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For Immediate Release: Summer Group Show at Jay Grimm Gallery, Chelsea
While no direct stylistic connections are intended by the show, the artists nonetheless do seem to share an acute sense of attention to detail. They are also united by their use of abstration to evoke nature. All five have had solo exhibtions at Jay Grimm Gallery in the last two years. Jess von der Ahe's abstractions rely on saturated color and biomorphic form to create compelling images using blood and gold leaf. Collected from her own body, the blood is kept a deep, rich color by a protective coat of resin. The glossy surface is complemented by the shine of the reflective gold leaf. Julia von Eichel uses oil paint on mat board, painstakingly incising monochromatic surfaces with patterns made of small, crescent-like units that cover large areas of the paintings. These incisions, sometimes barely noticeable at first glance, create movement and subtle shifts of light and shadow. In contrast to her recent show at Jay Grimm, von Eichel will exhibit a painting executed in pink, rather than the white or blue that typifies most of her recent work. Andoni Euba's paintings rely on soft gradations of light and sudden shifts in color to create a sense of drama. Executed on smooth panels without any visible brushwork or impasto, the forms appear to be almost photographic cross-sections or details of natural objects such as shells or feathers Jon McCafferty uses fluid layers of transparent colors that have an almost atmospheric sensibility. The clarity and brightness of the forms in the are the result of McCafferty's patient, careful explorations in the use of poured oil and alkyd paint over the last decade. Nancy Lorenz uses mother-of-pearl, pigment and, often, layers of shellac as well as precious metals, such as gold and silver-leaf in her work, creating highly refined surfaces. Gradually shifting in tone and color, her abstractions relate to the asian landscape painting tradition in their ability to evoke endless space. Lorenz lived in Japan for five years and later worked as a restorer of lacquer antiques. These paintings combine the artist's interest in asian craftsmanship and materials, while also allowing a more gestural and incidental approach associated with abstract oil painting.
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