For our exhibition Panorama, our goal was to showcase a range of painting approaches from figurative to abstract. We selected Paul Beckingham, Lynette Haggard and Bonita LeFlore for the show to demonstrate three distinct styles that span the broad spectrum of creative expression. The artists' points of view are apparent in their handling of color, form and light; their differing perspectives highlight the full potential of paint to deepen our appreciation of the world around us.

Since we were not able to host our usual talk with the artists of Panorama, we decided to host a conversation online instead. We hope you enjoy this video, and make sure to check out our social media and newsletter for more digital engagement with the artists of 13FOREST.

Bringing public art into the gallery

Together with the Arlington Commission on Arts & Culture and Arlington Public Art, 13FOREST Gallery is pleased to present Outside|In, a series of artist talks about public art along the Minuteman Bikeway.

The Minuteman Bikeway has been a vital thoroughfare for commuters and those seeking recreation for the past 25 years. Passing through the historic area where the American Revolution began, the Minuteman Bikeway now unites the towns of Cambridge, Arlington, Lexington, and Bedford, and is one of the most popular and successful rail trails in the United States.

To commemorate the Minuteman Bikeway's 25th anniversary, a series of public art projects are being installed along the beloved path. Collectively known as Pathways, these installations inspire conversation and appreciation for a treasured local resource which runs just a few blocks from the gallery. 13FOREST Gallery is happy to further these conversations by hosting talks with the artists behind these works. Join us this summer and fall to learn more about public art and the important role it plays in our community.

Pathways is supported in part by a grant from the Arlington Cultural Council, a local agency funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. The Rhetoric of Opposites is supported in part by a donation from SunBug Solar. The installations can be found between Linwood Circle and Swan Place, near the Kickstand Cafe.

Schedule of Events

Sat 7/29/17, 4-6 pm: The Rhetoric of Opposites, Nilou Moochhala

Wed 8/30/17, 6-8 pm: Flutter, Claudia Ravaschiere and Michael Moss

Sun 9/24/17, 2-4 pm: Down the Wormhole with Skunk

Sat 10/21/17, 4-6 pm: Ripple, Adria Arch and the Arlington Knitting Brigade and Current, Frank Vasello. Event details here.

Featured Artists

Ripple, Adria Arch and the Arlington Knitting Brigade

Created by Adria Arch and the 57 volunteers of the Arlington Knitting Brigade, Ripple celebrates art, nature and community. Brigade members knitted and crocheted unique panels using a shared palette developed by Arch. Wrapped around tree trunks, their work has transformed a small grove of Norway maples into a magical place of the imagination -- filled with vibrant color, varied patterns, and rich textures.

Current, Frank Vasello

Current is a site-specific sculpture for the Minuteman Bikeway that is constructed entirely from natural materials gathered along the Bikeway. The sculpture responds to the unique location and terrain along the bike path, giving new life to the dead and cast-off materials it is comprised of. Vasello's work is often concerned with death and the cycle of rebirth as well as mythology.

Down the Wormhole with Skunk

Artist Skunk is the Fleet Admiral of SCUL, a sci-fi fueled bicycle chopper gang. SCUL members create fantastic bicycles, known as ships, which they use to complete patrol missions around Boston. Skunk's ship, Cloudbuster, is the flagship of the SCUL fleet, and is "somewhere between an elephant, a garbage truck, and a rift in spacetime."

Flutter, Claudia Ravaschiere and Michael Moss

In both Eastern and Western thought, the butterfly represents transformation, freedom, joy, and the power of change. The butterflies of Flutter are formed in a contemporary material, translucent Plexiglas; perched on a chain link fence they negotiate the boundaries between the urban and natural worlds meeting at the Bikeway.

The Rhetoric of Opposites, Nilou Moochhala

The Rhetoric of Opposites juxtaposes words with opposite meanings in pairs along the Bikeway. By bringing these polarizing words into the public realm, Moochhala invites bikeway users to think about where they come from and where they are going, and how words can divide us or bring us together.