The inaugural FlashPoint Boston Photography Festival is bringing armloads of enriching exhibits and activities to locations in and around the city this October – some somber and others lighthearted. Last night scored a “ten” on the fun scale with the opening reception for the latest version of The Curated Fridge at Gallery Kayafas in Boston’s SoWa arts district, on view only through October 27th, 2017. Brainchild of photographer and boutique gallerist Yorgos Efthymiadis, invited “Refridgecurators” sift through hundreds of entries from all over the country four times a year to produce a very tightly edited exhibit on, yes, a refrigerator, ordinarily located in Somerville. The public crowds into each festive opening, but it’s undeniably off the beaten track. That’s why you should make tracks to the hub and take in the most recent Fridge, curated by Brian Paul Clamp – owner of ClampArt in NYC – to see the themed show “Identity”. But wait, there’s more! There are facsimiles of the other three “open call” Fridges from 2017, curated by me, Danforth Art Museum senior curator Jessica Roscio and Gallery Kayafas owner Arlette Kayafas. And wait, there’s still more! There is yet another facsimile of a Fridge at the gallery and it is naked – waiting for your photograph.
Yorgos Efthymiadis, Founder and Fridgemaster of The Curated Fridge, invites you to add your photograph to the naked fridge, while there’s still space. Limit one photo per person.
These Curated Fridges are terrific fun (not to mention, filled with food and drink) but that doesn’t mask the fact that these are competitive exhibits, curated by real judges. I think they are a sly way to make an important point: art belongs in your home. It can be anywhere, even on your fridge. It can be small, even postcard-sized. Remember when you were young and filled your bedroom with pictures from magazines and posters from concerts? They were inspiring and validating. The Curated Fridge encourages us to continue being image collectors and surround ourselves with photographs we love. So, what’s on your fridge?
The Curated Fridge judged by Brian Paul Clamp, owner of ClampArt gallery in NYC.
Left side of The Curated Fridge, from the themed show “Identity”, judged by Brian Paul Clamp.
Right side of The Curated Fridge, judged by Brian Paul Clamp. Key to the participating artists is at Gallery Kayafas!
There are many more reasons to come to SoWa during FlashPoint Festival, a few of which are right in Gallery Kayafas. The gallery is also showing the Griffin Contemporary Portfolio, assembled in 2015 by Paula Tognarelli, Executive Director and Curator of the Griffin Museum of Photography, comprised of “a sampling of contemporary photographers who have made their mark on the medium and have contributed greatly to shaping the spirit of the museum.” The photographers are: Caleb Cole, Blake Fitch, Matthew Gamber, Arthur Griffin, Stella Johnson, Lou Jones, Brian Kaplan, Asia Kepka, Greer Muldowney, Neal Rantoul and Aline Smithson and the Griffin Museum’s founder, Arthur Griffin.
A Griffin Contemporary Portfolio photograph, from the series “Other People’s Clothes” by Caleb Cole (courtesy of the artist, Gallery Kayafas and Griffin Museum).
The Project Gallery at Gallery Kayafas is featuring the work of “PWMD”, the artist team of Paal Williams and Marissa Dembkoski, recent graduates of Lesley University College of Art and Design. Combining concepts from the history of photography with current photographic technologies, they question the constructs of visual culture. Changing expected dimensionalities and playing with unconventional installations, their exhibit is at once mind-bending and uplifting. There will be an artists’ reception at Gallery Kayafas on First Friday, November 3rd, 2017 from 5:30 – 8:00pm.
For more information about the exhibits at Gallery Kayafas, go to: http://www.gallerykayafas.com/
For more information about the exhibits and events during FlashPoint Boston, go to: https://www.flashpointboston.org/
Feature Image: Some of the exhibiting photographers at the opening reception for The Curated Fridge, judged by Brian Paul Clamp of ClampArt, NYC (courtesy of Gallery Kayafas, Boston).
“Cube, 2016” by artist team PWMD at Gallery Kayafas, Boston.
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