A Creative Way to Celebrate Kwanzaa
/Here's a little blurb I wrote for the Artist's Network online newsletter about a great way to celebrate Kwanzaa. It starts this year on December 26th.
Here you will find postings of recently published articles, book, film and exhibition reviews written by me. Occasionally I'll toss in a link to something of interest to practicing writers, artists, and filmmakers.
Here's a little blurb I wrote for the Artist's Network online newsletter about a great way to celebrate Kwanzaa. It starts this year on December 26th.
I wrote this short story for The Artist's Network about early Renaissance artist Fra Angelico's depictions of Saint Nicholas. His frescoes laid the groundwork for the Saint's evolution to the jolly old St. Nick we have come to know today.
As a child, long before I knew they were an important cultural enclave, I spent seemingly endless happy summers on the beaches of both the north and south fork of Long Island. It is with nostalgia and sweet remembrance that I was able to renew those memories in this article for Art & Object about the history of art in the Hamptons. https://www.artandobject.com/articles/enduring-legacy-art-and-artists-hamptons
It was an uplifting experience for me to write about these talented, hopeful, Afghan refugee artists who are living and working in Vermont. Their mural project, Honoring Honar took place in Brattleboro, Vermont this past summer and is featured in the November issue of Art New England. https://artnewengland.com/honoring-honar/
Art & Object has republished an article I originally wrote a year or more ago. I have as much fun researching these recommended films to watch listicles as I do writing them.
https://www.artandobject.com/news/7-films-about-art-cozy-fall
I was reluctant to take on this assignment as I thought an exhibition with a focus on the art of the Tudors would be too fusty, I had pitched a different article to my editors at Art & Object which was handed off to another writer. This turned out to be better than I expected:
https://www.artandobject.com/articles/tudors-art-and-majesty-renaissance-england
This was one of the most difficult pieces about trends in art that I have ever written. I think my viewpoint comes through, while being informative and not exposing me as a judgemental trilobite disconnected from today's real world art scene, which may be short lived. https://www.artandobject.com/articles/immersive-art-experiences-mix-art-money-and-hype
Lois Dodd is a dynamo! It was a great treat writing her profile for the Nov/Dec issue of Artist's Magazine. I interviewed her and wrote this before the opening of her show at the Hall Foundation in Reading Vermont. Luckily, I was able to review that show and it will appear in an upcoming issue of Art New England.
https://www.artistsnetwork.com/artist-profiles/unstoppable-the-enduring-art-of-lois-dodd/
Chesterwood, the former home and studio of American sculptor Daniel Chester French, best known for his rendering of the iconic Lincoln Memorial, now celebrating its 100th anniversary year, is a delightful museum, and a showcase for contemporary sculpture. If you haven't visited, I hope my article published in Art & Object peaks your interest.
https://www.artandobject.com/news/daniel-chester-french-lincoln-memorials-sculptor
Leon Golub made a tremendous impact on my work when I was a young artist studying at Boston University. Having the honor of reviewing his work now has not lessened that impact. Read my review in Art & Object of his powerful career-spanning exhibition now on view at Vermont's Hall Art Foundation.
https://www.artandobject.com/articles/leon-golub-dynamics-power
When this was written, I thought my experience would never be repeated. I am sad but proud that my essay, Roe vs Wade and Me was published today in the Tangled Locks Journal. You can read it here:
https://tangledlocksjournal.com/2022/10/02/roe-vs-wade-and-me/
The September/October issue of Art New England is finally out. I had a fabulous time interviewing Teresa and Robert Davis, the creative masterminds behind Vermont's newest immersive art experience, intriguingly titled Babaroosa, coming soon (we hope if all goes as planned.) https://artnewengland.com/september-october-2022_toc/
My essay, The Cake Went Splat! was included in the American Writers Review 2022 anthology. It will be available on Amazon in August.
For decades artists have been sounding the alarm about the effects of climate change. Now there is a guidebook published by many of those artists to help others to actually do something about it. Read my review published today in Art & Object:
https://www.artandobject.com/news/ecoart-action-promising-guide-ecological-artivists
In writing this article for the current issue of Art New England, I gained a deeper appreciation of the work of both the American painter Wolf Kahn, and his wife, abstract expressionist painter Emily Mason Kahn. You can read it here:
https://artnewengland.com/the-wolf-kahn-foundation-refines-its-focus/
When I reviewed Kill the Documentary, a new book by Jill Godmilow, it blew my mind. Nothing was sacred. Not PBS, not Ken Burns, and not Hoop Dreams. Check out my review published today in Documentary Magazine: https://www.documentary.org/column/kill-documentary-jill-godmilows-manifesto-takes-nonfiction-form
I'd never heard of neo-concretism until I wrote about it for Art & Object. Now I see its influence everywhere.
https://www.artandobject.com/news/neo-concretism-short-lived-influential-art-movement
Chicago is known for outstanding architecture and the self-taught Japanese architect Tadao Ando has recently completed Wrightwood 659, an example of repurposed architecture that I was pleased to write about for Art & Object. https://www.artandobject.com/news/wrightwood-659-tadao-andos-brilliant-architectural-designs
It is always enlightening to discover the women who worked behind the scenes in the lives of famous male artists. Those women like Betsy Wyeth, were often major players in their partners success. It was exciting to learn more about her contribution to the legacy of her husband Andrew Wyeth and their artist/son Jamie in the writing of this article for Art & Object.
Telling Erika, is the title of my essay published today in the literary journal Grand Dame:
https://www.grandedameliterary.com/post/telling-erika
Just scroll down to see the post. The journal is set up in blog format.
The published works of Cynthia Close on documentary film, art, and women in the arts.
© 2026 Cynthia Close
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