Within Caron Tabb’s newest show, “Humanity Is Not A Spectator Sport“, a series of rotating installations entitled What Now; Making Space will take place. As Tabb’s show focuses on the need to recognize privilege, accept progressive change, and actively create room within our worlds for others, What Now; Making Space consists of the artist’s removal of a symbolic piece of her own artwork in order to make space for each of seven other visiting artists’ works. Over the course of seven weeks, artist and participant Meclina plans to install her curated rotation – an exhibition-within-an-exhibition – showcasing this series of featured works, week by week.
What Now; Making Space not only features works by a variety of artists but gives an opportunity for networking career growth. Through a weekly artist blog feature and online artist talk, each will be highlighted and given the opportunity to more fully explain and engage with the Boston area community. They will also be able to engage with each other through an artist-only event formulated to offer a space for authentic and transparent conversations regarding the challenges of the art world. Each of these artists has a unique vision of the world and a message they present through their artwork, and we are both excited and thankful to have them here in the gallery.
Janet Tan is the sixth of seven visiting artists included among the What Now; Making Space lineup. Her work is set to be on display in the gallery from January 7th, 2022. We are happy to have Tan as a part of the What Now; Making Space exhibition and were glad to have the chance to check in with the young artist to hear more about her background and artwork. Check out what Tan has to share about her work in the following interview!
What initially brought you into the arts?
For as long as I have remembered, art was always in my life. My first memory of making art was when my Mom and Dad bought me a sketchpad and on the same day I filled every page with doodles. They were not too happy about that but I haven’t stopped since. When I was in the 7th grade, a senior at my school told me about Artists For Humanity and I joined as soon as I was old enough to work.
What do you want people to know about you and/or your art?
When people see what I create, I want them to get a sense of the range of stories that come from the lives of different people. I love exploring stories through my art and creativity and I hope that people can gain something new about someone else’s experience. With this painting in particular, I am showing that I am more than the stereotypes that people place on me.
What message do you hope the audience will take from your participation in this exhibition?
That everyone has a different path and something special to tell through their own story. I am honored to be a part of this show and to show the world a little more about my life’s experiences.
Do you have any future projects planned?
I hope to attend art school and major in concept art for the animation industry. The movies I watched as a child inspired and shaped me and I want to do that for others. I want people who watch the projects I work on to feel seen and heard and to be moved by the stories of others. Through my personal art practice, I want to continue to portray my emotions through my work and explore more with my sense of self. I want to address concepts from my own life that are relatable to others. Above all else, I want to keep telling stories.
Special thanks to Janet and her team for taking a moment to meet with us all!
Make sure to visit Tan’s work in-person while it is on view in the gallery as part of What Now; Making Space, an exhibition-within-an-exhibition of Caron Tabb’s show, “Humanity Is Not A Spectator Sport”. Keep an eye out for upcoming Artist Talks, as well as gallery and related community events. Please visit our website www.beacongallery.com for a full calendar and more info.
For all inquiries, please reach out to Beacon Gallery directly at contact@beacongallery.com
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