“The things people discard tell more about them than the things they keep.” -Hilda Lawrence

Listening to Lisa Barthelson and Virginia Fitzgerald speak at the gallery last weekend I realized how telling and accurate this was for the work of these two artists. Both of them spoke of the importance of materials in the creation of their pieces. Lisa mines the history of her family by incorporating outgrown, discarded, everyday items, and by printing, layer upon layer, sees the underlying beauty and resurrects them in a new form. Virginia tells the story of  the complexity of womanhood with whatever material speaks to her. The artists both spoke of artists who inspire them- Andy Goldsworthy, Louise Bourgeois, many others. In turn, they inspired those of us who heard them speak. We were fortunate that Lisa and Virginia’s conversation was videotaped by Framingham Public Access Cable, and will be broadcast soon in Framingham and surrounding communities. We’ll keep you posted!

Oh, and be sure to stop by and walk on Virginia’s newest piece, the’ Carbon Footprint Dress’!

Looking forward, our plan for April takes a different turn. The Gallery will hold a group show of gallery members and building artists, featuring 10”x10” artworks on birch panel in a variety of media. This show will run from April 1-30, 2011. Each piece is for sale at $150. The identity of the artist will only be revealed upon purchase. A great way to discover a new favorite artist!

A concurrent show of 10”x10” works on paper by students from McAuliffe Regional Charter Public School will also be on display for the month of April. Located in Framingham, the middle school primarily serves eight Metrowest communities: Framingham, Natick, Ashland, Holliston, Sudbury, Southborough, Hopkinton, and Marlborough. 

During Open Studios Weekend, April 8-10, 2011, Fountain Street Fine Art will host a ‘See ART/Make ART’ public art event. Visitors are invited to create their own 10"x10" artwork (all materials provided) to hang in the gallery while they visit the studios in the building, and to take away with them at the end of the day. 
A time-lapse video, produced by Open Studios participant Johnych Studios, will document the ‘work in progress’ as it takes shape on the gallery wall. The event is supported in part by the Local Cultural Councils of Medway, Natick, Southborough, and Weston.

March is about what we do- showcase a body of work by talented, respected artists , like Lisa and Virginia, from around the region.  April is about who we are; our reason for being is to create and foster community, and to spread an appreciation of the importance of art in our lives every day. The 10x10 show brings together the Fountain Street Artists, the children at nearby McAuliffe School, and all the visitors to Open Studios in one collective, interactive exhibit. The show is uniified by the 10x10 square format, but each piece of art is unique, a product of the imagination and vision of its creator. 10x10 connects the building, the neighborhood, and the wider world.