James Boneparth’s painting exhibition, GOTTA BE KIDDING!!!, An Ode to the Sometimes-

Farcical Nature of Modern Art, opened on Friday, January 27, 2023. The artist was available to answer

questions that evening, and he planned for an outdoor reception (since masks are required in the

library.)

Boneparth finds that art, itself, is about breaking rules.  “Not necessarily the kinds of rules

we learn in elementary school, but instead the types of thought patterns we subconsciously possess. 

Therefore, the deeper part of this work is not only to enjoy an image, but to free our minds.”

His work is non-representational; he believes that art is of a spiritual nature, and therefore

need not represent “what’s real.” Its point is to make the viewer think differently. The title:

GOTTA BE KIDDING!!! is meant to alert viewers to the idea art is about seeing the world in

unexpected ways.

Boneparth enjoyed making art from young age, and pursued figurative work, especially

portraiture, during high school (mostly drawing) and during a summer program at RISD, where he

pursued painting and other media. He studied further “under the tutelage of a young Eric Aho, who

has since gone on to have a fabulous career as a painter,” the artist states.

As a student at Hampshire college, Boneparth began to emphasize his writing over visual

art-making. He also taught poetry to inner-city elementary school children. He became disappointed

with the lackluster response to a book of short stories he had written and began to suffer from

writer’s block.

After arriving at Gould Farm in Monterey, he noticed some work made at Berkshire Art

Center (formerly IS183) by his friends.  It was then that James experienced an artistic renaissance; he

has spent a few years since studying abstract art with Wednesday Nelena Sorokin, who has mentored

him. This exhibit features pieces from his recent work and study.

Boneparth’s paintings will be on exhibit through March 11, 2023.