As the presidential primaries wind down, the war in Iraq hobbles forward and “climate change” becomes a household phrase, one group of artists is not going to allow pundits and politicians to hog the debate. This July, the Windham Art Gallery presents Red, Black and Blue: Patriotism, Planet and Politics, an exhibit focused as much on politics as aesthetics. This exhibit features pieces by co-curators Matthew J. Peake and Leonard Ragouzeos (whose work is pictured at left), as well as Jim Giddings, Tom Alberico, Nye Ffarrabas and Linda Mahoney (whose work is pictured below).
Through their paintings, drawings, and mixed-media works, the artists depict a country enveloped in controversies over global warming, the war in Iraq and the Bush administration’s policies. A centerpiece of this exhibit, Ffarrabas’ Chair Piece, was initially inspired by the Vietnam War and exhibited in the ’60s, yet resonates with a new war generation.
July 4-27, Reception: July 11, 5-8 p.m., Windham Art Gallery, 69 Main St., Brattleboro, (802) 257-1881, www.windhamartgallery.com.