The Arts Center at Duck Creek in Springs will open two new shows on Saturday. "Generous Ground," the center's first official "alumni" exhibition, will occupy the John Little Barn, while "My Wife, Masked and Unmasked," a solo show by Carol Saft, an artist and filmmaker, will be installed in the Little Gallery. A reception for both will happen from 5 to 7 p.m.
The alumni show will bring together artists ranging from John Little himself (1907-1984), whose legacy anchors Duck Creek's artist-first ethos, to Ms. Saft and Fitzhugh Karol, both of whom are exhibiting this summer. Other featured alumni are Sydney Albertini, William Eric Brown, Daniel Cabrera, Don Christensen, Carl D'Alvia, Elizabeth Duffy, Elizabeth Hazan, Sue McNally, Lindsay Morris, Erika Ranee, Claire Watson, and Ross Watts.
There will still be a chance to see "Generous Ground," which will run through July 27, at the venue's summer benefit, on July 25 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The event will feature local food, drinks, and a live performance from Kaoru Watanabe, a Grammy nominee known for blending traditional Japanese music with contemporary improvisation. All the artworks on view will be available for bidding online and at the benefit, with proceeds supporting Duck Creek's free public programs.
Ms. Saft's paintings explore the rituals of intimacy, love, aging, and visibility. In her new body of work she captures her wife, Cynthia, in private moments of rest, self-care, and vulnerability, according to a release; often in bed or in the bathroom, "glowing beneath the fluorescent light of a beauty mask." Not conventional portraits, they offer an unfiltered glimpse into the quiet interiority of a long relationship. Cynthia appears nude, half-dressed, wrapped in a towel. "I believe that our most intimate moments reveal the beautiful imperfection of our humanity," the artist has said.
Known for her documentary shorts and experimental video series "My Brother Todd," Ms. Saft frames the scene of each painting like a shot, carefully using color and lighting. "I look upon painting as a proscenium, a place where the viewer is dropped into a moment, mid-action, before anything is resolved."
Ms. Saft, whose practice spans painting, sculpture, and video, with a focus on emotional vulnerability and the beauty of daily life, has shown her work at the Smithsonian Institution, the Parrish Art Museum, Canada Gallery, and other national and international venues.
"My Wife, Masked and Unmasked" will remain on view through July 20.
