7 March, 2023
March and April include two major occasions: Women's History Month and the Boston Marathon. In celebration of those two themes, a new art gallery show titled "Break Away," opens March 8th at the HCA's Lotvin Family Gallery.
The show brings together two exciting artists with strong points of view: Bobbi Gibb and Chelsea Bradway. The exhibition will be on display through April 20th.
Bobbi Gibb is known to many as an icon of women's empowerment as the first woman ever to run and complete the Boston Marathon in 1966. Bobbi will exhibit a broad selection of her bronze figurines of the human body in motion, impressionistic paintings, and abstract paintings representing the patterns within her that reflect the patterns of nature and the universe. The exhibit will also include historical photographs and articles about Bobbi and her barrier-breaking 1966 run.
Chelsea Bradway is an award-winning New England photographer drawn to photograph people in situations that bring the viewer’s awareness of their strength, beauty and everyday struggles. Born in the Berkshires, Chelsea traveled to Paris, Belgium and England, which influenced her artistic scope of the larger community that surrounds each of us.
Bradway’s body of work will showcase woman of all ages, and how differently they view female empowerment. “I want to show the audience that all women are a force to be reckoned with, regardless of age, ethnicity, background, sexual orientation, social status, or political views”.
Recently the two artists met to finalize the details of the exhibition, which led to an inspiring afternoon filled with conversation about art, nature, the beauty of life, relationships and of course running.
"I may have a new hero", noted Bradway, "Here's a woman who said, 'You are not going to hold me down". I'm so honored to be collaborating with this legendary woman who broke the glass ceiling of the Boston Marathon".
A public reception with these two artists will take place at the HCA on Friday, March 10th @ 6 pm. The reception is free and open to the public.
Director of Visual Arts, Sarah Alexander, invites anyone who is attending the reception, as well as those who come to view the exhibition through April 20th, to help support Dignity Matters.
Dignity Matters is a non-profit organization that collects, purchases and supplies feminine hygiene products, bras and underwear to women and girls who are homeless or disadvantaged, in order to help them stay healthy, regain self-confidence, and live with basic dignity.
The HCA encourages visitors to the gallery to donate any of the items noted above and drop them off in a collection box at the HCA.
