A REPORT FROM THE PHANTOM ZONE

By STEVE AISHMAN

This last First Friday in Boston had a different air about it. For me it was like watching a family member move to Beijing or having a last drink with a co-worker before they move on to a new, better job. It's not like any one has died, but the feeling just sucks.

All anyone can say is a bunch of hollow semi-philosophical things:
"Things have to end."
"People have to move on."
"You'll see each other again."
You know the lines...

All of this is a little weird. After all, a gallery is a commercial business. Would I care if a different commercial business, like say my favorite Dunkin' Donuts, closed? Probably not all that much. In fact, why does group of commercial businesses call themselves a "community" at all? Does a McDonald's across the street from a Wendy's call itself part of the "local fast food community"?

Well I do care.
And it's not because some commercial businesses are closing.
It's because Bernie's gallery is closing.
And because Collin's gallery is moving.
It's because Beth and Randi's gallery is closing.
And it sucks.

I could write extensively about Bernard Toale or Rhys Gallery ending their time in SoWa, but today, I want to write a tribute to Allston Skirt.

Allston Skirt has given us many great solo and two person exhibitions over the past 9 years. Allston Skirt was the first place I saw a number of my favorite artists. They were the first place I ever saw Danika Phelps, Amy Ross, Joe Wardwell and many other artists, for which I will always be grateful to Allston Skirt.

But the thing I enjoyed most about Allston Skirt was their group shows. Organizing a group show is an art form itself. All of the pieces have to work together, but at the same time, all of the pieces have to stand on their own.
Haven't we all seen a group show that actually made all of the pieces look worse?
(If you haven't seen a bad group show recently, just walk down Newbury and look in virtually any "gallery" you find ...)

"Gone Fishin'"
"Beat the Reaper"
"Honey Bunches"
"Don't Abandon the Ship"
"Five Easy Pieces"
"Strangefolks"
"Love Fest 08"
All of these group shows brought together a very specific aesthetic sensibility that made all of the work resonate together.

The ability to find powerful, provoking and playful work and then to be able to display it in a manner that strengthens the work is what I will miss about Allston Skirt.

But as I said, it's not that bad.
I'm glad Beth and Randi are going on to better things.
But it still sucks.

Thanks for all the exhibitions at your gallery!
Steve

P.S.
Randi and Beth still rock!