On Saturday November 5th, Malden Creates hosted an art exhibition at Malden High School in the Jenkins Auditorium called “Pictures At An Exhibition: A Tribute to Friendships.”
The event was apart of a community project celebrating the connections between the arts and the power of friendship. The original idea for the event came from the story of composer Modest Mussorgsky and a fellow artist. 39 works of art were displayed that were created by local artists.
Dalia Zeabi and Lambert Rahming, a community minister, opened up the event. Rahming explains that “[Malden Creates] is a group of eclectic people who really believe that art is convenient for engaging and inspiring people around Malden.” Zeabi expressed that, “[she] hoped that the audience felt the heart of why art, in a gathering like this, connects with music.” She also expressed her gratitude towards many local businesses that have helped enrich the events and have made them more affordable by their generous contributions to Malden Reads.
After Zeabi and Rahming’s introduction, Malden playwright Brian Triber and MATV Outreach Coordinator Guillermo Hamlin recited letters by Mussorgsky to the audience. Then, pianist Yelena Beriyeva performed a piece called “Pictures at an Exhibition” by Mussorgsky. Rahming explained that “[the piano piece] is like a gift. There are different movements in the piece and it’s kind of like putting the wrapping on a gift, but it’s not really wrapped until the bow is tied. In other words, the piece is not complete without the audience’s full attention and no intermissions.”
Zeabi explains that the event came about because of two people in Malden had an idea many years ago. She describes “one of the people, Ose Schwab, took action on her long-standing desire to perform pictures. [Schwab] and [Beriyeva] invited other artists to hear music that was performed visually, and other artists received it very well.” The event was the result of action to create the full expression of creativity.
After Beriyeva’s performance, the audience was taken outside of the Jenkins Auditorium, where several pieces of art were on display. The art had a wide range of artists; from professional artists to high school students. Many of the artists are from Massachusetts and were deeply committed to creating the work.
Artist Susan Langan from Georgetown had two works displayed at the event: Foret Sentinels and Vigil. She explains that “[she] chose the symbol of the unhatched egg because it represents possibility. [The egg] protects the mysterious ballet of a developing life.”
Sara Gravante from Melrose, who had three pieces displayed, said that, “[her] work is inspired by colors, shaped, moments and transitions in nature. The process of painting is one of investigation and seeking the truth inherent in each piece.” Marina Strauss from Arlington, who was the artist of The Color of Friendship, says that “[she] is inspired by nature and the exploratory aspect of creativity. [Her] work is about how people are part of nature, how the natural world teaches us about life, and about change and acceptance.”
All of the artwork displayed at this event will be also be displayed at the MATV art gallery from November 9th thru January 12th. People can still create tributes to friends and submit them to maldencreates.com.
