Who’s a Good Boy/Girl/Cat?
Unconditional, and More, including The Quarry Project, at AVA Gallery
Art for the sheer delight of it seems a prerequisite to permeate the cold of these snow-filled winter days. Wander just beyond the lobby of AVA into the Carter-Kelsey Gallery to take in Unconditional, An Exhibition About Dogs and Other Beloved Pets, an homage to the companions of our heart.
For adorability, nothing beats Travis Paige’s glam and soulful photograph of Penny, unless it is the actual Penny, who happened to be in residence at AVA when I discovered this portrait version of her.
Any concerns that cats would not be given their due in this exhibition can be put aside. Annabelle Cone’s “In the Study” is witness to what every cat owner knows—that a feline companion likes nothing better than her human attending to a book or computer screen and the room where it happens.
As an agnostic who nonetheless has a practice of lighting candles in the world’s great cathedrals and tiny churches, I was drawn from across the room to Mike Dennan’s bank of votive candle holders. Found not candles, but . . . cats.
Are Sonny and Cher (photo, top), caught in the moment by photographer Marcie Scudder, out-loud laughing, snarling, fake-snarling? The viewer is drawn into a precise point in time when the answer is not yet known.
Just because: the colors, the shadows, the narrative. From Ann Saunderson’s Ella Series: Mondrian Tree:
Unconditional, with contributions from 32 artists, is on view until February 11, 2023. Reception on February 3 at 4 pm.
Other AVA exhibitions and events include the 15th Annual High School Exhibition available until February 10. Celebrating AVA’s 50th anniversary is AVA’s Art and Dance Party on January 27 at 6:30 pm. Tickets to the dance party are $20, all proceeds to support AVA.
Finally, see this unique, Vermont-specific art event on film. You won’t want to miss the trailer, link below.
AVA Gallery and Art Center, located at 11 Bank Street in Lebanon, NH, is pleased to present a screening of the film: The Quarry Project, Friday, February 3, 6-8 PM. The Quarry Project conceived and directed by Hannah Dennison, was a site-specific dance/theater piece created for the Wells Lamson, one of the oldest, deepest granite quarries in the country, situated in the small village of Websterville, Vermont. The live performances sold out. Film directed by Montpelier-based Lukas Huffman. To RSVP for the screening, and view the gorgeous trailer visit AVA Gallery.org. Donations of $10.00 per person requested.
(All photos courtesy of the artists/AVA Gallery)
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And in case you are wondering . . . Susan B. Apel shuttered a lifelong career as a law professor to continue an interest (since kindergarten) in writing. Her freelance business, The Next Word, includes literary and feature writing; her work has appeared in a variety of lit mags and other publications including Art New England, The Woven Tale Press, The Arts Fuse, and Persimmon Tree. She connects with her neighbors through Artful, her blog about arts and culture in the Upper Valley. She’s in love with the written word.