Not all chairs are for sitting. Check out Boca Museum of Art exhibit
By Skip Sheffield
No, they are not having a rummage sale at Boca Raton Museum of Art.
Exhibit, “Chairs Found and Fixed,” at Boca Museum of Art.
That jumble of old chairs tethered together in the front window is a work of art called “Chairs Found and Fixed,” thank you. It is such a profound work that chief juror Linda Norden judged it Best in Show for the 59th annual All-Florida Juried Competition and Exhibition, running through Aug. 8.
“The judge likes installations,” curatorial assistant Kelli Bodle explains helpfully. “George (Bolge, museum executive director) set it up. The original artist had it more spread out.”
Spread out or bunched together, “Chairs Found” looks like a random collection of discarded chairs, which it is, but the 32 chairs were collected at the behest of Kerry Phillips of Miami, who enlisted her neighbors to help her make a statement.
That community spirit must have impressed Norden, a curator, writer and historian who was director of the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center’s James Gallery.
Norden selected 92 works in all manner of media for this year’s show, and there is a little something for everyone, from representational super-realistic to wild abstract expressionist. For the record, merit awards went to Roberta Schofield and Melissa Marrerro for their body of work and Noelle Mason for “Nothing Much Happened Today: For Eric and Dylan.”
Also on display is the Biennial Exhibition of Boca Museum Artists Guild. This year’s juror is Dr. Carol Damien, who awarded first place to Francene Levinson’s painstaking paper sculpture, “Rising.” Second place went to Lorraine Bader’s “Empress Cixi” collage, and third place went to Jerome Glickman’s painting “Rebirth of Creative Self.” Juror’s Recognition went to Hanne Niederhausen’s “Gutenberg’s Notebook” and honorable mention went to Sally Cooper’s “La Mer” triptych painting.
Admission is $8 adults, $6 seniors 65 and older and $4 students and groups. Call 561-392-2500 or visit www.bocamuseum.org.
“Twilight,” “Last Airbenders” open
The week’s big releases are “Twilight Saga: Eclipse” and “The Last of the Airbenders.”
While “Twilight” will probably take in a load of money from loyal fans, I just don’t get the fascination with teenage vampires and werewolves, and at more than two hours in length, life is just too short.
The same goes with the elemental fantasy of M. Night Shymalian’s latest attempt to enthrall us with science fiction.
That leaves me with the Italian film “I Am Love;” a pretentious title if there ever was one.
“I Am Love” is a labor of love for star Tilda Swinton, who also produced the film.
Swinton is Emma, Russian-born head of the household of the wealthy Recchi family of Milan, Italy. Patriarch Edoardo Recci Sr. (Gabriele Ferzetti) is having a birthday, and he announces he is handing over the family textile business to his son Tancredi (Pippo Delbono), Emma’s husband.
However, his grandson Edoardo Jr., called Edo (Flavio Parenti) will have joint control, while Edo’s brother Gianluca is left out of the deal.
So far it doesn’t sound terribly interesting, and it is not. “I Am Love” is one of those self-consciously artsy films with beautiful setups and long silences, directed with gravity by Luca Guadagnino.
There is intrigue in the Recchi clan, however. Emma’s daughter Betta has fallen in love with a woman. More scandalous still, Emma has fallen for Antonio (Edoardo Gabbriellini), Edo’s handsome chef friend who wants to start a restaurant with him.
Trust Emma and Antonio to heat up the kitchen and bedroom, and expect more than consternation when Emma’s mother-in-law (the great Marisa Berenson) finds out what she’s up to.
So “I Am Love” is really about the breakup of a family Italian-style, with plenty of food, sex and nudity. If that appeals to you, I say bon appétit.
July 4th Celebrations
The cities of Boca Raton and Delray Beach both held their big celebrations and fireworks displays this past weekend, but Boston’s on the Beach began its Independence Day festivities early on Friday, July 2, with the launch of its first “Red, White & Blues Festival,” which continued through Sunday, July 4.
Friday’s headliner was St. Andrew’s School’s best-known musician graduate, Tinsley Ellis. Tinsley is now an Alligator Records blues star. Opening for him was Boca’s own “Famous Frank” Ward and his Nucklebusters Blues Band.
Saturday’s lineup included a number of local favorites, including Fort Lauderdale’s Shack Daddys and Delray Beach’s Fabulous Fleetwoods. Headliners were recording artists Bill “Sauce Boss” Wharton, Albert Castiglia and Elvin Bishop.
Sunday’s event, free to all, included local favorites, rising stars JP Soars and the Red Hots and David Shelly and Bluestone.
