“SKIN! (exposed),” a show at Long River Gallery and Gifts in Lyme, looks at one of the subjects most important in an artist’s study and development, the human body. It’s an oddly presented show because, with the exception of one wall given over to the black-and-white ink drawings of tattoo artist Meredith Muse, the works are scattered through the gallery, rather than being shown together.
To find them you look for works marked with a pink ribbon. Some paintings are stacked up on the floor, while other ceramic pieces, small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, are placed throughout the galleries, where they’re easily dwarfed by other pieces.
As a result, the works don’t achieve the maximum effect they could, and the opportunity to make intellectual connections between the artists and their work is lost.
It’s too bad because there are some works on view that nicely illustrate the tension between the surface of the body and the musculature beneath.
Hanover artist Betsy Derrick paints still lifes of pears and finds in them the same sensual quality that we see in our skin and bodies. Stephanie Reininger, a Lyme artist, has a lovely watercolor called Red Toenail, which depicts a nude woman who is lying down and contemplating her raised leg.
Another Lyme artist, Greg Gorman, who makes stained glass, contributes Sculpture Class Model, an oil on board work that depicts a nude male, shown from the back; Gorman has arranged the body in blocks, so that it resembles panes of stained glass.
Robert Chapla, from Newbury, Vt., has painted thick, impasto works (Skin 1 and Skin 2) of acrylic on birch bark panels that make a viewer think about the texture and weight of the skin we live in, and the way human and natural life are bound together.
Mary Jane Morse, of West Lebanon, has contributed a handful of works, one of which, Figurescape I, deftly makes the analogy between the curves and hummocks of the human body and the mountains we see around us in the Upper Valley.
Muse, who lives in Moretown, Vt., gets the lion’s share of wall space, with elaborate, fantastically detailed ink-on-paper drawings that have a mythical quality to them. One can only imagine what these look like when they’re translated from paper to the living countours of a human body.
“SKIN! (exposed)” continues at Long River Gallery and Gifts in Lyme through Sept. 6.
In conjunction with Bookstock weekend in Woodstock, and for the sixth consecutive year, ArtisTree Gallery in South Pomfret is opening the exhibition “Unbound Vol. VI,” which asks regional artists to consider the shape and content of the book. There will be an opening reception Friday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The gallery is offering special hours this weekend from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
The 31 featured artists are: Anita Gangi Balkun, Barbara Bartlett, Tom Batey, McKey Berkman, Mollie Caffey, Ella P. Carlson, Valerie Carrigan, P. Cloudpainter, Jordan Ann Craig, Charlet Davenport, Nina Dubois, Stacy Friedman, Nina Gaby, Joanna Garmon, Katie Higgins-White, Dorsey Hogg, Laura Holland, Ed Hutchins, Ann Joppe-Mercure, Debra Kraemer, Amanda Kralovic, Carole Kunstadt, Benjamin Moss, Melanie Mowinski, Carla Munsat, Chris Perry, Laurel Rogers, Carolyn Shattuck, Gail Smuda, Marilyn Syme and Judith Taylor.
The exhibition continues through Aug. 27.
Aidron Duckworth Museum, Meriden. The museum opens an exhibition of photographs by Ann Barlow, of Burlington, taken from her “Salt Storage Series,” on Saturday with a reception from 3 to 6 p.m. Barlow will talk about her work at 4. Also opening: “Developing Dimension,” works by Aidron Duckworth that show his ability to create depth in drawings and paintings. The sculpture of Terry Lund, on the grounds, is on view through Oct. 30.
Arabella, Windsor. The gallery exhibits works by local artists and artisans in a variety of media including jewelry, oils, acrylics, photography, watercolors, pastels and textiles.
AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon. The 2015 Juried Art Show Award Winners display their work, and “Take Another Look: Aging with Dignity,” run through Aug. 19.
BigTown Gallery, Rochester, Vt. “Painting in the Neighborhood,” paintings by Celia Reisman and Peter Fried, is on view through Aug. 27. A reception is planned for Aug. 6 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Chandler Gallery, Randolph. “Boundaries,” a show featuring the works of numerous New England artists, continues through Sept. 5.
Cider Hill Art Gallery and Gardens, Windsor. Gary Milek exhibits his work in the gallery.
Converse Free Library, Lyme. Japanese nerikomi ceramics by John Quimby are on view until Sept. 30.
Great Hall, Springfield, Vt. An exhibition of photographs documenting life in Springfield, taken by students participating in the Springfield Photovoice initiative, continues through Sunday.
Hall Art Foundation, Reading, Vt. “Landscapes After Ruskin: Redefining the Sublime,” curated by photographer Joel Sternfeld, continues through Nov. 27.
Hopkins Center, Hanover. Dartmouth College’s Department of Studio Art presents the POD Award exhibition in the Jaffe-Friede and Strauss Galleries in the Hopkins Center through Aug. 21.
Norwich Historical Society. A show of plein air paintings by local artists continues through Saturday. Hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon.
Norwich Public Library, “Quotography: Photos by EM Reynolds” is on display until Aug. 30.
Kilton Public Library, West Lebanon. An exhibition of landscapes and cityscapes by Lyme painter and illustrator Meg McLean is on view through Sept. 30.
Library Arts Center, Newport. “The Landscape We Call Home” runs through Aug. 26.
Roth Center for Jewish Life, Hanover. “White on Black: Images of Antigua,” an exhibition of photographs by Mort Wise, is on view through Sept. 13.
Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, Cornish. Standing Lincoln is now on view.
The work of minimalist artist Lynne Harlow is on view in the Picture Gallery. “SONG” continues through Aug. 30.
Scavenger Gallery, White River Junction. Artists Ben Peberdy and David Powell bring their version of Hitchcock’s The Birds to the gallery, through Aug. 5.
SculptureFest, Woodstock. The annual celebration of three-dimensional art is on view at the farm of Charlet and Peter Davenport. This year’s featured sculptors are Judith Wrend and Joseph Chirchirillo. The show remains open for public browsing through foliage season. A second piece of the show, curated by Edythe Wright and Jay Mead, opens in September at the nearby King Farm. For more information, go to sculpturefest.org.
Tunbridge Library. “Quartets,” a show by artists Janet Cathey and Kristen Johnson, is on display until Sept. 3.
Two Rivers Printmaking Studios, White River Junction. “Used to Be,” prints and fabrics by Emily Parrish, is up through July.
225 Gallery. The paintings of Patrick Dunfey and Enrico Riley are on view until mid-August. Hours are by appointment. Call Dunfey at 603-513-8861or Riley at 603-359-5214. For more information, go to www.225gallery.com.
Nicola Smith can be reached at nsmith@vnews.com.