It was a pleasure to step out impromptu into Boston to see the 15th Annual Boston International Fine Art Show on Saturday and it reminded me of how lucky I am to have such a great city at my fingertips. The show was held in the South End at the Boston Center for the Arts' Cyclorama building. Seeing world-class art with few hastles (no problems finding walkable parking on Tremont St) was extremely rewarding. I took photographs a bit in haste. It's also worth noting how impressive the range of works were in price, size, era and style. There really was something for almost everyone.
This year there were 42 booths and I enjoyed seeing the full range of works, but my favorites were from the 19th-20th century including a drawing by John Singer Sargent, an unusual pastel by Mary Cassatt and landscape paintings by John Henry Twachtman. In addition I enjoyed seeing a presidential JFK drawing (study) by Aaron Shikler at one booth with an Andy Warhol portrait (screenprint, I believe) of Senator Ted Kennedy directly in sight at a different booth. I also enjoyed seeing a self portrait by Dennis Miller Bunker (who's work I always look at somewhat wistfully as he was a great talent and died young when he was newly into a very happy marriage) and a portait by Joseph DeCamp. I was also very pleased to see several lovely drawings by Lilian Westcott Hale (no relation.)
I came home with a bag full of art magazines and brochures (gold), including a gorgeous new premier issue of "American Fine Art." I highly recommend art lovers and buyers to check this superb show out in the future.
Sonia Hale is an award-winning, nationally-collected artist in Boston. She paints commissioned portraits for families and institutions nationwide. Her original landscape and still life oil paintings can be purchased at http://www.soniahale.com. For more information, go to http://www.soniahale.com. You can reach her by email at soniahale1@gmail.com.
