Art in the Library -- January/February
Downstairs Picture Gallery
"We are What We Build"
Photographs by Howie Axelrod
January 17th - March 1st
Ashland resident and intrepid traveler Howie Axelrod has been photographically documenting his travels for many years and the library has been very pleased to exhibit his work on a regular basis for the past 5 years. This exhibit is a collection of 25 images taken over the past decade of his travels on 6 continents.
“Although I am not an architectural photographer, I am always impressed by the structures that we as humans have built. A simple observation is that the largest man-made buildings on earth are religious structures, sporting arenas, and military installations. This appears to be constant throughout our history, and perhaps says a great deal about our priorities as higher order beings. Many creatures are builders, but man alone builds for both function and beauty, often going to great lengths and expense to adorn buildings whose primary purpose is function. This behavior is not seen in the animal kingdom, making us unique among builders. I present here man-made structures from around the globe having been built from 430 BC to modern times. Some are the most simple of dwellings having been built from whatever materials were available. Others are mighty forts and religious structures where no expense seems to have been spared in terms of function or adornment.
I hope you enjoy this photographic journey and welcome your comments.”
The photos are available for purchase in all sizes. Please contact Howie Axelrod directly for questions and pricing.
Howard S. Axelrod 508-881-6597 highwind1@comcast.net
Upstairs Display Case
"Inspiration Comes from Everywhere"
Deborah Elizabeth Stone
January 7th - March 3rd
Marlborough artist Deborah Elizabeth Stone has been working with beads for many years. A few years ago she had a wonderful exhibit of her work at the library and was greatly enjoyed. She is returning with a new exhibition of her most recent work, much of it inspired by several 20th Century artists including Kandinsky, Klee and Frank Lloyd Wright. She is also exploring more sculptural pieces. As Deborah said to me “Remember, anything with a hole in it is a bead”.
In Ms. Stone’s words:
“I have been beading for over 22 years. I got started when a company in San Francisco was looking for people to do piece work: making the same earring over and over again. Once I made the first pair and found out how wonderful beads are to work with I couldn't do the same thing twice...I think that the hardest part of working with beads is that your hands can't work as fast as your brain...I am always making notes and incubating ideas, some projects take longer than others to come together. Many projects start with just an idea and a rough picture in my head. Once I get started the beads guide me so that they end up exactly where they are supposed to be. It is a fascinating creative process to remember where you started and see where you finish.”Ms. Stone's work is very unusual, beautifully designed and exquisitely crafted. A unique exhibit not to be missed.
Example of Deb Stone's Work
Main Circulation Area
"In Circulation"
A site-specific installation created by Janet Shapero for the Ashland Public Library
September through January 2011
In designing and creating this installation, Ms. Shapero has this to say:
"As one of the original Carnegie Libraries, the Ashland Public Library provides not only the site but also the inspiration for ‘In Circulation’ an installation that will inhabit the library from September through January, 2012. Based on the idea of public access to books and knowledge, I have designed an installation that reaches out to the public through the very windows of the Library. The windows serve both as visual and metaphoric means of illumination, and as pages in an ongoing story of transformation.It is a very unique work of art, specific to the space, light, color, and architectural features of the library. There will be 4 phases of the installation, with each phase being installed around the middle of September, October, November and December. Originally from Massachusetts, Ms. Shapero lived for many years in Italy, then Wisconsin, and Utah, before returning to her Boston roots. She received a BFA from RISD and an MFA and Masters in Italian Literature from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Ms. Shapero has worked in a variety of media, including film, sculpture, painting, and has taught at universities in Europe and the United States. Currently she is a visiting professor in the Doctorate Visual Arts Program at the University of Barcelona, Spain. Her work is included in museums and collections in the United States and Europe. Her studio is located in the Waltham Mills. For further information and comments please contact Janet Shapero , website:
In this time when the very future of libraries and of physical books is in transition, I have decided to focus on books and on their predecessors – scrolls. Using three key book sizes; folio, quarto, and octavo as a reference, I have created series of sculptural pages that are not physically bound together, they appear to float through space – overlaying the environment with their luminous color. Sizes, shapes, colors and configurations will shift and change over the course of the installation creating a visual symphony for library patrons and viewers - who will be invited to participate through sharing their experiences – online."
"In Circulation" by Janet Shapero
