Showing Up: The Practice of Art

Featuring the work of 20 artists who meet regularly online to offer mutual support, the exhibit features a wide variety of themes and media including video, painting, collage, printmaking, artist books and sculpture.

Adria Arch, an Arlington-based artist and educator, facilitates Art Chat as a bi-weekly one hour Zoom session in which each member “shows up” with new work or work in progress for support and feedback. The sessions are guided by questions like “How does the work you are looking at make you feel, and what does it evoke?” Learning from the conversations, each artist finds encouragement and direction. Curiosity is the guide star for a satisfying art making experience. It’s a misconception that a lone artist is fulfilled just by making art. Showing Up demonstrates the power in a productive, guided dialog that supports rather than judges.

Now in its fourth year, Art Chat arose at the start of the pandemic as a way to create a community bonded by a commitment to an art practice. Over the last four years, the six member sessions have morphed and participants have come and gone. This exhibition celebrates each of the artists who have participated during the program. Most are based in Massachusetts, but also include two artists from Atlanta.

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Exhibiting artists:
Sherry Autor, Carey Benham, Connie Bigony, Katie Bull, Anne Callahan, Monica DeSalvo, Shazia Fahim, 

Tatiana Flis, Claire Gerard, Nancy Harrod, Pam Kainz, Ellen Liner, Gerry Menz, Cecily Miller, Gillian Orlinsky, Melissa Shaak, Kimberly Stoney, Connie Thibaut, Meg Turner, Nyia Yannatos