Fresh, Local Paintings by Barbara Cohen

Confined to her New York City apartment during the pandemic, the artist Barbara Cohen — who also has a studio in Provincetown — found herself observing the large farmers’ market across the street. Amidst food uncertainty, understocked stalls, and long lines, painting vegetables and fruit become “a creative motive to keep me going,” says Cohen. Memories of the Amish farm stands of her childhood in rural Pennsylvania merged with recollections of markets visited in France and Italy, inspiring brightly colored, spontaneous gouache paintings of carrots, beets, and other produce on recycled paper bags.

These small works will be displayed alongside larger-scale paintings, sculptures, and painted Polaroids as part of “Barbara’s Farm Stand,” on display at the Provincetown Commons, 46 Bradford St., from Thursday, July 1st through July 29th. There’s an opening reception on Saturday, July 3rd from 5 to 7 p.m. with live music by Sensible Shoes. —Susannah Elisabeth Fulcher