The McIninch Gallery
Recent Acquisitions Spotlight
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This newsletter will be highlighting two artists from our recent acquisitions, presented by our Student Educators Rachel Willoughby, and Sara Severino. |
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Matt Brackett, (truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again. - William Cullen Bryant, 1839)
2016, Oil on linen on panel, Hand-lettered in on the frame
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My name is Sara Severino. I am a Senior pursuing a BA in graphic design at Southern New Hampshire University. In the fall of 2019 Artist, Matt Brackett’s Bitter Chill was on display at the McIninch Art Gallery. I am excited to announce that two works from his Bitter Chill collection are included in The McIninch Art Gallery's recent acquisitions. Matt Brackett, a painter based in Boston, Massachusetts, uses traditional techniques to explore themes involving memory, wonder, and menace through a contemporary lens.
Bitter Chill was sparked by Brackett’s despair in the outcome of 2016's presidential election. Over the winter of 2017, he found himself outside observing New England's late winter storms. While wandering out in the woods, his worry for the country resonated with the occluded and frozen wilderness. Brackett felt that the election marked a parallel chilling of American morals. This moved him to travel to Washington D.C., where he was inspired to pair hand-lettered renditions of quotations from a diverse field of notable women and people of color who helped re-frame the country in progressive directions with paintings of New England frozen wilderness.
Sharp and rigid brushstrokes make a rocky, snow-covered landscape; above the cliff line, an array of bare trees covers the upper half of the painting. A crisp light grey sky peaks through the scattered trees and highlights snow patches that cover the rocks. Brackett pairs this painting with a quote from Poet Willian Cullen Bryant. The quote states, “Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again.” Bryant is considered an American nature poet and journalist with ties to the Hudson River School of art. This quote parallels the composition of the painting. Brackett focuses on the elements of a rocky cliff covered in soil, snow, and roots from a family of trees that flourish. Unlike most works in Bitter Chill which consist of various large, open landscapes, this painting's horizon line is higher up on the canvas, drawing our gaze to the rugged earth.
Sara Severino,
Graphic Design Major
Senior at SNHU
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Fred Stonehouse, The Clairvoyant's Dream, 2019
color lithograph
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Hello! I am Rachel Willoughby, one of the McIninch Art Gallery staff assistants and recent SNHU alum. Included in the McIninch’s new and exciting acquisitions are several works from the contemporary, Milwaukee-born artist Fred Stonehouse. By weaving together fantastical imagery and psychological metaphor, Stonehouse has created a deeply personal artistic style and body of work.
The Clairvoyant’s Dream is one of three new works added to our collection. This lithograph is reminiscent of a surrealist dreamscape with bold, saturated colors, the stark contrast between foreground and background, and folkloric symbolism. Rather than adhering to their traditional representations, Stonehouse uses his humanoid and animal-like figures as a means of exploring personal complexities. This allows the viewer to find their own narrative in his works.
Rachel Willoughby
Psychology major
SNHU Alum, Class of 2021
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For more information on the McIninch Art Gallery, make sure to visit our website! Here you have access to our current exhibitions and links to explore virtual shows, educational videos, podcasts, and webinars.
Additionally, The McIninch Art Gallery is delighted to announce the celebration of our 20th anniversary! Stay tuned for more information!
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The McIninch Art Gallery, administered by the Office of the President and School of Arts and Sciences at Southern New Hampshire University, provides first-hand experiences in the arts through collections, exhibitions, and diverse programs designed to support the university curriculum and enhance public engagement with fine art. |
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2500 North River Rd
Manchester, NH
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