The Aesthetics of Abstraction

Marcy B. Freedman is an artist and an art historian. Her passion for abstract art has been manifest in lectures, curatorial projects, and in her own paintings, photographs, collages, and small sculptures. In honor of the exhibitions now on view at the Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden, Freedman will spend four hours in the galleries, engaging in conversation with any visitor who wishes to speak about the pros and cons of non-representational art.

“The Aesthetics of Abstraction”is the latest in Freedman’s ongoing series of interactive performances. To date, she has presented more than 65 such pieces — on a wide range of topics. In each case, her goal has been to address an important issue AND to remind people of the beauty and power of one-on-one, face-to-face encounters. In this age of non-stop texting and posting, Freedman sees her work as an important antidote to those “virtual” forms of communication. She states boldly, “I want you to look me in the eye and tell me what you think – in real time and real space.”