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‘Marks of Enlightenment’ at Harvard, ‘Blue’ at the Cambridge Art Association
BY RANDI HOPKINS
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Take hold. Center yourself. There is an antidote to the frantic pace and pressures of the holiday season. Forget about gifts not yet purchased and looming family expectations and remove yourself to Harvard’s Sackler Museum, where you can take a deep, restorative breath in the serene presence of "Marks of Enlightenment, Traces of Devotion: Japanese Calligraphy and Painting from the Sylvan Barnet and William Burto Collection," which opens on December 23. Barnet and Burto, emeritus Boston-area professors and intrepid collectors, have been in hot pursuit of fine examples of Asian art for more than 40 years, and more than 70 of the exquisite works of Buddhist scripture, Zen calligraphy, and other writings they have acquired will give insight into the calligraphic, religious and literary traditions of Japan, as well as the evolution of calligraphy as an art form. You don’t have to read Japanese to be moved by the lavishly decorated sutras, or Buddhist scriptures, dating from the seventh to the 13th centuries, like the "Story of the Bodhisattva Medicine King" from Chapter 23 of the Lotus Sutra, its margins ornamented with gold and silver flakes, gold-ruled lines, and images of lotus plants. Organized by Anne Rose Kitagawa, Harvard’s assistant curator of Japanese art, "Marks of Enlightenment" promises a focused, intimate encounter with this rich aspect of Japanese art and culture. Kinda blue? A BIG group exhibition organized around this hue is up at the Cambridge Arts Association, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Juried by Rachel Lafo, eagle-eyed contemporary-art scout and director of curatorial affairs at the DeCordova Museum in Lincoln, "Blue" features work by more than 100 New England artists including sculptor Milan Klic, who came away with Best of Show, first-prize winner and master of egg tempera Michelle Demarco, and second-prize winner Janine Al-Bayati, who makes multimedia abstract paintings. Celebratory events include an open house this Saturday and artist talks on December 18, both at the CAA’s Kathryn Schultz Gallery, where a group exhibition showcases new work by member artists. Sculptor Jill Slosburg-Ackerman has an amazing way with wood and an abiding interest in the many ways in which nature and culture interact and intersect. "Jill Slosburg-Ackerman" (see Christopher Millis’s review in last week’s Arts section) is up through January 9 at Judy Ann Goldman Fine Arts, and there’s an opening reception this Saturday. "Marks of Enlightenment, Traces of Devotion: Japanese Calligraphy and Painting from the Sylvan Barnet and William Burto Collection" is at Harvard’s Arthur M. Sackler Museum, 32 Quincy Street in Harvard Square, December 23 through April 17; call (617) 495-9400. "Blue" is at the Cambridge Art Association’s University Place Gallery, 124 Mount Auburn Street in Harvard Square, through January 3, with an open house on December 11 from 1 to 3 p.m. and artists’ talks on December 18 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Association’s Kathryn Schultz Gallery, 25R Lowell Street in Harvard Square; call (617) 876-0246. "Jill Slosburg-Ackerman" is at Judy Ann Goldman Fine Art, 14 Newbury Street in Boston, through January 9, with an opening reception on December 11 from 4 to 6 p.m.; call (617) 424-8468.
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