Wicked Local Reviews West Roxbury Library Exhibition

By Ke Xu

Under the soft lighting of the West Roxbury Branch Library, 19 colorful paintings by Roslindale artist Phyllis Bluhm were hanging on the white walls quietly waiting for their audience.

Bluhm spent the last 10 minutes before the opening reception for her exhibition, “Los Colores de Mexico,” taking pictures of her paintings. “I want to keep track of them,” Bluhm said on July 12.

The show, inspired by a trip to the Morelia area of Mexico in the fall of 2010, is Bluhm’s third exhibit at the West Roxbury Branch Library. The artist, 63, who has been painting for over 30 years, is driven by her interests in art, and has never had any formal training.

“It (the show) is truly great! She is fantastic,” said Susan Leskin, an ESL teacher from Roslindale. An artist herself, Leskin became aware of Bluhm’s artwork when they used to work together at the Lemmuel Shattuck Hospital about 12 years ago.

“Every time she had a show, I tried to go and I would see different things each time. She never stops taking risks. … I just love her stuff,” she said.

At 5:50 p.m., visitors began to trickle in and the lecture hall, where the exhibition was hosted, was soon full of people. The air was filled with laughter, friendly chatting and a mixed aroma of banana bread and cheese. Bluhm and her husband Moshe Werba had prepared food and drink to welcome the viewers.

Bluhm’s bright and dynamic acrylic painting, “Las Ollas (Pots),” was surrounded by people. According to Bluhm, more than 10 people asked for the piece during the show, though it had been sold before the exhibition.

“Everybody wants it,” Pembroke artist Jane Estella said about “Las Ollas,” her favorite piece. “I like the form and the colors … it is a very harmonious piece.”

Less than an hour after the start of the exhibition, Bluhm had sold four pieces: “The Gringos Mexico,” “Hoy en Dia (Nowadays),” “Las Mascaras 2 (Masks),” and “Aguantando el Cielo (Holding up the Sky).”

Jo Seibel, a friend of Bluhm’s from Wayland, bought the only assemblage painting on display--“The Gringos Mexico.” It reminded her of the trip she took to Mexico 30 years ago. Bluhm had created a small rectangular wooden box featuring a woman giving out food, crosses and many other elements. “It epitomizes Mexico,” Seibel said.

Greg Bratlett, a friend of Bluhm’s from Arlington, loves Bluhm’s “Una Historia” the most. “I think she is already an artist … with more depth with what she is doing in terms of using colors, a little with doing the abstract stuff. Technique-wise, she seems to be more comfortable with the paintbrush,” he said.

To Bluhm, her artworks are just like her kids. “I like when I sell things to my friends because I can see them. But when I sell them to strangers, I don’t like it so much. … I will miss them. That’s why I take pictures of all my works,” she said.

Click Here for More Information