I often think of spring as a transitional season, the time between the crisp darkness of winter and the hot humid New England summer. When looking through the exhibits in this guide, you’ll likely see a common theme of transition as well. How did we go from depicting cities in hand-drawn maps to street photography? How did South Korea become a cultural powerhouse through the course of the 20th century? On a micro-level, how does an artist portray her life from day to night? We look at these times of transition not just to better understand the past, but also the present and future. Perhaps a little time with these works of art will change the course of your season for the better.
‘Paper Cities‘
The Clark Art Institute
Through June 23
“Paper Cities” brings together works on paper from 26 artists from drawings of European city life just after the invention of the Gutenberg press to mid-19th-century depictions of urban America. The exhibition goes beyond just displaying a wide variety in terms of time and geography. The works in this collection also come from a diversity of uses. A piece from 1694 titled “New Trip to Italy: with a memoir containing useful advice for those who want to make the same trip” from French writer and traveler Maximilien Misson was used by young aristocrats on their grand tour of Europe. Photographs from Berenice Abbott, a student of sculpture and celebrated portraitist, document New York City at a time of great architectural and societal…
