Meagan Kennelly Journal Contributor
With violin in the ear, wine on the pallet and art on the walls, Yes.Oui.Si celebrated the opening of a new art exhibition, “The Salon,” last Thursday night. The exhibit showcased the work of an all-female cast of artists: Alexa Guariglia, Lena Gustafson, Kira Leigh, ans Jordan Piantedo.
The group of Boston-based artists kicked off Yes.Oui.Si’s first exhibition of the year after being closed for the month of January to be used as a studio space.
Located in the Fenway, Yes.Oui.Si is a quaint space rich with character and personality. Entering the crowded, low-lit space filled with college students and hipsters alike, one may have thought they took a wrong turn and landed at a college fraternity party. However, no flip-cup and Jay-Z was playing; instead, violin sounded in the background and conversation revolved around art.
The first piece was a large, vibrantly painted buffalo skull hanging on the wall above an old-fashioned typewriter where on-lookers explained their interpretations of what the artist was trying to express. Browsing further, Piantedosi’s painted skulls were displayed in various shapes and sizes along with Gustafson’s interpretive quotations, Guariglia’s expressive figure paintings, Leigh’s intricate abstractions, and Terelak’s vibrant explosions of color. The pieces were created of anything from gauche and ink to acrylic and nail polish.
“I think it’s great,” explained Jacqueline Porter, 22, of Somerville. “I like the bright colors. A lot of the pieces give me a 60‘s, 70’s, psychedelic kind of vibe, but my favorite would have to be the art that uses words. I use quotes as pictures for my walls all the time, I like how everyone can interpret words and phrases differently.”
Alessia Brugnara, a junior at UMass Boston, agreed. “This is my first time coming here and I think it’s a really cool place. The atmosphere is real relaxed and I like the idea of the group exhibition they did. You get to see a lot of different styles of artists come together and it makes for a great show.”
Yes.Oui.Si. opened as a DIY, multi-sensory exhibition space just last year as a place for artists of all disciplines to come together. Anything from concerts to art shows to film screenings take place throughout the year.
“We try to engage and connect people with the arts,” said Olivia Ives-Flores, founding partner and curator of the event. And it seems to be working. The space has gathered quite a following from the neighboring communities here in Boston.
With its one-year anniversary on February 11, Yes.Oui.Si will be hosting a live concert with limited edition tees.
