I know, not the most creative title:)! but what can I say
we've been kind of crazy busy:)! It's
good thing. So here's the news!
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"Conversation With Pieter and Paul", Combined Media Digital and Acrylic , B.Grady |
I will be presenting a lecture on my work at Post
University on November 19th from 1-2:30 in McDermid Hall Auditorium. The talk will encompass
the recent community based projects I
have been involved with that contemplate the effect of industrialized
agriculture on the environment. For those who are unfamiliar with my work, these projects have included "Plight of
the Pollinators," Animals in the City, "Crop Circle," and "Glut."
The lecture is the first in a series of visiting artist presentations that the university will be
hosting. The artist's talk is free and
open to the public. A special thank you! to Ginger Hanrahan and John Rohlfing of the Post University Art Department for this invitation!
Here's the press release for this event.
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Image by Jay Foster |
"Ms. Grady will discuss her experience
creating and curating community based art projects that focus on issues in the
environment. She works either as the principal artist producing works for
exhibition or the initiator of these endeavors.
Most recently, Ms. Grady collaborated with the Flanders
Nature Center and Land Trust on Plight of
the Pollinators. The central premise of the show, which featured an
international group of artists, was to raise awareness of the vital importance
of pollinators in maintaining the health of our food and eco-systems. The
project involved a six-month program that incorporated interdisciplinary
practices, educational art/science workshops, lectures, and resource
information through both physical and social media platforms.
The culminating
exhibition was held at the “Field Projects” exhibition space in Watertown, CT.
In her presentation Ms. Grady will discuss her work, and the
natural development of ideas and how it feeds the creative process. In
addition, she will describe how her work is applied to community development
and awareness and gives artists an opportunity to engage in collaborative
initiatives that push the boundaries of the traditional art practice. A
reception with light refreshments will follow the talk".
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Animal or Vegetable 1, 12" x 12", Oil on Panel , B.Grady |
I have also been selected
for the Manifest International PaintingAnnual 4 (INPA 4) for the still life piece "Animal or Vegetable 1", which is an extention of the "Crop Circle" project
and subtly alludes to questions around the genetic engineering of food.
This is the second
time I have had the
privilege of being selected for this international
competition. The painting "Conversation with Pieter and Paul" from the "Glut" project was published in
the first year of this painting competition,
the INPA 1. Last year a work commissioned Dianne Parmalee of the Flanders Nature Center and Land Trust to
raise funds for their animal program was also selected for Manifest's International Drawing Annual (INDA 7).
Dianne was a main instigator and collaborator the Plight of the Pollinators project that resulted from that drawing!).
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Artist- Ben Ni |
A selection of works
from the Crop Circle project are currently on exhibit at the LQM Gallery located on 165 State Street, Harris Building
Atrium, Suite 106 in New London, Connecticut, where I was an invited participant
for a panel discussion on women in the arts.
The panel was put together by
Qimin Liu, Professor of Painting at Eastern Connecticut State University and Iranian- American artist Afarin Rahmanifar,
who was the moderator for the panel. Middlebury artist Leeah Joo was also an
invited panelist.
The panel
discussion included the four Chinese women artists taking part in the ICAS
(International Contemporary Art Space) International Residency program hosted
by LQM Gallery. The main exhibition, "East Meets West;An Exploration of Women Artists and Cultural Impact", featured Ben Ni, Guan Yuling, Xu Chunli,Zhang Shuyun. My paintings are still
on view there until the end of November by the gracious extension of gallery
director Qimin Liu.
Leeah Joo was also the consulting artist in the winning
animation piece submitted by Westover School Students for the Plight of the
Pollinator's exihibition.
Both Afarin Rahmanifar and Leeah Joo were featured in Carina Tautu's documentary film " Where Beauty Lies" sponsored by the The Mattatuck Museum Arts and History Center commissioned this
film to document the Josephine McMillen and Lois Livingston McMillen Exhibit. The film explored the studio lives of five contemporary Connecticut women artists including Mia Brownell, Susan Madacsi and Eleanor Miller. Check out the video below.
The LQM Gallery is beautiful so if you are looking for a day trip this weekend head on over to LQM in New London!
OR
Check out our exhibition of Hollis Dunlap's Drawings. This small selection of drawings will be on view until the end of the month. Gallery Hours 12PM-5PM Weekends and by Appointment. 860-417-3243