David Mollett's and Jessie Hedden's woodcuts and paintings at Chelsea gallery

The Bowery Gallery in Chelsea is currently presenting a joint exhibition works by David Mollett and Jessie Hedden of drawings, paintings, and woodcuts. For their fourth solo exhibition at the gallery both artists present works that capture their appreciation for nature. 

David Mollett’s part of the show consists of paintings and woodcuts illustrating the wilderness of Alaska. In one of his works titled Hulahula River Mountainside, he uses a fine mix of light and dark colors and different patterns to highlight the different shades of light setting on the mountains. A similar piece titled Sable Pass features bright green and some light orange colored hills that smoothly transition into the burgundy-colored mountains seen in the distance.

“Painted outdoors, these wilderness landscapes were created in the Alaska Range near Denali National Park and around the Fairbanks area. Volatile wet weather this past summer made for constantly changing light which created an opportunity for repeated reworking of each painting. The works in this exhibition are part of my ongoing quest for unified expression, space and light,” explains Mollett.

"Hulahula River Mountainside" (2004) by David Mollett

"Zigzag, Rhythmic Delight" (2014) by Jessie Hedden

Jessie Hedden’s part of the show consists of landscape and still life paintings and abstract collages. One notable mixed media collage titled Matthew’s Beach features several multi-colored square and rectangular cut outs, representing seashells that are all grouped together on a tan colored background, representing sand. 

One of Hedden’s notable still-life oil paintings titled Zigzag, Rhythmic Delight features a vase of flowers placed on a coffee table with a tablecloth with a colorful pattern of stripes and other intriguing designs that blends right in with the funky, zigzag pattern on the floor. On one side of the painting is a sky blue wall that serves a backdrop and compliments the pink flowers, while on the other side of the painting is a bookshelf.

“In these intensely colored works, the unique qualities of each form relates to the whole, contributing to a charged, overall space. “The challenge lies in "getting the gestural and rhythmic sequences of marks and colors to occupy the rectangle in a meaningful way,” explains Hedden.

David Mollett is an Associate Professor of Drawing, Painting and Printmaking at the University of Alaska and Jessie Hedden is a longtime adjunct professor there as well. They also own and operate the Well Street Art Company studios and art gallery space in Fairbanks, Alaska.

At The Bowery Gallery, 530 W. 25th St., through Dec. 20. The gallery is open Tues.—Sat. from 11 a.m.—6 p.m.