Karen Gibbons: "Nature/Nurture"
September 8 - October 9, 2022
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 10, 4:00 - 6:00 pm
Opening the Fall 2022 season on September 8, 440 Gallery is pleased to present Nature/Nurture, a solo show of mixed media work by Karen Gibbons. Gibbons’s sixth solo show at the gallery is inspired by her fascination with nature. These vibrant, eclectic pieces dynamically blend collage, drawing and painting in ways that create a sculptural presence when viewed.
In these works, a rugged drawing outlines the major form of a living creature or other organic shape, the resultant vibrating lines convey an animal energy or geometric symmetry. The figures are bold and bright, with rawness that reveals the hand of the artist; their surroundings filled with aggressive brushstrokes and seductive textures. Gibbons often makes use of surfaces that are recycled from other uses, taking advantage of original colors, layers of paint and typography that shows through to add subtle messages and surface interest. Gibbons says, “The found aspect of collage speaks to the history of objects and alludes to the personal narrative that inadvertently influences us all.”
By literally splitting the work into multiple panels, Gibbons explores how one piece can be arranged into different scenarios. She likens this to the changes that occur in the natural world, as well as how we, as humans, connect with the world. 4-Part Fawn, for example, is physically divided into four individual panels, which, when put together, form the figure of a fawn. Gibbons furthers the puzzle by dissecting each panel with a geometric line that creates the illusion of eight unique triangles. The work can be displayed in other arrangements without losing the concept of the animal in nature—it is up to the viewer to decide how to display the four components.
Gibbons says, “While I wish for my work to have universal significance, I recognize that I have only myself as a lens. In an effort to find equilibrium, my work blends personal experience with sacred geometry—geometry that appears in nature as both macrocosm and microcosm, and animal energies—qualities that animals have that can teach us about ourselves.”
Karen Gibbons has an MFA from Hunter College. As a spirited and curious life-long artist and creative explorer, Karen has been an art teacher and yogi. She is currently a holistic psychotherapist using yoga and art in her practice. She has exhibited her work extensively in NYC and elsewhere and her work is found in private collections across the U.S.
For more information contact the director, Amanda Brown, at 718-499-3844 or info@440gallery.com.
Project Space:
”Layers”
Layers is a three-person exhibition of photography, painting and storytelling. Jo-Ann Acey, Juliet Martin and David Stock examine the use of layers and how it can influence the message of their work. In this show, “layers” refers to literal construction, but more importantly, to an exploration of a concept.
Jo-Ann Acey’s series Urban Beat explores the patterns and motion of city life. Employing assemblage and paint, her visual rhythms create a complex view of the urban environment. Acey says of her subject, “The city is a resource of rich visual information; I find pattern and repetition everywhere. In this series, I use collage as a natural extension of my two-dimensional work of painting and drawing. The creative process remains the same. I am still building a surface, adding and subtracting line, color and shapes. I think of the finished compositions as maps or aerial views.”
Juliet Martin creates pieces from fiber, original illustration, and snippets of text that she combines to form tapestries and drawings. Martin’s tapestries are hybrid paintings made by joining hand-woven and machine-made fabric and yarn, and inkjet prints on cloth. Her drawings reveal a humorous side and are absurd: kitty cats posing as little girls, a moaning little gymnast, and more. Language ties these pieces together into a form of an illustrated storybook, with a narrative that is as much poetry as it is artwork.
David Stock is a photographer who has immersed himself in capturing the social landscape in and around Jackson Heights, Queens. Stock is fascinated by these quintessential NYC neighborhoods that are known for unusual spaces, bursting with color and texture and diverse cultural iconography. Stock writes, “On the streets of my community, I search for moments of recognition and connection, where what I see can be organized—or, sometimes, practically organizes itself—into a picture that resonates with my thoughts, feelings, and personality.” The photographs on display are the result of Stock’s meticulous printmaking process, using pigmented inks on fine art papers.
About 440 Gallery: 440 Gallery presents engaging art to the community through exhibitions, talks, readings and events centered around direct contact with the artist. Open Thursday, Friday 4-7pm, Saturday, Sunday 11-7pm, or by appointment.