Reception: Thursday, April 19, 6 – 8pm
We are pleased to present recent paintings by Gerald Wolfe. This is his third solo exhibition at the gallery. The process of making a painting with non-traditional materials has always been the driving force in Wolfe’s work.
In these recent paintings, Wolfe continues to use cotton drop cloths that could be found in any building supplies store. He applies the cloth to wood panels. The porous quality and imperfections of a drop cloth is what draws Wolfe to this material. As each piece begins to evolve, cutting, patching, and scraping takes place. The final statement is realized when the interplay of lines and shapes create a tension between flatness and depth.
Visual elements of Islamic calligraphy and the quilts by the women of Gee’s Bend continue to be important sources for these paintings. To a varying degree, the imagery of these paintings combines the patchwork aspects of quilt making with the fluid, interwoven nature of Islamic script.