Due to the blizzard earlier this month, “First Fridays” was rescheduled for the second Friday in January. I was glad for the extended opportunity to catch some great shows. Here’s a few of my favorite pieces I came across:

 

 

My first stop was the Boston Sculptor’s Gallery, which is showing “Cures for Cancer” by Dennis Svoronos and “Steps” by Liz Shepherd until February 2nd. “Cures for Cancer” is combination of interactive kinetic sculptures and conceptual photos. His sculptures allow viewers to engage with a topic that is deadly serious in an interactive and light hearted way. Talking about the experience of cancer and questioning America’s medication paradigm is hard; Svoronos’ work makes the viewer smile and uses that engagement as an entry point for discussion.

 

Next I hit up Carroll and Sons, which has an awesome show by Nicholas Kahn and Sichard Selesnick up until February 15th. I am a longtime fan of Kahn and Selesnick’s otherworldy creations. Each of their projects dreams up a fully fledged new world, complete with its own environments and archetypes. The gallery walls are covered from floor to ceiling in photos and prints and the gallery is dotted with a number of the sculptures used in the images’ creation. There is so much to explore in this show, I almost had to be dragged on to the next gallery – I’m glad the show will still be up for February’s First Friday evening so I can take a second look.

 

Bromfield Gallery is showing some mind-bending sculptures by James Lentz until Fenruary 2nd. Lentz uses his impeccable craftsmanship to warp everyday objects and surfaces into arresting works of art.

Gallery Sampson is showing work by Carlos Jimenez Cahua until March 1st. Cahua’s gallery interventions are both playful and technical: he uses the science of sight to set up a series of visual tricks for the viewer to explore.

My last stop was the Miller Yezerski Gallery, which is showing John Coplans’ “Hands” until February 4th. My favorite part of the show was the small hand sketches on yellow scrap paper hiding in the corner. I found the juxtaposition of the small rough sketches with the larger-than-life pristine black and white photos to be quite touching.

 

 

I hope you enjoyed this First (second) Fridays as much as I did, see you next month!

Sowa First Fridays happens the first Friday of every month at 450 Harrison St, Boston from 5 – 9pm