Cantor Art Gallery presents its spring showcase, "Michael Beatty: Fabrications", extended from January 21 to April 5, 2025.
Michael Beatty's retrospective exhibition, titled Fabrications, is now open at the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery at the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA, and runs through April 1, 2025[1][4]. Beatty, a renowned artist and Associate Professor in the Visual Arts Department at Holy Cross, presents an interdisciplinary display combining sculptures, drawings, prints, and study models spanning from 1992 to the present[1].
Beatty's artistic practice integrates traditional methods with technology-assisted design, using materials such as wood, steel, and 3-D printing. His sculptures, which he refers to as "drawings in space," showcase a synthesis of geometric and curvilinear forms. Examples include Twist/Hold, a minimalist ribbon-like bent laminated wood sculpture supported by steel girders[1]. His works explore connections between craftsmanship, form, and philosophy through process-oriented making.
Regarding connections to mathematics, science, and nature, while the exhibition does not explicitly focus on these disciplines, the emphasis on geometric and curvilinear shapes and the use of technology-assisted visualization suggests an interplay with mathematical concepts and structural science in his sculptural forms. The combination of natural materials like wood and the exploration of form also point toward a relationship with natural patterns and structures inherent in his work[1].
The exhibition is part of ongoing programs at Holy Cross's visual arts gallery, and Beatty continues to be involved in faculty exhibitions, such as the "Afterimage" show featuring works by Holy Cross's visual arts faculty members[2]. The special exhibition opening reception for Beatty's retrospective had a record-breaking attendance of over two hundred guests, including students, alumni, arts leaders from Boston and Worcester, local art teachers from Worcester Public Schools, and faculty and staff colleagues of Beatty[1].
On February 25 at 4:00 PM, there will be an immersive concert titled "Form, Structure, and Symmetry: Bach in the Gallery" featuring selections from Bach's Cello Suites. The concert will be followed by a lively discussion on Bach, math, and symmetry between Professor Gareth Roberts (Mathematics) and artist Michael Beatty[3]. On March 13 at 5:00 PM, there will be a faculty and artist roundtable where Beatty and other Holy Cross faculty will explore connections in art, architecture, biology, and environmental studies[3].
Michael Beatty taught sculpture and three-dimensional design at Holy Cross for twenty-five years before retiring in 2023. The Gallery Talk by Beatty was hosted by the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery, likely related to his teaching or artistic practice, as he is a faculty member in the Visual Arts Department[1]. Beatty's sculptures and drawings are evocative hybrids of geometry and biological form, making his work a must-see for art enthusiasts and scholars alike.
[1] College of the Holy Cross News Release, "Michael Beatty Retrospective Exhibition Opens at Holy Cross's Art Gallery" [2] College of the Holy Cross News Release, "Afterimage: Visual Arts Faculty 2022" [3] College of the Holy Cross Events Calendar, "Form, Structure, and Symmetry: Bach in the Gallery" and "Faculty and Artist Roundtable" [4] Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery, "Fabrications: Michael Beatty Retrospective Exhibition"
- Michael Beatty's retrospective exhibition, titled Fabrications, showcases a blend of sculptures, drawings, prints, and study models, demonstrating an integration of traditional methods with technology-assisted design.
- Events accompanying the exhibition include an immersive concert featuring selections from Bach's Cello Suites, followed by a discussion on Bach, math, and symmetry between Professor Gareth Roberts (Mathematics) and artist Michael Beatty.
- Additionally, a faculty and artist roundtable will explore connections in art, architecture, biology, and environmental studies, with Michael Beatty and other Holy Cross faculty participating.
- The exhibition is part of ongoing programs at the College of the Holy Cross's visual arts gallery, and Michael Beatty continues to be involved in faculty exhibitions, such as the "Afterimage" show.
- Michael Beatty's sculptures and drawings, characterized by a synthesis of geometry and biological form, are a significant feature of the news in the realms of arts, science, and lifestyle, particularly for home-and-garden enthusiasts who appreciate the interplay between craftsmanship, form, and philosophy.
