Spirendulum Performance by Artist Kim Bernard

Sorry for the long pause folks, it has been a crazy start to the summer. But wonderful things are going on. Just one show kicking off our summer is a new series by Artist (Encaustic (wax) ) Kim Bernard. Check out her latest YouTube video and swing on by the gallery for her show, "commonality BOLD dynamics," with artist Jayne Adams. Up through July 22nd, 2011.

International Encaustic Conference

Passing this along; conference founder and director Joanne Mattera, in conjunction with the Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill, are pleased to announce that The Fifth International Encaustic Conference will take place June 3-5, 2011 in Provincetown, Massachusetts, with Post-con Workshops June 6-10 at the Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill.

<<<< Joanne Mattera

While the Conference is in full swing we will have or "Wax in Motion" exhibition kicking off Friday, June 3rd running through June 27th. This is a national juried exhibition. Open to all encaustic Artists. Juror is regional and national encaustic artist Kim Bernard.

Full Prospectus>>>

Recognition Award
One artist, whose work is selected and included in the Wax in Motion exhibit, will be offered a solo exhibit at Bowersock Gallery in the fall of 2012.

National Juried Encaustic Exhibition

We are pleased to announce "Wax in Motion" a juried encaustic exhibition open to all artists working in wax. Happening this June.

For full details and our call to artists see our prospectus.
Deadline for submissions is March 22, 2011.

Jurors; national and regional encaustic artist Kim Bernard and director of the gallery, Steve Bowersock.
<<<<< Kim Bernard>>>>>

Encaustic artist Alison Golder

Black and White Friday

We recently had our Black and White Friday exhibition, the latest color-themed exhibition at the gallery. The event was actually a twist on the annual “Black Friday” an economic term for the largest shopping day of the year, the Friday after Thanksgiving, that traditionally pushes business into the black - or profit margin. We thought it would be a fun challenge to use the theme to challenge our artists and it worked. Our artists stepped up to the challenge creating some rare, unique, and wonderful works of art.

Jayne Adams hasn't worked in black and white since her college days, but she stepped up to this challenge and created three amazing pieces.

Kim Bernard became so inspired by the idea she is now creating a series of black and white encaustic's, beginning with two currently on show.


Dustan Knight created her koi series in black and white with just a hint of red. This was a nice surprise to see her stretch her skills as a fine art watercolorist.

Not to mention, Michael Palmer came out of now where and created his Favela series in just black and white ink. The show also feature Jeanne’ McCartin’s wall sculpture from the haunting “Dreams and Nightmare" series.
Even Carol Roll, surprised us at the last minute by creating a small mache sculpture and Lauren Pollaro created a wonderful small mixed media assemblage.

This Man is Important!

William Thomson is showing with Master Artists, John Singer Sargent, Andrew Wyeth, Winslow Homer, and Edward Hopper just to name a few; at New Britain Museum of American Art, their exhibition; The Great American Watercolor, folks this is HUGE!!!

I highly recommend paying attention to artist William Thomson, if you have always looked at his work and wanted a piece now is the time. I truly believe he will be an artist that will go down in our art history books, as a master painter of our time. To back that up, New Britain Museum of American Art, has an exhibition coming up; The Great American Watercolor Apr. 24 - July 3, 2010 Opening Reception, 2-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Apr. 25, 2010.

New Britain Museum stated in Art New England, this is the first time that they have pulled out their private collection for a show such as this; "Never before shown as a group, 130 of the most distinguished examples will be featured in The Great American Watercolor."

The "Taking Form" Dance

“Taking Form” featured the work of Kim Bernard and Shaune McCarthy. Both two mid-career artists that are known for their strong individual visions that leave indelible impressions.

The opening reception included a special “taking form” dance performance, reflective of the exhibition’s spirit. Two great videos of the dance on youtube. (Taking Form II, and Taking Form).

Both have developed very clear approaches to their art forms. These are highly dedicated artists, in the truest sense of the word, constantly exploring, moving forward, yet somehow maintaining the essence of what makes them unique. Kim Bernard and Shaune McCarthy create individual art because they reach inside rather than follow a trend. Read more>>>

Thanks to Brad Fowler for these wonderful photos.

Help us! Vote for the "Poem Select Award."

"The Poetic Approach" is fast approaching us; featuring the works of Darlou Gams and Stan Moeller. Vote for your favorite poem and poet to win our "Poem Select Award." Featuring poets like Jose' Gouveia, which is one of our jurors, Ed Lambton and Bob Zappacosta.

Here is just one of 10 poems. You be the juror and vote for your favorite.

The Poet

From an unknown place
he rustles into town, like the wind~
carrying word seed, filling the ears
of those in the gallery.
Undauntedly moving are the
fingers, hand, arm of
an artist
who attempts to
paint him in a frame.
Yet, it is only an image
of the spirit which cannot be contained.
And he soon disappears
over the dunes~ to an unknown place.

-by Bob Zappacosta

Full Press Poetic Approach>>>
Future home of Bowersock Blog >>>

Heat + Wax = Encaustic

Kim Bernard has pulled it off once again. She was recently juried into the Saco Museum's exhibit "Heat Stroke": New England wax artists working in encaustic. Juried by Katherine French, director of Danforth Museum of Art in Framingham, MA. and a known figure in the encaustic medium. Yankee Magazine feature>>>

Encaustic is a amazing medium dating back to the fifth Century B.C. and ancient Egyptian times. Recently jumping into the American Scene by Jasper Johns and other postwar painters.

Encaustic- "to burn" in an ancient Greek term. Which is a medium using hot wax (bee's wax) melted, and sculpted creating luminous and translucent layers of color. Allowing the artist to create texture and depth from wax. Encaustic is fast growing in popularity among artists in contemporary art works. More on encaustic>>>

Our oldest and most renowned painter, William Thomson, is a prime example of an artist who has been using the medium long before its popularity. He has been experimenting with different mediums for over 4 decades.

We are excited to join the many national and international institutions, including, The Saco Museum, in recognizing the growing medium bringing Kim Bernard to the forfront for Bowersock Gallery.

Bernard's show is "Taking Form" which opens Friday, July 31st along with sculptor Shawn McCarthy who creates amazing figurative works.

Bowersock Annual Give Back Exhibition

Bowersock Gallery is off and running with our second show. We promise it will be a fun event!

We are opening the season with our “Annual Give Back”,” with a reception on May 2, from 6 to 8 p.m., The event is both a formal exhibition and a fundraising project.

The Opening Reception will launch the two week long fundraiser with a special evening of events. “Annual Give Back” will include live music by Sarah Burrill. A wine-tasting with Wellfleet Wine Cellar Spirits, paper goods provided by Stop and Shop and food catered by Cosmos Catering and Farland Provisions.

Hope to see you all there. Make sure you check out our Wine Tasting Sponsor.

Embracing Encaustic

With encaustic becoming a popular medium among artists I wanted to take the time and interview artist Kim Bernard.

First off what is encaustic? The word “encaustic” comes from the Greek, meaning “to burn in”. Encaustic painting is the art of painting with pigmented, molten wax. In painting, a medium is created from a mixture of waxes and resins, melted and pigmented.The technique is one of the oldest painting techniques known, dating back to the first century - Often used in Roman Egypt to decorate mummy coffins and tombs.

How long have you been working with encaustics? "I have been working with ecnaustic, in combination with other materials, for over 9yrs."

What is so special about encaustic? "Encaustic is yummy! It smells good, feels good, its forgiving and allows me to be spontaneous. If I don't like what I've done I can scrape it or melt it off and begin again."

What makes you unique from other encaustic artists? "I am unique from other artists, because my experiences, interests and obsessions are unique, as in true with all of us. I am constantly challenging myself, pushing my work, and asking questions (hopefully the right ones) and exploring new terrain. My work is always evolving. If I ever start doing the same thing year after year, shoot me!"

Where did you come up with the idea, to signature, your piece in Lead? "The lead was a no-brainer in framing my 2-D work since I had been sculpting with lead already. Work begets work. One thing leads to another. As Ani DeFranco put it "I don't know where I'm going , but it ain't where I've been.""

Why lead, why not copper or any other metals? "I use lead because it's very flexible. I can bend it, cut it, wrap it, fold, join it, nail it and sew it. I've welded, cast bronze and I do use copper at times. I like the way materials combine, contrast, harmonize and oppose one another."

~Kim Bernard

Touched by an Artist

First off, "what an amazing painter; William Thomson is truly one of the best American painters alive."

The experience of rifling through over 500 paintings was an experience unto itself. It was the first time in a long while where art moved me in such a way that it gave me goose bumps and put tears to my eyes. (Claudia went with me and both of us had red eyes by the time we were done). It took over 4 hours to go through his entire collection, I could not stop.

Bill Thomson's work creates a multitude of feelings, moods even some harsh realities but what's apparent is the skill of his brush and the use of color. His brush work is flawless using broad and tight strokes, creating soft and sharp edges but they all blend creating a mood in each piece. His color usage is spectacular using mostly earth tones in his pallet. Bill works in all kinds of mediums from acrylic, encaustic, egg tempera, oil to watercolor but somehow they all tie together producing an amazing image.

We are thrilled with the opportunity to add Thomson to our collection.

Represented in collections of; Britain Museum of American Art, Holyoke Museum of Art & History, Mattatuck Museum, DeCordova Museum, Berkshire Museum, and Slater Museum.

What Economy?

I asked some of our artists this question; "Any advice for an artist just starting out in this current economy?" When I originally asked this question I had emerging artists in mind but after reading through the artist's comments, I realized this really wasn't about emerging at all. The question could be for any artist who is working in this current economy.

I became so energized after reading their comments; I knew they needed to be shared.

Any advice for an artist just starting out in this current economy?


"Just work! Get in the studio! This is a great time to focus on making better works, push, stretch, take risks, maybe fail, but explore new territory." -Kim Bernard




"I began sculpting full time during the 80's recession and has a very successful career which supported me as a sculptor for then years. You have to work hard and have a lot of luck (which you create for yourself), and have faith that your work is worth struggling for." -Christopher Gowell




"Sure- They are 2 non-related issues, so forget the economy and just paint! Your job is to work and improve." -Gail Sauter



"Just do it! Shine on and be thrifty. Creative people learn they need to take the time for thoughts to peculate from their unconscious. Allowing space for gathered reflection to come forward is part of the process of making art." -Wen Redmond
Check out "The Wire" just released today about this Obama piece.




"Being an artist is a lifetime lifestyle." -Dustan Knight




So I said "what economy" these artists have over three decades of experience, devoted their time and lives to their passion and not to mention they are extremely talented. So they must know what they're talking about.

More encouragement is Sotheby's and Art News Blog "But a Christie's auction in New York has blown my theory of an auction slowdown out of the water. The total for the night was an impressive $325 million, which is the second highest total for a post war and contemporary art auction." from Art News.

Hot Encaustic and Kim Bernard

Did you know Kim Bernard is president and founder of New England Wax. Congrats Kim we all knew you were a mover and a shaker.

The N.E.W. is a professional group of artists in the six New England states who use encaustic and who share a commitment to exchanging ideas and organizing exhibits. Through organizational meetings, presentations and conferences, N.E.W. provides opportunities to share both technical and aesthetic insights while supporting one another's creative and professional development.

You can also read about current trends on encaustic at Joanne Mattera Art Blog.

Bernard will also be teaching an encaustic class at "Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill"in conjunction with her exhibit at Bowersock Gallery, opening on Friday, July 31, 2009.
The gallery has current works available in this PDF.