The Thomas Erben Gallery in Chelsea is
currently presenting a collection of new paintings by Dona Nelson
in a self-titled show. Nelson’s last show at the gallery emphasized the
significance of Nelson’s double-sided paintings, while this show focuses on the
more basic aspects of her work. She begins working on each piece by applying
paint or acrylic-soaked cheesecloth onto the canvas and without having any idea
how the finished product will turn out, relying only on her instincts that
yield to phenomenal results.
Nelson’s paintings are double-sided and she
lets her imagination run wild with her abstract style, vibrant colors, and
playful subjects. For instance, Ribbed Red features the three primary
colors (red, yellow, and blue) and also white seeping into each other against a
ridged background with the yellow portion being vertical with an eruption on
the side. The other side of the painting is presented on a flat surface
outlined with a grid with the yellow portion in the shape of a small airplane.
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| Ribbed Red (2015) by Dona Nelson |
A similar piece titled Coins in a Fountain
features an outline resembling a giant bird on one side spread out diagonally
across the canvas as though it’s flying down toward something attractive. The
object of the bird’s attention is most likely the cluster of golden coins
represented by the yellow spots that culminate in the lower right corner. The
other side of the image is covered with turquoise paint that include oval
shapes, leaving only small openings to reveal the white background and brown
coloring of the bird on the flip side.
Images like The Old Apple Tree have a
mellower vibe being covered in blue paint with one side of the image featuring
what appears to be a long tree trunk tilting over with a collection of old
apples that have fallen sitting by the roots. Several faces of ghosts and other
creatures can be seen in the background.
When working on these paintings, Nelson kept
in mind the idea that every action that one takes depends on previous ones,
resulting in a complex layering where an earlier decision may dramatically
affect later possibilities. This method requires a confidence gained through a
lifetime of experience, of not knowing beforehand what will come next but
trusting her instincts and being able to go with the flow.
At the Thomas Erben Gallery, 526 W. 26th St.,
through Oct. 31. The gallery is open Tue. -Sat. from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
