LINCOLN, MASS.- DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is presenting the exhibition, Expanding Abstraction: New England Women Painters, 1950 to Now. The exhibition i on view in the Joyce and Edward Linde Gallery, the Dewey Family Gallery, and the Catherine S. England Photo Study Space. It opened to the public on April 7 and runs through September 17, 2017.
This exciting and timely exhibition focuses exclusively on women artists, shifting the expected male narrative of abstract painting. In addition, it expands the usual New-York-based story by looking entirely to New England. Nearly forty innovative New England women artists including Natalie Alper, Kristin Baker, Sharon Friedman, Maud Morgan, Ann Pibal, Katherine Porter, Jo Sandman, Sandi Slone, Barbara Takenaga, and Maxine Yalovitz-Blankenship, represent the rich diversity of abstract painting from 1950 to today. The selected works are mostly drawn from deCordovas extensive holdings of work by New England artists, and exemplify the Museums longstanding commitment to women artists. Expanding Abstraction places the included works within the larger regional context of Boston and greater New England, as well as the evolution of abstraction over six decades.
Expanding Abstraction is accompanied by a robust slate of public programs and interactive interpretation. A large-scale timeline highlighting related organizations, events, and exhibitions within New England spans three large walls within the exhibition, along with an interactive area encouraging visitors to explore the nature of abstract painting.
Expanding Abstraction is organized by Jennifer Gross, Chief Curator and Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs (20132016), and Sarah Montross, Associate Curator. Additional exhibition support was provided by Koch Curatorial Fellows Helen Lewandowski and Martina Tanga, and Curatorial Assistant Scout Hutchinson.