Convergence: Boston Sculptors Gallery Exhibits at the Christian Science Plaza: Donna Dodson

Donna Dodson

Fierce and protective as wild animals, but loving, warm and human, Tiger Mothers stand guard near the Children's Fountain on the Christian Science Plaza. They are a tribute to Amy Chua's book, The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. Dodson celebrates the mystical relationship between human beings and the animal kingdom.

Donna Dodson, Tiger Mothers, 8'x4'x4' each, styrofoam, cement, paint, 2013

An Arty Night Out! A Solstice Event

Friday June 21st 8pm. Meet at the entrance to The Mary Baker Eddy Library, 200 Mass Ave and walk around the sculptures that are installed on the plaza and end at the bookstore, where the participants can purchase the catalog. The tour is free and open to the public.

Join artists Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein for a guided tour of Convergence on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, under a nearly full moon. New Hampshire sculptor, Andy Moerlein will be joined by Boston artist, Donna Dodson for a romantic stroll in one of Boston's architectural treasures. Plan an early dinner in the city and join us for our walk.

Update: Oliver Simpson, intern at the Christian Science Plaza, Boston, talks the sculpture "Tiger Mothers" by Donna Dodson, in this video. These sculptures are both part of a collection of art in the exhibit, Convergence, in Boston, Massachusetts. This exhibit is cosponsored by the Boston Sculptors Gallery and The First Church of Christ, Scientist. You can see the exhibit from May 1-October 31, 2013, at 210 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston's Back Bay.

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Murray Dewart's Tribute to 20 years of the Boston Sculptors Gallery

At Boston Sculptors, one of our guiding principles has been that "shared experience builds community" and it is our great pleasure and honor to partner with the church on this magnificent Plaza. This exhibit marks our twentieth anniversary as a working group and for twenty years we have tried to move the city of Boston forward in the realm of public art. Boston is a world class destination for universities, medicine, high technology, finance and sports but less so in its public art. Our goal is to change that. Mounting this show is part of that effort. We thank the Church for their tremendous logistical and curatorial support. We thank our special friends for their financial help. As sculptors, we have worked as we almost always work: borrowing, risking, cobbling together, sharing trucks and tools, pushing our materials to their outer limit, on the outside chance that the sculpture will come alive and catch fire.

We are dreamers, we are builders, and we use form to give the world metaphors. Make something in sheep's wool sixty feet high. Put a girlish dress on a twenty ton oak tree. Make an orchid blossom fourteen feet high in aluminum and polypropylene. Put a massive boulder high in the notch of a tree. Give form to the Tiger Mother and the Inner Eagle. We make visible and we make knowable the ineffable things of the spirit. We can teach a stone to talk, stone older than the Pleistocene. We get steel to sing, to shine with a mirror finish and reflect the passing clouds. We use computer-aided saws and laser technology and we use hammer and tongs older than Isaiah who hammered his sword into a plowshare.

Often we get asked "What does the sculpture mean?" and we try to answer. But the sculpture is like the orchid and the tiger and the eagle. It's not what they mean. They don't always have to mean. They just have to be, a being in the world.

We plant our sculptures in the ground and watch the seasons change around them. Their work is to humanize the sometimes anonymous and commercial urban landscape. Some sculptures tell stories, reminding us of our ancestors and of our origins. Some sculptures manage magically to restore silence to the world and thereby yield a vision of peace. Sculptures stay in the world being looked at, not like movies and plays that leave town, or books that go back on the shelf, more like flowers in the public garden, vulnerable in their beauty, easy prey to thoughtlessness, but they can burn with their own curious moral authority and generosity of spirit, reminding us of what matters most, what we hold most sacred. They help us face the irrationality of the world. They help us find courage, something we've needed this April in Boston.

We have our immortal longings and sculpture is often their vehicle and their emblem. That happy couple in Joe Wheelwright's Loving Stones will be around for a very long time. The loving girl will remain a girl as the city of Boston changes and grows old. In that immutable ten tons of field stone granite, forever will they love and she stay young and fair her love still burning.

-Murray Dewart, co-founder of Boston Sculptors Gallery

Press coverage for Convergence

Boston Magazine blog, April 29, 2013, by Yiqing Shao, 'Boston Sculptors Gallery to Launch Convergence Exhibit at Christian Science Plaza.'

Convergence Sculptures by Sarah Nichols, a photo set on flickr.

Boston Magazine, May 2013 'Back Bay Sculpture Park' p. 28.

Boston Courant, May 3, 2013, by Eddie Small, Christian Science Plaza Hosts Sculpture Exhibit, p. 11.

Boston Dog, May 3, 2013 by BostonDog.Wordpress.com, “Day 344- Men in Skirts and Sculptures.”

Juniper Disco.com, May 6, 2013 by Juniper Disco, “Convergence: An Awesome Day in Boston.”

Fuse: Visual Arts Review, May 19, 2013 by Margaret Weigel, "Convergence: Boston Sculptors Gallery Exhibits on the Christian Science Plaza."

Boston Globe, May 20, 2013 by Cate McQuaid, "Plaza pieces."

Boston Globe, June 24, 2013 by Murray Dewart and Dennis Kois, "Boston's Bold Moment for Public Art."

Boston Globe, June 27, 2013 by Sebastian Smee, "A Convergence of Boston sculpture."

Artscope, July/August 2013 by Suzanne Volmer, "Convergence," p.12-13.

World Sculpture News, Spring 2013 v19 no2, "Civic Pride," p.18-19.

Greater Boston with special guest Jared Bowen, July 2, 2013, 'Christian Science Plaza Shows Off Public Art'

WGBH News, by Jared Bowen July 3, 2013, "Convergence."

Dead Blogging, July 5, 2013 by John Carroll, “Boston Sculptors Convergence at Xtian Science Plaza.”

Radio Boston, hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti and Anthony Brooks July 18, 2013 'ARTery: A Convergence of Public Sculpture,' with special guest Wyona Lynch-McWhite

Dig Boston, July 23, 2013 by Coryn Doncaster, "Preview: Convergence"

Open Studio, July 26, 2013 with Jared Bowen, 'Christian Science Plaza.’

A Sense of Place, July 29, 2013 by Erin Halvey,” Public Art: Convergence in Boston.”

JETeye, Tiger Mothers by Donna Dodson, July 29, 2013.

JETeye, Poised by The Myth Makers: Donna Dodson & Andy Moerlein, July 30, 2013.

JETeye, Inner Eagle & Reclining Blade by Peter Haines, July 31, 2013.

JETeye, Arabaesque by Eric Sealine, August 1, 2013.

89.7 FM WGBH News, with Jared Bowen, Arts This week: The Berkshires are Calling, August 1, 2013.

BU Today, August 1st, 2013, by Tom Vellner, "A Convergence of Art and Community: Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition Transforms the Christian Science Plaza."

JETeye, The Space Within by Gillian Christy, August 2, 2013.

JETeye, Three Bronze Trees by Jim Henderson, August 5, 2013.

JETeye, Green Landscape/Brown Landscape by Jim Henderson, August 6, 2013.

JETeye, Wave Cloud by George Sherwood, August 7, 2013.

JETeye, Loving Stones by Joseph Wheelwright, August 8, 2013.

JETeye, Templum by Margaret Swan, August 9, 2013.

Art New England, Sep/Oct 2013 by Elizabeth Keithline, "No Walls Around Culture."

"What Comes Next?" by Fred Langa, September 2, 2013 "Exploring Boston: 'Convergence: Sculptors Gallery.'"

The Back Bay Sun, October 15, 2013, "Convergence."

BostonZest.com, October 18, 2013, Penny Cherubino, "Great Heron by The Myth Makers and Convergence- Last Two Weeks!"

Boston Courant, December 6, 2013, by Eddie Small, "Sculptures Find New Homes After Exhibit."

Sculpture Magazine, March 2014, by Marty Carlock, "Convergence: Boston Sculptors Gallery at the Christian Science Plaza," p.75-6.

Schedule of events:

Saturday, May 4thGrand Opening & Public Reception, 2p-5p, Tours at 2:15 and 4:15p with the artists. Remarks by Representative Byron Rushing, Councilor Tito Jackson and others at 3pm. Location: Reflection Hall.

Sat May 18th 11am"Double Take: Gillian Christy & Joseph Wheelwright "

Wheelwright has carved two 3-ton granite boulders into a pair of stone heads which gaze lovingly into each other's eyes. Their title is simply "Loving Stones." During his talk Wheelwright will provide a guided tour of the exhibition CONVERGENCE and explain the process of collecting and carving stones on this scale. His best known local stone head is the "Listening Stone" in the permanent collection of the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park in Lincoln, MA. "The Space Within" by Christy consists of a pair of sculptures in which New England clapboards define the house shape. The details within either piece are sculpted organic buds or leaves. Christy will discuss her interest in expressing connectivity through form and share her informed impressions of the sculptures on view.

Thursday, June 6th 2p-5p Catalog Launch. Jen Mergel remarks at 3pm. Tours at 2:15 and 4:15p with the artists. Location: Mary Baker Eddy Library Bookstore.

Sat June 15th 11am"Kinetic and Monumental"Murray Dewart, Founding member of the Boston Sculptors Gallery, and George Sherwood, notable public artist, will lead a conversation on the plaza about the 20th anniversary of the Boston Sculptors Gallery, the changing landscape of public art in Boston and their role in shaping the future.

Friday June 21st 8pm "An Arty Night Out! A Solstice Event"Join Artists Andy Moerlein and Donna Dodson for a guided tour of Convergence on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, under a nearly full moon. New Hampshire sculptor, Andy Moerlein will be joined by Boston artist, Donna Dodson for a romantic stroll in one of Boston's architectural treasures. Plan an early dinner in the city and join us for our walk.

Sat June 29th 11am"Art, Architecture and the Landscape- a Conversation"Judith Tolnick Champa, Editor in Chief of Art New England and Wyona Lynch-McWhite, Director of the Fruitlands Museum of Art in Harvard, Mass. will discuss the challenges of curating in an urban environment.

Tuesday July 9th 6pm (tour @ 5) NEFA sponsors "A Panel Discussion on Convergence: A Case study in building community partnerships"

Panelists:

Kelly Brilliant, Executive Director, Fenway Alliance
Donna Dodson, Member of the Boston Sculptors Gallery
Dharmena Downey, Executive Director at Fenway Community Development Corporation
Toni Gaspard, Community Relations Liaison, The First Church of Christ, Scientist
Robert Herlinger, Chief Architect & Strategist, The First Church of Christ, Scientist

Megan Low, Director of Services, Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston

Nancy Winship Milliken, Member of the Boston Sculptors Gallery

The panel discussion at 6pm will be followed by a reception. Location: Sheraton Boston, Commonwealth Room. 39 Dalton St, 3rd Fl, Boston

Arrive at 5 and take a guided tour of the Convergence exhibit with Ron Mallis, AICP, Urban Planner and the Head of BostonAPP/Lab, Dan Sternof Beyer, Artist and Arts Activist, Deborah Disston, Director McIninch Art Gallery and SNHU Sculpture Park & Andy Moerlein, Convergence Artist. The panel discussion at 6pm will be followed by a reception. Location: Commonwealth Room, Sheraton Boston, 39 Dalton St, 3rd Fl.

Saturday July 13th 11am "The Meaning of Materials". Nancy Milliken and Rosalyn Driscoll both work with natural materials--Nancy with wool and Rosalyn with rawhide. They will explore the meanings of the materials used in the sculptures as well as in the plaza itself. the exhibit, Convergence. This talk will take place during the Outside the Box Festival in Boston,outsidetheboxboston.org

Sunday July 14th 11am, Kelly Brilliant, Executive Director of the Fenway Alliance will lead a tour of Convergence duringThe Fenway Cultural District Opens the Avenue!– A partnership of the Fenway Alliance,Outside the Box Summer Arts Festival, and the Emerald Necklace Conservancy’s Circle the City— 'The Fenway Cultural District Opens the Avenue' celebration takes place All-day, Sunday, July 14th.

Saturday July 20th 11am "Administrator and Maker" Liz Keithline, Director of Public Art programs, Rhode Island State Council on the Arts will lead a thought provoking and engaging walk through of Convergence. Well versed in the complexities and challenges of administering public art projects, and a sculptor herself, Liz will engage the audience in a conversation from both points of view. This talk will take place during the Outside the Box Festival in Boston,outsidetheboxboston.org

Saturday July 27th 11am "Playfulness" Artists Laura Evans, Andy Zimmermann and Marilu Swett will lead a guided tour of Convergence, the sculptures sited by the Boston Sculptors Gallery on the Christian Science Plaza. Come and engage in an informal conversation about the role play can take in creating sculpture, from an artist's perspective.

Saturday August 3^rd11am "A Critical Evaluation of Site and Idea." Two notable arts personalities, Brian Goslow, managing editor of ArtScope Magazine; reporter, Fifty Plus Advocate newspapers; and a freelance reporter for Worcester Magazine, and Dr. Michael Volmar, Chief Curator, Fruitlands Museum and curator of Art in Nature will provide a guided tour of the art on the Christian Science Plaza. Their combined experiences with installation challenges and creative results in a public setting will initiate a free ranging discussion of the work on view. This is sure to be a lively and intelligent consideration of the work and the merits of presenting sculpture in a busy urban setting.

Saturday Aug 10th 11am "The Contemporary Figure in Public Art" Leslie Wilcox & Sally Fine both draw on the tradition of using the human form in their monumental outdoor works of art. Wilcox's figures animate the arbor of trees on Mass Ave and Fine's figure will catch the viewer by surprise by hiding in the portals of the Colonnade Building. Come and discover other works of art that seem to blend into their surroundings yet stand out with their vivid presence.

Saturday Aug 24th 11am "The Big Picture: Public Art and Creative Communities" Jean Maginnis, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Maine Center for Creativity and Wes La Fountain Interim Associate Director of Development UNH, and Co-Founder of the Maine Center for Creativity will discuss the works of art in Convergence in the context of place making, building an audience in the community for contemporary art and activating a popular urban landmark.

Saturday Sept 7th 11am "Play Date: A Family Outing"Bring the entire family! Explore the Plaza art with Jean Mineo, a mother and the Director of the Boston Sculptors Gallery in a guided tour to engage the senses for all ages. Ever wonder how the artist MADE it? We'll look at the artworks, touch the materials, explore construction techniques, and learn about the sculptors living in our community and how they work together to run a gallery.

Saturday Sept 21st 11am "Site Insights: Peter Haines and Margaret Swan" Founding members of the Boston Sculptors Gallery, Peter Haines and Margaret Swan will discuss the site specificity of each piece on the plaza in relation to the surrounding architecture and the other works in the exhibition.

Saturday Oct 5th 11am "Poetic Gestures and Material Surprises" Eric Sealine & Michelle Lougee will lead a guided tour of Convergence sculptures in a morning conversation about adapting their materials and practices to the scale of the plaza. Eric's first language is architecture and responding to the site came naturally. Michelle incorporates plastic bags, such as the wrappers on the New York Times, into woven biomorphic shapes. Come and explore the exhibition with these two Boston Sculptors.

Monday, Oct 14, 2013 @ 3pm. "Sculpture- a Professional Opinion" Nick Capasso New Director of the Fitchburg Art Museum will lead a tour of the exhibition on the plaza, commenting on the role of contemporary art, monumentality and siting sculpture in a public setting. This talk takes place during The Fenway Alliance: Opening Our Doors 2013 on Monday, October 14, 2013

Saturday Oct 19th 11am "New Visions & Fresh Perspectives - the future of public art in Boston" Katelyn Littlejohn Kirnie, Visual Arts Manager, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy & Terry Catchpole, Member of the Board of Directors, Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston and Advisory Board Member, Downtown Boston Business Improvement Dictrict(BID).Programming private public sites as well as publicly owned sites in Boston requires funding, community partnerships, politics and poetics. This team will discuss Convergence in the context of the past, present and the future strategies of making public art in Boston happen.

Convergence: Boston Sculptors Gallery Exhibits at the Christian Science Plaza

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