April 16 – May 18, 2014

Opening Reception: Thursday April 17, 5-7PM

“We are thrilled to be part of this exhibition. Our students have the unique opportunity to explore visual thinking beyond our school studios and contemplate a deeper, personal and collective connection to Concord.” — Stacey McCarthy, Head of Visual Arts at Middlesex School

“This year’s pilot collaboration has been a wonderful opportunity
to begin a longer conversation about how the vibrant arts programs of our
local high schools can work together with support from the Concord Art
Association to bring a more vibrant and visible presence to the Concord
area.” — Justin Bull, Visual Arts Head at Concord Academy

C-art, a new and exciting initiative of Concord Art Association, begins with the installation Mapping Concord. C-art is a collaboration of the Concord Art Association and art faculty from Concord-Carlisle High School, Concord Academy and Middlesex School. It was developed to support young emerging artists through exposure to working artists, new collaborative processes and curatorial practices. Through the sharing of talents and ideas, C-art aims to enhance the programming of each institution, while benefitting the broader Concord community.

Working in the context of Personal Terrain: Contemporary Mapping Concord Art’s current spring exhibition, curated by Ilana Manolson, C-art participating artists (students, faculty, established artists and community volunteers) asked themselves questions about perspective, purpose, power, and place. What is a map? Who made it, and why? Who chooses what goes on a map? Can a map be truthful, objective, accurate?

The installation is a grid of 87, 16″x16″ birch panels, with unique x,y coordinates which correspond to a scale geographical map of Concord. Participating artists were randomly assigned panels and worked with Manolson, historical maps, GIS maps, Google maps, as well as site-visits, along with using a diversity of media to produce unique and personal maps. Together, the individual panels create one 14’ x 20’ map that reflects the community’s diverse understanding and interpretation of a place called Concord.