"A Stronger Loving World" by Melanie Salerno, Oil on Canvas

By Charlie Lynch

BOOM! is a mixed media art exhibit, by artists Spiridoula Politis and Melanie Salerno, currently on display at Gallery 321 at the Washington Street Art Center. The pieces focus on interpretations of this explosive expression and include oil paintings, drawings, and other mixed media.

The concept was conceived by Politis.  “I was going through a really heavy emotional experience and sometimes you get really intense emotions where you feel like you are going to explode,” she said.  This experience lead to the concept of BOOM! though the artists believe the expression has a broader, more open definition and one that proved difficult at times to translate.

“I always paint really abstract with concepts like colors and shapes,” said Salerno, who found a challenge in confining her work to a word.  For Politis, it was the expression of emotions that were novel to her, her past work being more thought-based.  She said, “We hit a lot of roadblocks, but I think inside I knew it would work out in the end.”

"Heartbroken" by Spiridoula Politis, Oil on Masonite

This is Politis and Salerno’s first collaborative work.  Politis has been active in the Somerville art community for the last three years.  Salerno has shown pieces around the area for over a decade.

The show will run until April 23, with showings on Saturday afternoons or by appointment.