The Third National Encaustic Conference

On the weekend of June 5 -7  Montserrat College of Art hosted the Third National Encaustic Conference, the only conference of it's kind.  The Conference was conceptualized and founded by Montserrat Faculty member and nationally recognized encaustic artist Joanne Mattera. This year over 200 artists from the US, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Iceland, Ireland and France came together to the Montserrat College of Art campus for three days of conference talks and demos, and many stayed on for an additional three days of post-conference workshops. Please visit the Conference Blog for a full list of guest speakers and conference activities. Accompanying the conference were four on- campus juried or curated shows of strictly encaustic work.  Details about these shows can be seen at the gallery website.

Installation View  of "In the Round: New Work by Kim Bernard and Deborah Kapoor"

The fact that artists from around the globe are attending this event year after year, speaks not only to the importance of the conference, but to the draw that Beverly, Massachusetts and Montserrat College of Art has on whoever steps on campus.  

Kim Bernard, Unraveling, 2009, encaustic, cotton & plaster

About Encaustic:

Unlike oil paint, in which pigment is suspended in linseed oil, or acrylic, in which the pigment is suspended in polymer medium, encaustic paint is pigment suspended in beeswax. The paint is applied hot with a variety of tools, then cools and hardens within seconds. Encaustic is known for its endless versatility. Multiple layers of paint and clear wax create overlapping color and amazing depth: the medium can be textured, scraped, incised, etched, combed, embossed, sculpted into three dimensions or smoothed to an enamel-like finish. Its molten natures can be used for collaging or imbedding mixed media into the wax; since beeswax is compatible with oil paint, oil pigment sticks can be used to glaze in rich color or to fill in incised markings. 

Encaustic is actually one of the world's most ancient and archival painting mediums, predating oil paint. The Fayum portraits from Grego-Roman Egypt, circa 100 B.C. to 200 A.D., have survived through the centuries. Encaustic was virtually a lost art until pioneer Jasper Johns began contemporary encaustic painting in 1954, exposing it to a new generation of artists. Many artists believe that we are now at the start of another encaustic renaissance.

This Collective Pull

Below is the press release for "This Collective Pull" a curatorial project initiated by alumni Bea Modisett '07.

Justin Bothwell. Untitled. Charcoal on paper. 32" x 28" 2009 

"This Collective Pull" is Bea Modisett's '07 latest curatorial project.  This show will feature the work of a number of Montserrat College of Art alumni who have stayed local and who have been maintaining a studio practice, but not necessarily showing their work.  For one night only we will be taking over the walls of a friend's apartment to showcase our efforts, brainstorm possible new collaborations and bring to focus the lively arts community that exists in Beverly, independent of the school.  This is the first opening of many shows to come that will bring to light the artistic energy of those alumni who choose to stay local after graduation.

Bea Modisett. Untitled (From the Mental Vault series). Ink, pastel and graphite on bristol, 5" x 7". 2009

The night will consist of great art, food, wine, lots of music and probably way too much dancing. Artists include:  Justin Bothwell '05, Peter Breffini '07, Brendan McCauley '07, Bea Modisett '07, Julie O'Boyle '06, Emily Pardoe '07 and Justin Paszul '07. The show will be taking place at 66 Dane Street, Second Floor Beverly MA on Friday, June 12 beginning at 7:00.  We hope you will join us, and please contact Bea at beamodisett@yahoo.com if you have any questions! 

Bea Modisett and participating artist Julie O'Boyle '06 both work as Admissions Counselors at Montserrat, while still maintaining their own private studio practice.

 

Congratulations Class of 2009!!!

Montserrat College of Art held its 39th Commencement on Friday, May 22, at the beloved Cabot Cinema, on Cabot Street, Internationally recognized conceptual artists Jenny Holzer and Annette Lemieux received Honorary Doctorates from the College and Lemieux gave the Keynote speech.

Forty four students received Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in concentrations including Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interdisciplinary Studies, Painting and Drawing, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture as well as certification in Art Education and minors in Art History and Creative Writing . The faculty speaker was Gordon Arnold, author and professor of Liberal Arts at Montserrat, and the student speaker was Sarah DesJardins, who received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting. Awards were also given to students showing exceptional talent and dedication to their field.

We wish our graduates the best of luck in their future endeavors, we are sure they will go far and spread the good word that is Montserrat. Congratulations Class of 2009!

Montserrat College of Art Graduating class of 2009 stand on the steps of the Beverly Public Library.
Photo Credit: Julie O'Boyle '06