flesh" at the Phillip's Collection. Both were amazing! Although the Maya Lin show is no longer on display (I caught it on it's last day) I encourage you all to make the journey to the Phillip's Collection. Jenny Saville's painting alone is worth the trip, but on top of that monumental piece are paintings by Francis Bacon, Lucien Freud, Cecily Brown, Eric Fischl, and Willem DeKooning! 

Jenny Saville. Hyphen, 1999. Oil on Canvas. 9' x 12'

It was so nice to see a show devoted to PAINTING! It seems that today so much focus is put on new media and cutting edge technology that often amazing painters and the beauty of paint is forgotten or deemed "dead." As a painter myself, this was an inspiring show. Between this show and "Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese: Rivals in Renaissance Venice" on view at the Museum of Fine Arts I can say that painting is very much alive and well! 

I first experienced Maya Lin back as a very young child when walking through the beautiful Vietnam Memorial that she designed. I was excited to see her work in a museum setting after seeing it in the form of environmental sculptures for the past 15 years.  I was not disappointed. I was greeted by a room sized installation that immediately told me I was in for a treat.  The curators did a great job of showing the scope of media in which Lin works. The galleries boasted installation, drawings, altered books, altered walls, and bronze castings.  I must say the installations and drawings had the most impact on me. I loved the imperfect edges on her drawings that were displayed in pristine frames.  With the majority of my works being on paper, I have to decide whether to crop them into perfect squares and eliminate holes, or to immortalize them as pieces of history, as artifacts from the whirlwind of activity that is my studio. I choose to treat them as artifacts, in all their imperfections, and I appreciate when I seea similar sentiment to that in museums and galleries. This idea of mine is growing and expanding, so more on that later! In the meantime get to the MFA and the Phillip's Collection if you'd like to see some real, honest to goodness paint!

This Collective Pull

Hi All,

My recent curatorial effort "This Collective Pull" went off without a hitch! We had a great turnout for the opening night and people seemed to have a great time. The work itself looked fantastic and hung very well together. Below are a few photos from the evening.  I hope you can make it to the next "This Collective Pull" which I will be co-curating with Julie O'Boyle and Chris Sharp and will be installed at their apartment by the end of August. We hope for this opening to be even bigger and better! Enjoy!

This Collective Pull

Hi All,

This Friday is the opening for a curatorial project I have been working on called "This Collective Pull."  This show will feature the work of a number of local artists who have been working in their studios, but not showing their paintings/drawings/photographs. For one night only we will be taking over the walls of a friend's apartment.  I hope this project will bring people together to talk about what is happening right here in Beverly, and let people from outside of Beverly know that exciting, artistic things are happening here. This is the first opening of many shows to come. The night will consist of great art, food, wine and lots of music and tons, TONS, of dancing. The show will be taking place at 66 Dane Street, Beverly MA on Friday, June 12 beginning at 7:00.  I hope you can make it, and place contact me if you have any questions!