Shoe Sculptures at The Gallery at Dunia |  |
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| Official Website: Shoe Sculptures at The Gallery at Dunia Location: 43 Nason Street, Maynard, MA, 01754 directions Phone:978-897-8850 Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2008 - Saturday, September 20, 2008 Hours: Hours Vary see below Ages: Kids, Teens, Adults In/Outdoor: Indoor Cost: Free see below |
The Gallery at Dunia presents 'Foot Fetishes,'an exhibit of sculpted-shoe caricatures by Acton artist Gwen Murphy. Murphy masterfully plies acrylics, paperclay, and wood - in addition to shoe leather - to shock, amuse and delight. But there's a more serious message afoot: Murphy has pledged 20% of all proceeds from 'Foot Fetishes' sales to the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program (www.bhchp.org), a non-profit that provides Boston's homeless men, women and children with access to health care.
Dunia, for its part, will conduct a Sock and Flip-Flop Drive, soliciting donations of new, white cotton socks and rubber flip flops in all sizes for BHCHP to distribute. 'Foot Fetishes' runs from July 1 through September 20. A reception will be held for the artist on Sunday, July 13, from 2 to 5 PM; attendance is free and open to the public.
Not content merely to breathe life into moribund footwear, Murphy uses the medium to portray the panoply of humanity, corns and all. Seen side by side, her #17 and #18 evoke familiar friends who talk over each other, gabbing pointlessly, at ease in their mutual obliviousness. Murphy's #19 and #20 don both Mardi Gras masks and a weary nonchalance; viewers must decide whether their destination is an costume ball or someplace darker. (The infamous party scene in Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut comes to mind.) More sinister still are #6 and #7, with their wingtipped-brogue supervillains' hoods and fangs.
'I see the shoe as a kind of fetish,' said Murphy, 'an object believed to have magic powers to protect or aid its owner. A shoe has presence, and the power to protect and transport us' Gwen Murphy holds an MFA in Sculpture from Boston University College of Fine Arts and a BA in Fine Arts from New College in Sarasota, Florida. She has a lengthy list of exhibit credits, including shows at New York City's Museum of Arts & Design, Danforth Museum Member's Juried Show (Framingham MA), SOFA (Chicago IL), DeCordova Museum School Gallery (Lincoln MA) and ArtSpace Maynard, where she keeps her studio.
Dunia is located at 43 Nason Street in downtown Maynard. Gwen Murphy's 'Foot Fetishes' art will be available for viewing during store hours, Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM, except for Thursday, when the store stays open until 8 PM.
About Dunia Ecostore
Located in Maynard, Massachusetts, Dunia Ecostore specializes in houseware, home décor, boutique, jewelry, bath and body, personal care and gift products, all hand-picked from vendors committed to sustainable, fair-trade, and cruelty-free practices. The Gallery at Dunia is an ongoing project for promoting local artists and non-profit organizations.
 Hours |  Top |
Monday through Saturday 10-6
Thursday 10-8
 Cost | Top |
Free
 Location | Top |
43 Nason Street, Maynard, MA, 01754 map
Nason Street near Summer Street, Downtown Maynard
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