Line drawing, especially how Bowlby practices it here, is one of the most basic and accessible forms of visual art. It takes a certain knack to employ it conceptually, and Bowlby quite impressively does so here. Of course, her project has benefited from some inspiration. In her studio, she keeps a copy of the influential children's book Harold and the Purple Crayon (among others by Silverstein and Dr. Seuss), and texts by the artists Claes Oldenburg, Pierre Alechinsky, and Jean Dubuffet, each influential in 20th century pop and "low" art movements. Depending on your perspective, "Everything" might also provide insights into practice, imagination, differentiation, or visual language. But with such ambitious vision and plainly accessible terms, there are simply tons things this work could be about, and doubtless more will emerge this infinite catalogue of things takes a greater life of its own.
"EVERYTHING," ink and paper installation by Astrid Bowlby | through March 6 | University of Southern Maine — Gorham Art Gallery, 37 College Ave, Gorham | artist talk Feb 1 @ 1 pm | reception Feb 2 @ 2-4 pm | gallery closed Feb 18-24 | 207.780.5008 | usm.maine.edu/gallery
Related:
More than black and white, Odd year ahead for museums and galleries, Review: Wilfred, More 
- More than black and white
In “Drawing,” the spare, residential Icon gallery offers the work of 13 Maine artists on intimate display.
- Odd year ahead for museums and galleries
Remember, for every droopy tarp stalactite that makes it into a museum lobby installation, there are dozens of similar (and similarly impressive) creatures that never leave a studio wall.
- Review: Wilfred
It's hard to say what's more surprising about Wilfred , FX's new comedy — adapted from an Australian series — about a depressed ex-lawyer (Elijah Wood) and his friend Wilfred, who he thinks is a man in a dog suit but who is, in actuality, a dog. Is it that the show exists at all, or that it's actually pretty good?
- After I Wikipedia'ed Uganda ...
Overheard at the Common the other day
- Voodoo economics
To paraphrase The Communist Manifesto , a specter is haunting Hollywood. Actually, two of them: zombies and vampires. The undead.
- Preaching to the hive
What’s the most effective way to make people care about the institutional problems with our industrial food economy?
- Ronnie James Dio (1942 - 2010)
As he lay in a Texas hospital bed in March, being treated for the disease to which he would eventually succumb, Ronald James Padavona, better known to the world as heavy-metal legend Ronnie James Dio, gave an interview to a local TV station. “Cancer? I’ll kick the hell out of you,” he declared, before throwing the devil horns.
- Beer on a budget
The beer industry is generally considered recession-proof, since people are still going to drink beer when times get tough. But has the same been true for more expensive craft beer in the recent recession?
- Slideshow: History of Guru and Gang Starr
Here is our salute – in photo, audio, video, and writing – to a Roxbury legend and the vast Gang Starr legacy he left behind.
- Boston tucks away a $125 million windfall
As debate continues over the city’s finances — and whether the city of Boston can afford firefighters’ raises, branch libraries, community-center staffing, and other costs in tight times — the city is planning to quietly tuck away a one-time windfall of more than $125 million.
- Where the wind blows
Thank you for the first nonpartisan, fact-based article I have read regarding the Cape Cod wind-farm project.
- Less
Topics:
Museum And Gallery
, Wikipedia, Astrid Bowlby
