From the Publisher – Dive In, Rise Up

When I learned of Navalny’s murder, I froze. I was not surprised, perhaps, on one level, yet absolutely crushed. And then I cried—for his family, his followers, for all who looked to this incredible human being for hope. Then I went back to work. I’m lucky. I was able to turn to this issue for a sense of hopefulness. I’m reminded every day of how grateful I am to witness the work and the intellect and the artistic ferocity of everyone covered in Art New England’s pages. And in this Emerging Artists Issue, in particular, where we share with you ten stunning, burgeoning, funny, intense, inquisitive artists—of all ages—who are rebelling in the best possible ways. The word rebellion does not always carry a violent connotation. It can simply mean the action or “process of resisting authority, control, or convention” (Oxford Languages). These artists resist convention in extraordinary ways. Spiritual, physical, intellectual. They are in their twenties and their seventies. I write in the feature’s intro that they are outrageously hopeful; at least they make me feel that way through their fearless self-expression. We’re honored to highlight Simon Montalvo, Lydia Kern, Elise Whittemore, Elisa Vanelli, Ngoc-Tran Vu, Ewa Chrusciel, Jenna Gross, Jay Stern, Donald Langosy, and our cover artist Sophie Cangelosi. We are honored to offer a small window into their work, their goals, and what art means to them. Navalny also wrote, “A person becomes truly free only when they are able to think and express their own thoughts.” This is a privilege we’re rapidly losing sight of in this world—even in America. Never thought I’d write that.

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