South Shore Art Center: Forever & After

Thou know’st ‘tis common; all that lives must die,
Passing through nature to eternity. 
—William Shakespeare (Hamlet. 1.2.72–73)

 I recently visited an amazing art show at the South Shore Art Center’s Bancroft Gallery entitled Forever & After.  As the above quote selected by curator Bill Houser alludes to, the show’s themes revolve around the subjects of mortality, death, loss, mourning, monument, and commemoration.

“Sculpture has been used to commemorate and honor the dead since before the Egyptians built the pyramids, to ensure immortality for the spirits of those buried within. The essence of Forever & After is the exploration of the ubiquitous and prophetic themes of loss, commemoration, and belief in spirit with its uncertain evolution or transcendence, through the medium of contemporary sculpture.”

-Bill Houser, Curator

 I adore mixed media artwork and  this exhibit features pieces created with a wide variety of materials including reclaimed wood, doors, newspaper, and even a typewriter.  Here’s a peek at a few of the pieces from the show…