Massachusetts-based artist Roberley Bell will take part in a conversation about her work at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) on Thursday, July 20, at 7 p.m. Bell and BMAC Director of Exhibitions Sarah Freeman will discuss the relationship between Bell’s drawings and sculptures and her interest in the distinct physical and emotive qualities of each. This in-person event is presented in connection with the exhibition “Roberley Bell: Where Things Set,” which is on view at BMAC June 24–October 9. Admission is free, and walk-ins are welcome. Registration is optional. To register, visit brattleboromuseum.org or call 802-257-0124 x101.
“As a sculptor working with the language of abstraction, I am continuously in search of form. I refer to this process as ‘finding form’—inventing form where it did not previously exist,” said Bell. “I work with wood, plaster, ceramic, found and altered parts, exploring both the combination of materials and each material’s inherent properties. I try to reveal the essence of materiality and the ability of distinct materials to elicit emotions.”
“Bell’s drawings help her find her way to three-dimensional forms. Bell creates organic forms that seem familiar yet resist identification,” Freeman wrote in an essay accompanying the exhibition. “The sculptural works are amalgams—hybrid forms made from fabricated elements and found materials. Splashes of vivid, saturated color enhance their idiosyncrasy.”
Bell’s work has been exhibited internationally, including at ALAN Istanbul, MEDEA Malmö, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and Black & White Gallery. She has had numerous residencies, including at the Cité internationale des arts in Paris, the Salzburger Kunstverein, and The International Studio Program in N.Y.C. Bell lives in western Massachusetts and maintains a studio in Easthampton.
Founded in 1972, Brattleboro Museum & Art Center presents rotating exhibits of contemporary art, complemented by lectures, artist talks, film screenings, and other public programs. BMAC is open Wednesday–Sunday, 10–4. Admission is free. Located in historic Union Station in downtown Brattleboro, at the intersection of Main Street and Routes 119 and 142, the museum is wheelchair accessible. For more information, call 802-257-0124 or visit brattleboromuseum.org.
BMAC is supported in part by the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support is provided by Brattleboro Savings & Loan, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, and Whetstone Beer Co.
