Three Artists' Work on Display at Beebe Estate
Three local artists have work on display at the Beebe Estate through April, showcasing some of the range and talent of the artists in our community.
Debra Corbett and some of her artwork
Photo Credit: Nancy Clover
Each artist set up their work in one of the three main rooms on the first floor, and although their styles and approaches are very different, the exhibit works well together as a whole, highlighting the differences in their styles without creating a jarring effect in moving from one room to the next.
Debra Corbett, a longtime Melrose resident and founding member of Melrose Arts, displayed several pieces of abstract, mixed-media art in her section, each one textured and lively. She explained that she had done more traditional art years ago, but found that “other people have done nice landscapes” and she wanted to create something more elusive and less recognizable, that would allow viewers to place their own interpretations and emotions onto the painting.
More of Debra Corbett's art
Photo Credit: Nancy Clover
Each of Corbett’s pieces involves multiple layers, with combinations of found paper - sewing patterns, pages from books - hand painted paper, and multiple layers of different textures of paint. Several of Corbett’s pieces are especially striking in her use of circles and arches, contrasting symmetry and patterns with less predictable textures. Despite their differences in color, texture, and shape, however, Corbett’s pieces harmonize well with one another because, as she explained, she “didn’t want visual overkill” in her display.
Sophie Glikson Cahen had perhaps the most varied range of styles and media on display in her room. A native of Paris who began painting after she moved to Boston as a young adult, she takes inspiration from her work as an expressive art therapist, using her art to understand herself and the world around her.
Sophie Glikson Cahen and some of her artwork (Spirit Light is on the far left)
Photo Credit: Nancy Clover
One of her most unusual pieces, called Spirit Light, was created using clay on paper, by candlelight, using the wax drippings as part of the art process. Glikson described the moment of turning the lights on after creating the painting and seeing what she had created, and explained that people have seen a huge range of shapes and figures in this painting, depending on what they themselves might be feeling at the time.
Glikson also displayed several pieces made from handmade paper. At first, she described, as she began using her art as a spiritual and expressive practice, her works were dark and mostly black, but recent works inspired by nature, many of which are more figural and use natural materials like flower petals, are light and airy. For her, art allows us to examine what we are worrying about, to “access our creative intelligence” and transcend whatever is bothering us. Several of her pieces use frames made by her 94-year-old father, who still lives in France.
Some of Constance Festo Lafond's art
In the largest room, Constance Festo Lafond had a variety of paintings, photographs, and wearable art on display. Many of her paintings are landscapes of familiar New England sights - wharves, boats, small towns, beaches, forests - but created in bold colors and brushstrokes. One particularly striking set shows a similar town scene in sunlight and then again at night in the snow, the snowflakes rendered as very delicate dots of textured white paint against the brighter colors of the houses.
More of Lafond's artwork
Photo Credit: Nancy Clover
She also displays photographs of familiar sights like the Mystic River, rendered unfamiliar by their focus on multi-layered reflections in the water. Finally, she has a range of wearable art - hand painted scarves, dresses, even raincoats - and tiny easels with miniature abstract canvases on display.
The combination of these three artists’ work - multi-layered and textural abstract paintings; non-representational and nature-inspired works; and familiar subjects rendered unfamiliar by their bold colors and brushstrokes and unusual perspectives - creates a powerful effect for the visitor, allowing us to experience first-hand some of the range of creativity we are lucky enough to have among our local artists.
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