Brian Hart: Transforming the Myth at Endicott College
Endicott College is pleased to announce the solo exhibition of Somerville artist, Brian Hart. Brian Hart: Transforming the Myth, located in the Carol Grillo Gallery at the Walter J. Manninen Center for the Arts at Endicott College, 376 Hale Street, Beverly from now through Tuesday, December 22, 2015. Gallery hours are Monday – Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. On Thursday, November 12 at 4:30 p.m. Mr. Hart will give a gallery talk about his work, to be followed by a reception and unveiling of the collaborative piece to be created by him and the School of Visual and Performing Arts students. The exhibition, gallery talk, and reception are free and open to the public.
A Somerville artist and graduate from the Rhode Island School of Art and Design with a degree in printmaking, Brian Hart’s work draws on his background and aesthetic interest in printmaking media, however, the work is entirely painted by hand. The themes in these paintings are often derived from stories and myths he reinterprets using a broad range of imagery from the works of old masters to cartoons. The variety of sources that he draws from, both visually and conceptually, offer the viewer a chance to interpret the pieces with their own sensibilities. The artist states, “In a broad sense my recent work has been focused on stories and characters in which no one is really ‘whole’ and that everyone is always searching for a way to make themselves what they want to be. Even though the themes and stories they are related to are typically concrete written works, the artworks I do in response to them often have a more varied perspective. All the major icons of the stories are coded or represented in some way in the pieces but they need to be deciphered by the viewer. Titles of works simply set a context for the viewer to enter into the work, hinting at meaning associations and possible interpretations without spelling anything out. This allows for a more dynamic viewing experience, inviting them to think about what these images mean to them not just in relation to the story but also personally.”
Brian’s inspirations have come from comic books, super heroes, the styles of the Renaissance masters, and the poet, musician, and graffiti prodigy in late-1970s New York, Jean-Michel Basquiat. With a total of nine, large acrylic on canvas works, Brian Hart: Transforming the Myth will captivate the viewer as they stop to take in the many dense layers, stories and myths that fill the canvas. The images are graphic by nature and recognizable at first glance; but one needs to take a step back and view them from many angles. All works are one word titles such as Risk, Rider, Musing, and Envy, and a group of four draw on a theme that the viewer will discover as they make the connection with the figurative lines. While Brian’s exhibit is on display he will be working with our students for two full days to complete a mural. The students have sent the artist personal drawings which will be incorporated into the work. The students will assist Brian as the work is completed, and then we will celebrate the finished piece during the reception on Thursday, November 12.
To learn more about Brian Hart, visit his web page at www.thebrianhart.com. For more information regarding the exhibition Brian Hart: Transforming the Myth, or any of our programming in the Walter J. Manninen Center for the Arts at Endicott College, please contact Kathleen Moore, Coordinator of Visual Arts at 978-232-2655 or kmoore@endicott.edu. The exhibition, gallery talk and reception are free and open to the public.
Photographs: (If you would like larger versions, we can send them)
Risk 64 x 50 Acrylic on Canvas
Ryder 64 x 50 Acrylic on Canvas
Envy 48 x 66 Acrylic on Canvas