Among the work on display in the upcoming group show at Featherstone’s Pebble Gallery is a collage by Ruth Epstein that includes letters handwritten in Yiddish by her Eastern European grandmother, prior to WWII.
It’s a wonderful tribute to her ancestor as well as recognition of the legacy handed down to her.
In the “Epstein & Littlefield Family Show: Three Generations” it’s clear that the artistically inclined family is closely bound together not only by blood but by a shared creative talent and a need to express themselves through art.
The work of five members of the extended family will be on display at the Pebble Gallery through Sept. 7. The show represents three generations, from 91-year-old Ruth Epstein to her granddaughter, 15-year-old Leah Littlefield. The media include collage, ceramics, woodworking, photography, and the written word. The individuals included in the show are not mere dabblers but talented professionals, semiprofessionals or, in the case of Ms. Littlefield, a very promising up-and-comer.
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Ms. Epstein, the matriarch of the family, was recognized with a retrospective at Featherstone in 2014. The current show displays the scope of her work, extending over seven decades as an artist. Ms. Epstein has worked variously in alabaster sculpture, textile art, doll making, and collage. The latter, which has been the focus of her most recent artistic endeavors since she moved to the Vineyard in 2009, will be her contribution to the group show.
Ms. Epstein uses images, text, fabric, natural objects, and more to create striking mixed-media pieces. Her subjects express the variety of her interests, ranging from early 20th century immigration, Broadway shows, kimonos, and Victorian fans. The pieces are as fascinating as they are visually arresting.
“She is one of the most creative people I’ve ever known,” Lisa Littlefield said of her multitalented mother. Surprisingly, the 2014 retrospective at Featherstone marked Ms. Epstein’s first public show of her work.
Ms. Epstein’s son, Rick, is a ceramic artist who is best known for his large-scale, three-dimensional clay landscapes. Drawing from nature for his themes, Mr. Epstein creates bas-relief sculpture whose depth and texture allow the viewer to virtually enter the scenes of his imagining. Mr. Epstein, who lives in western Massachusetts, is a regular exhibitor at some of the country’s finest juried craft shows.
Ms. Epstein’s other son, Mitch, is a highly successful photographer whose work is in major collections all over the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York’s Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Tate Modern in London. Mr. Epstein helped pioneer fine-art color photography in the 1970s, and has won numerous awards and honors throughout his long career. He will be showcasing photographs from Martha’s Vineyard at the Featherstone exhibit.
Ms. Epstein’s son-in-law Ivory Littlefield, a resident of Martha’s Vineyard, is known primarily for his artfully crafted homes and furniture, and is also a skilled sculptor and carver. He will be showing a sampling of his beautiful carved wooden bowls, which he has exhibited at the former Shaw Cramer Gallery and at the Martha’s Vineyard Artisans Festival.
The latest generation of the Epstein/Littlefield clan will be represented by Leah Littlefield, the daughter of Mr. Littlefield and Ms. Epstein’s daughter Lisa. The 15-year-old poet and writer, who lives on the Vineyard and attends Falmouth Academy, has won a number of writing awards, including the Susan Pasley MacKenzie Creative Writing Award and the Eliza Brickner Poetry Award. Ms. Littlefield will be exhibiting examples of her poetry and prose.
It’s very interesting to see how each member of this creative family has chosen to express the world around them. “I think the whole multigenerational aspect is what’s important,” said Lisa Littlefield, who was instrumental in putting the show together. “And the fact that three out of five of the family members are part of the Island’s artist community at large.”
Opening reception, “Epstein & Littlefield Show: Three Generations” Sunday, August 28, 4 to 6 pm. Show runs through Sept. 7. For more information, visit featherstoneart.org.