UN-Common, a group show by the studio artists of 74 Shank Painter Road
Opening Reception: Friday, May 16 from 5 - 7 PM
On Exhibit through May 26
The Commons
46 Bradford Street, Provincetown
The Provincetown Commons, hosts UN-Common, the first group exhibition by 7 artists whose main thing IN-common may be their shared studio space/quasi social experiment, called “The Community Studios at 74 Shank Painter Road,” an annex to The Provincetown Commons in Provincetown, MA. This week-long display of vibrant paintings, collage and mixed media, by Ali Blake, Elspeth Slayter, Janine Evers, Jeff Osmond, Karen Miller, Dan Wagner and Mallory White (in memoriam), with an opening Friday, May 16th, from 5-7pm, at 46 Bradford Street, Provincetown, MA. The artists will attend.
“It’s kind of like the show Big Brother, but without the drama,” quips painter Jeff Osmond, when discussing the shared studios with half walls and no doors. Entering their second year together in the space, the artists, many who had not met before, have managed to develop a synergy much like a family– individual to the max, yet dedicated to each other’s artistic practice.
This individuality is showcased in 2-dimensional works that feature realist and abstract, color, and black and white, texture and crisp interpretations of life in and around this quirky Outer Cape community. Come, be captivated.
Featured Artists:
Ali Blake (mixed media) Blake is a multidisciplinary artist and designer who works both in abstraction and in representation. Often working in charcoal, Blake’s portraits and compositions evidence a lush sentiment to be relished by the viewer. Her newer mixed media works combine drawing, painting, printmaking and collage in consideration of spherical windows on the world. Blake has participated in shows at The Commons, the Provincetown Art Association and Museum, the Provincetown Business Guild, and Four Eleven Gallery.
@aliblakeart
Www.alisonblakestudio.com
Alisonblakedesign@gmail.com
Janine Evers (painting) Evers’ paintings are colorful abstractions that explore the structure of things both internally and externally. Her focus is on inventing a personal imagery of evolving organic forms, the relationships of color and how images exist together in space. She examines the interactions of form, striving to create a sense of connectedness while still maintaining the individuality of the forms within the framework of the painting. Currently, she is represented by Four Eleven Gallery, Provincetown, MA. Evers has participated in shows at The Commons, the Mary Heaton Vorse House and a juried show at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum.
@janineevers114
Janine.Evers@icloud.com
Karen Miller (painting) Miller’s current body of acrylic paintings and collages focuses primarily on women, and their relationships with power, gender and with each other. Her work depicts the strength, confidence and independence women draw from their bonds of friendship. Miller’s paintings explore the complex and often contradictory relationship between femininity and power, specifically through the charged imagery of women and guns. These works are not intended as simple endorsements or condemnations, but rather as visual investigations into the multifaceted nature of these symbols. The gun, a potent symbol of force and control, is juxtaposed with the traditionally perceived vulnerability and nurturing qualities often associated with womanhood. Miller has participated in shows at The Commons, the Provincetown Art Association and Museum, DNA Gallery, AM Zehnder Gallery and Four Eleven Gallery.
@kmillie62
miller1karen@yahoo.com
Jeff Osmond (Painting) Osmond’s work, whether abstract or realistic, is marked by a meticulous attention to detail. He is known for his ability to blend striking execution with emotionally resonant compositions. Osmond often explores themes that are surreal, provocative, and visually arresting. Currently, he is represented by 346 Gallery in Provincetown, MA. Osmond has participated in shows at The Commons, the Provincetown Art Association and Museum and the Provincetown Business Guild.
@osmondj
jeffosmondartist.com
osmondj64@gmail.com
Elspeth Slayter (printmaking & painting) Informed by the work of the new casualist art movement Slayter’s process-focused work uses off-kilter compositions and unexpected/imperfect textures. Her work focuses on one’s ongoing familiarity with internal and external consciousness and how memory is managed. As with aged graffiti-covered walls, her creative process explores the progression of color and shape with the embrace of unpredictable movements and combinations. Currently, she is represented by Four Eleven Gallery, Provincetown, MA. Slayter has participated in solo and group shows at The Commons, a juried show at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum, The Winfisky Gallery (Salem, MA), Edgewater Gallery (Middlebury, VT), Galley West Art Gallery (Orleans, MA) and the Provincetown Business Guild.
@slayterart
Www.slayterart.com
Elspethslayter@gmail.com
Dan Wagner (painting) Rejecting ‘Pretty pictures, his paintings are abstract in spirit. Noting that there are always figures in his work, he is consistently attracted to “strange things,” and abstractions. His work is informed by Hans Hofmann’s push-and-pull color theory. Wagner has participated in solo and group shows at The Commons, the Provincetown Art Association and Museum, the Provincetown Business Guild and at Sarah Jessica Fine Art, Provincetown, MA.
@danielwagner78
danielpaints123@gmail.com
Mallory White (painting) With work ranging from representational to abstract, all subjects are fair game. Striving for clean lines, White's work is portrait-like in nature. Her body of work consistently searches for light and the magic of color. White passed away early in 2025, and will be honored as part of this exhibit. Osmond has participated in shows at The Commons, the Provincetown Art Association, the Jo Hay Gallery, and Museum and Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill. https://www.paintingsbymallory.com/artist-profile---statement
About The Community Studios at 74 Shank Painter: Under the auspices of The Provincetown Commons, The Community Studios at 74 Shank Painter was founded in 2024 as much-needed studio space for Outer Cape artists. The late Mallory White, a former emerging artist at The Commons, located the space and spearheaded the effort to secure this hard-to-find type of space. Created with the goal of increasing the availability of art studio spaces on the Outer Cape, The Community Studios at 74 Shank Painter allows for a total of eight artists to work in a collaborative, open plan environment.
About The Commons: The Commons is a collaborative workspace for artists and small businesses, serving the Cape and islands year round. The Commons is an intergenerational community, open to established Provincetown artists and entrepreneurs while welcoming the next generation. Building on the traditions and strengths of Provincetown’s history, we’re committed to supporting the town’s effort to both preserve and grow the arts as a vital part of our economy and as a facet of our tourism. Their goal is to help build Provincetown’s capacity as a technological hub for media arts and new types of economic innovation.