Mark Favermann
Bio:
Architecture, design, film and theatre critic/associate editor Mark Favermann, is an urban designer and public artist who over the past two decades has written extensively on art and design. A former Fellow at the Center for Advanced Visual Studies at MIT, he was the first leader of the Boston Visual Artists Union (BVAU), the 1970's Boston activist artists organization, served as the former Director of Visual and Environmental Arts for the City of Boston and has been an adjunct professor at several universities. He was a columnist and/or editor for a large number of prominent publications. His own design work has included creating the award-winning marquee for the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, designing the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, creating the look for the 2000 NCAA Final Four in Indianapolis and the 1999 Ryder Cup as well as the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England. For the past eight seasons, he has been a design consultant to the Boston Red Sox. His 2005 public art commission, The Birds of Audubon Circle, was nominated by the Boston Art Commission as one of the best pieces of public art in America. In the Fall of 2007, his Recognition Gateway sculpture was installed in South Brookline.
Recent Articles:
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Coolidge Corner Theatre's Joe Zina Steps Down Film
Outstanding Executive Director Is Leaving in January
By: - Jul 10th, 2008Creatively energizing the once moribund Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, Massachusetts over the last decade, Joe Zina has given New England and the world a great cinematic and artistic institution. In January, the brilliant impresario is to step down from the directorship to pursue his artistic vision.
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De-Lovely Cole Porter at The America Repertory Theatre (A.R.T.) in Cambridge, Massachusetts Theatre
Melodious Revue of American Master's Elegant Songs
By: - Jul 07th, 2008The A.R.T. is currently presenting a revue featuring the wonderful, sparkling and often sexy songs of Cole Porter. One of America's greatest songwriters, Cole Porter combined wit, a bit of longing, and even some wisdom infused with parody and patter along with heartache, sophistication, and romance in beloved musicals and hugely popular songs. This special show is a delightful and de-lovely must see.
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Anish Kapoor: Past, Present, Future at ICA Fine Arts
World Class Sculpture Show Raises the Boston Bar
By: - Jun 06th, 2008When the spectacular new Institute of Contemporary Art building opened in 2006, a question arose: Would the art be as great as the building? The Anish Kapoor sculpture exhibit answers with a resounding Yes. This is a must see exhibit.
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Ennio! One-Man Spectacle at Huntington Theatre Company's Calderwood Pavilion Theatre
A Quick Change Artist Conveying Wit and Wonder
By: - May 26th, 2008A one-man show by a quick-change artist who brilliantly morphs into pop icons of the last few decades sounds a bit old fashion. However, in his own way, Ennio Marchetto is as contemporary as an Ipod. This is an old form that has a new feel. The show is certainly not your great-grandfather's vaudeville. Joy and wit turn often into wonder and much laughter.
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On Memorial Day Architecture
The New England Holocaust Memorial
By: - May 26th, 2008Memorial Day commemorates our fallen military. But, on this day we also think of our own lost friends and family. Remembrance and respect transcend our own personal lives. We also tend to memorialize great events and great tragedies. Grand artistic visions are rare in monuments and memorials. However, a case can be made for the New England Holocaust Memorial.
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Delightful She Loves Me at Huntington Theatre & At the Williamstown Theatre Festival Theatre
Wonderful Musical Ends Nicholas Martin's Tenure
By: - May 24th, 2008This revival of the 1963 highly touted musical at Huntington Theatre Company is warm and summery. The music is melodious; the dancing is amazing: and the performances are just right. It is fun with absolutely no heavy lifting. A sweet farewell to Artistic Director Nichols Martin who will take this play to the Williamstown Theatre Festival in June.
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Cardenio at American Repertory Theatre Theatre
Allegedly Shakespearean Play Modernized
By: - May 23rd, 2008Supposedly, Shakespeare had collaborated on a play that was only performed twice in 1613. The play was lost. A new play based upon Cardenio is being premiered at the A.R.T. It certainly is not Shakespearean, and seems to need editing, tightening up and real characters. Other than that, as they say, did you enjoy the play, Mrs. Lincoln?
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Adaptive Environments: Inclusive Design Architecture
Organization Uses Design as a Tool for Accessibility
By: - May 17th, 2008Universal design sensitivity is now written into law, but it was not always. Boston-based Adaptive Environments is a prominent reason that design now incorporates more sensitivity to the human condition no matter what it is. We all have disabilities.
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American Repertory Theatre Appoints Diane Paulus Theatre
Innovative Director to Lead Harvard's A.R.T.
By: - May 16th, 2008Since its founding in 1980, the A.R.T., considered to be one of America's great regional theatres, has been known for its wonderfully edgy, provocative and often spell-binding takes on theatrical productions. After a long pause, a highly regarded new Artistic Director has just been appointed, Diane Paulus.
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Frank Lloyd Wright's Great Usonian Vision Architecture
The Zimmerman House in Manchester, NH
By: - May 10th, 2008Inspired to create a democratic, distinctively American style of house, master architect Frank Lloyd Wright created a series of homes that he called Usonian. Perhaps, the best of these was built in Manchester, NH. FLW considered this an affordable house, for middle class people. The Zimmerman House cost $55,000 to design and build in the early 1950's. This was at a time when a comparably sized house cost around $5000. But, this particular Manchester house has the Wright stuff.
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Calderwood's The Cry of the Reed Premieres Theatre
Contrasts Sufi Humanitarism to Islamic Extremism
By: - May 04th, 2008Family and tribal disfunctionalism are theatrically portrayed through current news headlines set in Turkey and Iraq. Intensity of emotions and relationships are underscored by journalistic opportunism and militant religious fanaticism. The play even has an aggressively searching agnostic musician boyfriend, a flawed woman prophet and Whirling Dervishes.
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John Eric Byers Studio Furniture, Gallery Naga Design
Squares and Rectangles: Functional Carved Paintings
By: - May 04th, 2008Studio Furniture is one of the strongest New England artistic traditions. The John Eric Byers show underscored the craft, elegance and even intelligence of one of its emerging masters. Each of his objects' surface intensity, both carved and painted, is almost exhaustive in its complex simplicity.
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Coolidge Corner Theatre Details Portfolio
Projects Added to the 1933 Cinema Since 2002
By: - Apr 29th, 2008Over the past 6 years, design elements and details have been added to the now grand Art Deco Coolidge Corner Theatre. This is a case of certainly getting better rather than just getting older.
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2008 Coolidge Award Goes To British Producer Film
Jeremy Thomas Honored for Lifetime Achievement
By: - Apr 28th, 2008The 2008 Coolidge Award continues its five year tradition of honoring the best of contemporary filmmakers. Jeremy Thomas' 30 year career as an independent film producer demonstrates the highest levels of world cinema style and craft.
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Art In the Life of the City: Learning from London Fine Arts
A Symposium At The Harvard Design School Part 2
By: - Apr 23rd, 2008After a provocative keynote address on Thursday evening, an all day symposium looked at a variety of compelling ephemeral art projects in London. UK curators discussed the nuts and bolts of temporary project work of artists and architects. The Fourth Plinth at Trafalgar Square, The Serpentine Gallery's Pavilions, The Tate Modern's Public Space and the Sultan's Elephant were all striking. London's public art energy was persuasive.
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Art In the Life of the City: Learning from London Fine Arts
A Symposium At The Harvard Design School
By: - Apr 22nd, 2008A recent symposium at the GSD focused on how ephemeral art can build civic engagement, community dialogue and public debate. What is the impact of temporary public art events? Is public art a force for urban change? Coupling this with sense of place, citizenship and ecology, UK curators discussed the impact of their work. Can this work in America as well? Part 1 of 2 parts
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Fenway 2008 Opening Day Ceremonies People
Celebrating the 2007 Red Sox Championship
By: - Apr 17th, 2008Since the 2002 season and the new ownership took over, the author has been a design consultant to the Red Sox. The 86 year old Curse of the Bambino was broken and the Old Town Team has now won two World Series in the last four years. Is there cause and effect?
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Elections & Erections at the A.R.T. Theatre
Provocative Cabaret: Apartheid & Today's Politics
By: - Apr 13th, 2008With a few stops in recent history, a highly talented mimic and drag queen tells the outrageous story of contemporary South Africa in biographical narratives, intricate vignettes and amazing characterizations. His matronly alter ego, Evita Bezuidenhout, is perhaps the most famous white woman in South Africa. Characters tell it like it is and sometimes as it should be with humor & pathos.
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Edifice Wrecks: What's With New York City? Architecture
Urban Visions are Being Ruined by Parochial Hubris
By: - Mar 29th, 2008New York is suffering from municipal malaise. Failing with plans for Ground Zero, the 2012 Olympic Bid and now Atlantic Yards in Downtown Brooklyn, NYC lacks vision and civic follow through. A few individual architecturally interesting buildings are getting built but not larger visionary urban design schemes. Politics, provincialism and perhaps fear of the new have caused America's greatest city to civically belittle itself. Why?
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Birth of The Cool at Addison Gallery Design
Disappointing 1950's California Style Exhibition
By: - Mar 21st, 2008The exhibit Birth of the Cool is a reflection of California Cool as a thematic approach to American 50's popular culture. Our critic finds the show and the objects somewhat problematic. Is he cool?
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Shining City at Huntington Theatre Company Theatre
Haunting Psychological Mystery and Ghost Story
By: - Mar 17th, 2008Conor McPherson tells a modern day ghost story while insightfully delving into contemporary Irish life. Illegitimate children, dysfunctional families and homosexuality are parts of this eerie encounter. But, these only affect the ex-priest. This Dublin tale isn't like listening to the Clancy Brothers.
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Ghost on Stage Theatre
Hauntings at the Huntington Theatre Company
By: - Feb 26th, 2008A new show dealing with ghosts is coming to the Huntington--Shining City. PR maven John Michael Kennedy decided to share some scary dramatic history.
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All Hail, Julius Caesar at The American Repertory Theatre Theatre
A Contemporary Adaptation that Vividly Commands
By: - Feb 25th, 2008Regime change and political uncertainty are aspects of our own times. This version of William Shakespeare's tragedy is from a distinctive directorial perspective that stimulates our fantasy and imagination. Yet,at the same time, it presents the classic play in a clever, clear and poignant way.
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Polaroid 2008: Instantly Fading Picture Design
Creative Company Collapsing From Lack of Vision
By: - Feb 18th, 2008Since 1948, Polaroid has meant instant photos. However, technology has changed. From corporate megastar to high tech also-ran, the Polaroid Corporation has recently announced that it was doing away with its instant film.
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A Magnificent Shakespeare's Actresses in America at the Calderwood Pavilion, Huntington Theatre Company Theatre
An One-Woman Tour-de-Force by Rebekah Maggor
By: - Feb 14th, 2008During the 19th Century, Shakespeare was mass entertainment in America. It only got to be considered highbrow in the 20th Century. Truly gifted actress Rebekah Maggor has developed an amazing one-woman show that brings to life the various heroines of the Bard through brilliant interpretations of some of the finest actresses that have graced the American stage. Shakespeare lowbrow or highbrow, Rebekah Maggor should take a bow.
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