This month, Charles LeDray and Evelyn Rydz at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston,  and Leonardo Drew, at the DeCordova Museum in Lincoln, MA, share a common theme–all focus on decay and the passage of time.

DeDray makes small items–men’s clothing, thousands of tiny ceramic pots,  sculptures in stitched fabric, carved bone, and wheel-thrown clay. As ICA materials point out, the smaller-than-life formal suits, embroidered patches, ties, and hats, as well as scaled-down chests of drawers, doors, and unique, thimble-sized vessels–and even facsimiles of used clothing stores complete with dust, make the viewer feel large and encourage thought about the content of the constructions. For example the coat in the photo to the left encompasses all sorts of other clothing–bras, pants, tops–making the point that individuals are composites of their experiences and other people.

My friend E liked the exhibit–because it elicited people no longer with us.  S, who tends to save things, found it interesting.

Nearby, in the galleries housing winners in the ICA’s Annual Foster Prize Exhibit, Evelyn Rydz’s “intricate drawings of beaches, based on her own photographs–focus on objects she finds washed up on coastlines worldwide. ”

According to the ICA, this work explores ” the site where sea meets land”…and shows “characters with long stories to tell.” She “references the journey and transformation that these objects have undergone, illuminating their role as castaways in foreign landscapes.”

At the DeCordova, Drew’s show, “Existed”  highlights  “the cyclical nature of creation, decay, and regeneration through a selection of large-scale sculptures, installations, and works on paper.

Built from rows of stacked cotton and wooden boxes, stuffed with rags, covered with scavenged objects, and caked with rust to suggest degeneration, Drew’s sculptural work is made to resemble the detritus of everyday life.

The artist often ages his found and fabricated materials, employing a process that is physically and conceptually steeped in memory, history, and the passage of time. These disparate materials are often composed within a grid that organizes the chaos into an ordered structure.

 Not exactly the pleasantest of subjects.

And  I suppose it’s good to be able to find beauty in decay–or to make beauty of  it.

In pondering the  decisions to highlight these artists,  I can’t help but conclude that  the curators are  making  statements about the current state of civilization, politics, and art.  All of these artists are highly skilled at what they do. But  I ask, after exploring and commenting on decay and loss, what is left for them (and us?) to do?

Anita M. Harris

Anita M. Harris, a writer and photographer, is president of the Harris Communications Group of Cambridge, MA.

Kudos to the display team at the new Anthropologie shop in Harvard Square–their store windows are works of art that absolutely drew me into the store–although I really don’t need a thing.

Anthropologie, located at 48 Brattle St, in Cambridge, has taken over the old Design Research building–which has been almost empty for over a year since Crate and Barrel moved out.

 The new store carries an enticing array of clothing, jewelry, shoes, boots, bags and home goods. Most items are a bit ornate for my tastes but definitely worth a visit if only to see the store’s  artistic and  creative arrangements of merchandise.  –Anita M. Harris

New Cambridge Observer is a publication of the Harris Communications Group of Cambridge, MA. We also publish HarrisCom Blog.

The pharmaceutical industry and especially Pfizer will hate Ed Zwick’s forthcoming movie–Love and Other Drugs–which portrays drug reps  as money-grubbing sex fiends.  

But while the  film, starring   Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway,  is loaded withsex scenes and Viagra jokes, don’t be fooled: it’s funny and enjoyable for the most part but deals with some very difficult and provocative themes.

In the film,  neer-do-well salesman  Jamie Randall (Gyllenhaal) takes up with the beautiful and insightful  Maggie Murdoch (Hathaway) who, at age 26, has been diagnosed with Stage 1 Parkinson’s Disease. Like Erich Segal’s 1970 Love Story, the film portrays the joys of love but also the anguish that comes with any incurable illness– here, in the context of seemingly uncaring pharmaceutical and medical industries.

Hathaway is convincing, even mesmorizing as the artist and activist who brings old people to Canada to buy drugs. Gyllenhaal is believable and fun as a manipulative salesman who seduces, in one way or another, every woman he meets. The two portray their characters’ evolving realization/questioning of what’s important in life.

I enjoyed the film, but I left feeling unsettled and a bit disturbed–a result of tension between the funny and sad parts, worry about the future of the characters—and wonder about how I myself might deal with a loved one’s serious health issues

My friend K commented that while he liked the film, he felt it was opportunistic –that Zwick and the actors will make a ton of money–while people with Parkinsons and other incurable, debilitating diseases will just go on struggling. 

But I thought Zwick did a great job of personalizing and making more manageble what can sometimes seem like overwhelming problems,  and that he has performed an important service by asking serious questions in a way that will be palatable to a  mass audience.

I recently met Zwick– who was having a publicity photo  taken at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge–and asked why he made the film. It wasn’t for money, he said. He’d been impressed with Jamie Reidy’s  non-fiction book Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman, on which the movie is based,  and had personal experience with a situation like the one the movie describes.

For the pharmaceutical industry…it’s not a pretty picture. But I guess they’ll have to–and have the resources to –fend for themselves.

The film is to be released in late November. In the meatime, here’s a link to the official site and a trailer:  http://www.loveandotherdrugsthemovie.com/

—Anita M. Harris
New Cambridge Observer is a publication of the Harris Communications Group of Cambridge, MA.

The City of Cambridge has proclaimed tomorrow (September 22, 2010) as “CCTV Day.” Cambridge Community Television–one of the City’s best resources for anyone who wants to learn TV production and computer skills–has asked everyone to spread the word. I’ve taken a number of good courses, there.  CCTV’s announcement follows.
–Anita M. Harris  
New Cambridge Observer is a publication of the Harris Communications Group of Cambridge, MA.

CCTV News, September 21, 2010                  Special Announcement! 9/22/10 is CCTV Day!     What is CCTV Day?  The City of Cambridge has declared 9/22/10 (for CCTV’s Channels 9, 10 & 22!) “CCTV Day,” recognizing CCTV as a forum for Cambridge residents since 1988. To commemorate this special declaration and day, CCTV is hosting special programming and events in the evening of Wednesday, September 22. Please spread the word about the following, and tune in for the special programming! 1) Go to Harvard Square, Porter Square or Lechmere and look for our camera crews from 6-7pm. Tell your friends and neighbors, then tune in to Channels 9, 10 & 22 at 8pm to see yourself on TV! 2) Take a tour of our studio from 7-8pm. The first nine Cambridge residents (who have not been members) to stop by will receive a FREE CCTV membership! (Must show proof of Cambridge residency) 3) Tune in at 8pm to Channels 9, 10 & 22 for a LIVE program featuring Cambridge residents who use their CCTV programs for positive contributions to the community. (followed by footage from the squares; see #1).  computerCENTRAL Internships Open   CCTV’s computer lab seeks interns for our fall schedule. Unique   opportunity with great benefits and experience.The following internships are available: Public Access Computer Lab Hours – Sunday 4-5:30pm Provide support for members of the public in a variety of computer uses. Web Media Help – Friday 3pm-6pm Provide CCTV producers basic to advanced web media production help. Details and benefits of interning:     * Work 2-3 hours per week for up to 4 months     * Receive free membership to CCTV     * Take free classes for the duration of the internship     * Production opportunities available     * College credit possible     * Network with the local video production community     * Get valuable teaching experience. If interested in applying, please email your resume, 2 references, and availability to nicole@cctvcambridge.org. See http://www.cctvcambridge.org/computerinterns for more   information.   In This Issue CCTV Day computerCENTRAL Interns Needed This Week in NeighborMedia What’s Next: Aging in Cambridge Panel Discussion Urban Ag-Fair Celebrates Local Products Cambridge Carnival International 2010 is a Big Hit! Free Adult Education and Family Literacy Classes Cambridge Eyesores: For Sale and Now Only $1 Million! ACT Artist Interview: Merline Sylvain-Williams What Will the New Signage Regulations Mean for Cambridge? Want to be a NeighborMedia Correspondent? Click here to learn more!   Register as a User on CCTV’s web site Connect with the community, contribute blog posts, and more! www.cctvcambridge.org   Join our list