This Sign Says: Peter Alexander New Resin Works (All Photos By Gail, Click on any Image to Enlarge)
Nyehaus Gallery, located in a gorgeous restored brownstone on West 20th Street, has launched an exciting exhibition of new resin works by pioneering California-based Light and Space artist, Peter Alexander. This exhibit was a delightful companion piece to the Keith Sonnier exhibit I saw at Mary Boone last month, being all about minimalism, color and the interaction of light and art.
Alexander described these works – in which fields of what initially appears to be one color vary in their gradation and degree of saturation – as being, “Like what water does on coastlines when you fly above it, that movement from saturated color to transparency where it fades and becomes part of the sand. I’m interested in addressing that moment with this work, when the whole piece becomes part of a greater thing, part of the air. It addresses the room it’s in. It wants to become a part of the room by disappearing into it.”
Based on impressions I got from perusing Nyehaus’s Online Catalog of Alexander’s resin works (way worth checking out at that link, by the way), I was expecting a greater number of pieces in this exhibit. Sadly, there is only a fraction of the works on display throughout Nyehaus’s three floors of gallery space. Still, it is worth a trip for fans of color and minimalism.
What I love about Alexander’s work is how it challenges the viewer’s ways of seeing. In contrast to traditional paint on canvas, resin affords these works endless ability to play with the light of the rooms in which they are displayed. It’s challenging to capture the subtleties with a point and shoot camera, but very much in evidence when experiencing the artworks in person. I’ve tried to show the contrast in the shots below:
Blue Square Viewed from Hallway Outside Gallery
Blue Square Viewed from Close Up
Blue Square Edge Detail
Another fun and inviting aspect of any opening reception at Nyehaus is the fact that they always serve a selection of delicious Latin dishes, prepared fresh in the Nyehaus open kitchen. These days, many galleries have even cut back on serving wine at openings, so to have a full meal prepared for you is simply unheard of on the Chelsea gallery scene.
Serving food also boosts the social aspect of these gatherings, breaks down walls and brings people together. It’s such a great idea and so generous of Nyehaus.
New Resin Works by Peter Alexander will be on Display at Nyehaus, located at 358 West 20th Street (just East of 9th Avenue) until April 20th, 2013. Gallery Hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
