18 CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS

reinvent "pop culture", our zeitgeist

Our cultural touchstone in 2024 is evolving exponentially and art-making is moving in new directions, continuing to bridge a gap between contemporary art and the future of art. [As I walk about my house with a laptop in one hand and my cell phone in the other to find a comfortable sunny spot to write, I chuckle a bit considering that scene, remembering the whirring sound of a dial-up modem.] We will consider the ways of making art, and forms of production with contemporary means, including an increased reliance on innovation and new processes, in all forms. With this exhibition we want to continue our contribution to the discourse surrounding art and the future, exploring the intersection of contemporary art practices with modern culture. Every artist is moving forward. This open international call is for 2D and 3D work exploring the future of art-making in all capacities. Consider Deborah Santoro’s work incorporating images from Mars, or Bruce Wilson and David Edward Johnson’s use of AI in their colorful photomontages.

Today the landscape of popular art has been profoundly shaped by the convergence of social media, digital art programs like Adobe Photoshop and Procreate. Generative programs like Midjourney and DALL-E, using artificial intelligence (AI) are steadily becoming mainstream. They are controversial, but never before have we seen so many people embracing creativity. Artists of all ages are leveraging these technologies to push the boundaries of creativity and engagement like never before. Small children play with motion-stop and video making. Grandparents are using FaceTime and hosting Youtube channels. Social media platforms have become vibrant hubs for artistic expression, democratizing access to audiences and providing a platform for emerging talents to showcase their work. We were early adopters of social media and have seen the influence and societal shift on art trends—it’s undeniable. This shift over the last decade has created a culture of instant sharing and feedback, for good and bad. Hell, I have a solar charger to keep me connected in emergencies. Our world is changing so fast.

AI has emerged as both a tool and a muse for artists, revolutionizing the creative process and challenging traditional notions of authorship. Through machine learning algorithms, artists like Refik Anadol are experimenting with generative art, where AI collaborates in the creation process, producing mesmerizing visualizations and immersive experiences—and museums like MoMA are adding them to their collections. .

Overall, the art of the past few years does reflect a dynamic fusion of social media and AI, where artists embrace technology as a catalyst for innovation and connection. As these trends and platforms continue to evolve, the boundaries between the virtual and the tangible blur, ushering in a new era of artistic expression and engagement.

PULP was an open international call is to celebrate 2D and 3D work exploring the future of art-making in all capacities. We encouraged artists to think about pushing boundaries. What that means for their work in risk-taking and experimentation, setting out on something new or working outside of your normal processes. All artists use cameras, computers and some art programs to show their work online. Embracing new and innovative approaches to art-making is exciting and happening whether there is push-back or not. We acknowledge that and encourage dialogue about it.

For PULP, the artist statements were everything when it came down to final choices. Curators Marie Craig and Lauren Szumita interpreted the call with vision and purpose. Many talented artists submitted to PULP that did not make the cut solely because of the artist statements were not responsive. The end result of their curation is a very cohesive collection of work redefining art-making practices that are popular today, the zeitgeist of the 2020’s.

This present moment in our life used to be an imagined future.

PULP

Banner Art: Robert Steffen

*Best in Show Award: Deborah Santoro

ARTISTS OF PULP:

Lara Alcantara Lansberg @laraalcantara
Lisa Barthelson @lisa_barthelson
Jaina Cipriano @jainastudio
Aimee Cotnoir @aimeecotnoir
Natasha Dikareva @natashadikarevart
Nancy Good @nancygood_art
Julia C R Gray @artistjcrgray
David Edward Johnson @davidedwardjohnsonart
Anita Loomis @anita.loomis.artist

Virginia Mahoney @artisteach
Robin Reynolds @robinreynolds7259
Deborah Santoro @deborahsantoro_
Robert Steffen @rsteffenvisarts
Jessica Straus @strausjessica
Stephanie Todhunter @stephanietodhunterart
Sylvia Vander Sluis @sylviavsart
Bruce Wilson @brucehughw007
Bekka Teerlink @bekkateerlink

VIEW PULP EXHIBITION

Lara Alcantara Lansberg

OUR JURORS

Lauren Szumita

"Above all, I will be looking for work that presents superb craftsmanship, originality of ideas, and how the execution of the work supports its conceptual goals. And in the spirit of celebrating future-forward artwork in this exhibition, we will be seeking works that demonstrate risk-taking and innovation.”

Lauren Szumita is the newly-minted Director of the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery at the College of the Holy Cross. She previously was the curator at the Fitchburg Art Museum, where she organized Cicely Carew: Quantum Sanctuary (2022), Rania Matar: Oceans at My Door (2023), Paper Town (2023), and FAM’s inaugural façade installation, Gabriel Sosa’s La bodega de mis suenos (ongoing), among others. Prior, she was Curatorial Assistant of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs at Worcester Art Museum where she oversaw the Central Massachusetts Artists Initiative (CMAI) rotation for contemporary, regional artists. Lauren holds an MA in the History of Art and Architecture from the University of Oregon and a BA in Art History from Boston College.

Marie Craig

“Pulp” celebrates the future. I’m excited to discover new artwork that inspires and surprises, and that pushes boundaries, whether in medium, technology, subject matter or concept. I am looking forward to seeing work that is innovative and explores the new yet connects to the legacy of the past in some way.”

As Co-Founder and Director of Fountain Street Gallery in SoWA, Craig focused on the artists. She compels the artists to search for personal inspiration and then allows them to grow and experiment within the community of artists they built together. Creative freedom with a support system allowed artistic growth. We sat down with Marie over coffee at Birchtree Bread to talk about what is next. We are thrilled she will be joining us as a juror for PULP, as she is an advocate for experimentaion and risk taking.

Graduating from Clark University, MA, with a Masters in Biology, Craig began as a medical photographer and illustrator specializing in cell biology for UMass Medical School and Brandeis University. Emerging from the medical sphere, she shifted her role to become a teacher, curator, and photographer, all in the fine art community. Craig has shown her work in solo and group exhibitions at Danforth Art, Framingham, COSO, Boston, and BigCi Open Day, Australia. She is the co-founder and director of Fountain Street Gallery in Boston. She works from her studio in Natick, MA.

*Best in Show Deborah Santoro: Perseverance Amidst the Regolith_64X100inches

VIEW PULP EXHIBITION