By Kristine Diederich/ Daily News Staff
Thursday, May 11, 2006
To celebrate positive images of home life, Artana Gallery owner Heather Roy has assembled an exhibit of four artists and their specialty: "The Great Indoors."
The works reveal the intimacy of our indoor surroundings: a grandfather clock, a summer hat waiting to be worn, a chubby cat napping in the sun or morning light washing over house plants -- all images that viewers will find cozy and familiar.
Roy opened Artana Gallery in Saxonville six years ago and later moved it to Coolidge Corner, described the exhibit as a celebration.
"One of the reasons I'm doing this is kind of a pre-Mother's Day (event)," she said. Although not all of the artists are mothers, they all are women, and their works portray a soothing comfort that is visceral.
Carole Rabe of Natick has several of her oil paintings in the exhibit.
"I've seen some of (the exhibit and) I'm very happy with the group of artists I'm showing with. We complement each other. We have similar ideas of what is important in our imagery," said Rabe. "We may approach it differently (but) we do have a similar outlook on life."
"There's something wondrous about the indoors," said Roy. Unlike on a rainy day, she said, staying inside when the sun is shining requires a more conscious choice. "Now that the weather is nice, it's nice to be indoors for some reason."
Many of Rabe's paintings are as comfortable as an old chair -- literally. Several canvases show chairs of many styles and arrangements.
"The chair implies human presence, that someone was there," she said. "I like the metaphoric idea of human presence."
Rabe is currently an assistant professor of visual arts and director of the Hess Gallery at Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill.
"To live among your belongings, that we're fond of, we can have such a reaction to objects, the positive images of home life," said Roy. "I like evoking an emotional response."
"The Great Indoors" is open through June 3. An opening reception will be held tonight, 6 to 8 p.m. The artists in the exhibit include Rabe, Jacqueline Cunningham of Atkinson, N.H.; Donna Baldassari of Lynn; and Jeanne Tangney of Newport, R.I. Artana is located at 1378 Beacon St., Suite B, Coolidge Corner, Brookline. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. -- Thursday until 7 p.m. -- or by appointment. Call 617-879-3111.