Richard Bertman in Three Point Perspective
July 2010
On display at The Mills Gallery at the Boston Center for the Arts, Richard Bertman in Three Point Perspective will feature the works of Richard Bertman – artist, sculptor and founding principal of CBT Architects. This exhibition takes a look at Richard’s lifelong exploration of artistic practice by focusing on three distinct conversations: meticulous pen and ink renderings of buildings and landscapes, expressive wire sculptures of faces and humorously complex kinetic sculptures. The exhibit runs from July 23, 2010 through August 29, 2010.
Richard’s multiple uses of materials and prolific body of work inspired the unusual decision to have three different curators guide the artist’s exhibition. Veronique Le Melle, Nate McDermott and Jacqueline Fernandez serve as curators for the exhibit, and each one gravitated to different points of his creative spectrum: Fernandez drawn to the pen and ink pieces, Le Melle inspired by the wire sculptures and McDermott connected to the kinetic sculptures.
Richard’s pen and ink drawings are inviting and accessible; the black lines and curves infuse life and whimsy into stone, brick, archways, bridges and piazzas. He shares his perspective in such a way that even those unfamiliar with his work will sense they are situated in the hotel or cafe window, the quiet pew at the back of a church, the corner of a bustling city street or in the old town square where he sat with his pad of paper and pen set. Richard’s steel wire sculptures of faces are rich with personality and offer a blend of form and function. In these works, he presents himself with the challenge of constructing a light and airy sketch in three dimensions. The juxtaposition of a strong and static material like steel, to the lightness and sensitivity of touch that a viewer can gather from his pen and ink drawings, is no minor feat. The forms of each sculpture shift as the viewer examines it from different angles, a dynamism that became precursor to his kinetic sculptures.
Relying on electrically powered motors triggered by footswitches and drawing inspiration for their structural components from DaVinci’s renderings of flying machines, Richard’s kinetic sculptures seem to fall within two categories: conceptual and representative. Both utilize humor through form, making reference to objects, humans, and animals. The more abstracted sculptures deal with concepts such as flight, space, and movement, and with all the parts clearly visible, the artist allows the viewer to digest what is needed to make each action take place.
The Mills Gallery is located at 551 Tremont Street, Boston, MA.
Gallery Hours
Wed. 12pm to 5pm
Thurs., Fri. & Sat. 12pm to 9pm
Sun. 12pm to 5pm
On display at The Mills Gallery at the Boston Center for the Arts, Richard Bertman in Three Point Perspective will feature the works of Richard Bertman – artist, sculptor and founding principal of CBT Architects. This exhibition takes a look at Richard’s lifelong exploration of artistic practice by focusing on three distinct conversations: meticulous pen and ink renderings of buildings and landscapes, expressive wire sculptures of faces and humorously complex kinetic sculptures. The exhibit runs from July 23, 2010 through August 29, 2010.
Richard’s multiple uses of materials and prolific body of work inspired the unusual decision to have three different curators guide the artist’s exhibition. Veronique Le Melle, Nate McDermott and Jacqueline Fernandez serve as curators for the exhibit, and each one gravitated to different points of his creative spectrum: Fernandez drawn to the pen and ink pieces, Le Melle inspired by the wire sculptures and McDermott connected to the kinetic sculptures.
Richard’s pen and ink drawings are inviting and accessible; the black lines and curves infuse life and whimsy into stone, brick, archways, bridges and piazzas. He shares his perspective in such a way that even those unfamiliar with his work will sense they are situated in the hotel or cafe window, the quiet pew at the back of a church, the corner of a bustling city street or in the old town square where he sat with his pad of paper and pen set. Richard’s steel wire sculptures of faces are rich with personality and offer a blend of form and function. In these works, he presents himself with the challenge of constructing a light and airy sketch in three dimensions. The juxtaposition of a strong and static material like steel, to the lightness and sensitivity of touch that a viewer can gather from his pen and ink drawings, is no minor feat. The forms of each sculpture shift as the viewer examines it from different angles, a dynamism that became precursor to his kinetic sculptures.
Relying on electrically powered motors triggered by footswitches and drawing inspiration for their structural components from DaVinci’s renderings of flying machines, Richard’s kinetic sculptures seem to fall within two categories: conceptual and representative. Both utilize humor through form, making reference to objects, humans, and animals. The more abstracted sculptures deal with concepts such as flight, space, and movement, and with all the parts clearly visible, the artist allows the viewer to digest what is needed to make each action take place.
The Mills Gallery is located at 551 Tremont Street, Boston, MA.
Gallery Hours
Wed. 12pm to 5pm
Thurs., Fri. & Sat. 12pm to 9pm
Sun. 12pm to 5pm
