CRAIGHEAD GREEN GALLERY

Heather Gorham, Chris Mason, Pamela Nelson

April 5 – May 10

OPENING RECEPTION: Saturday, April 5th // 5 – 8pm

Heather Gorham
Everyday Saints & Ordinary Things Only Bigger

The title of the show says it all. The words came to me and then the images politely followed. Two very distinct ideas, one in the form of paintings, the other sculpture.
I knew that the paintings would take the shape of helpers, made-up saints that could take things off of our collective plates and watch over us in these ridiculous times. Mundane minutia, big things, small things, weird things, the underwhelming and the overwhelming.

Offering protection from the straws that threaten to break our backs is their specialty, it’s these imaginary protectors’ jam.
Their imbued powers providing visual comfort as well as some amusement.

The sculpture is self explanatory. As a confession, I hoard sticks and logs. Whenever I see something special, some quality that can be carved into something else later on, it comes home with me.
Starting with this menagerie of wood I began playing with ideas of what would become recognizable shapes made extra large.

Seeing common things that we often forget -scaled up- gives an appreciation for other things right in front of us. Overlooked and ordinary objects become intriguing. As common things become invisible to us through familiarity, enlarging them transforms our sensibilities through absurdity. We can apply this to all things, it reminds us that we can see anything with a new perspective and fresh eyes.

Chris Mason

Throughout history, no artistic subject has been expressed more often than the human figure. As a sculptor, my biggest influences are High Renaissance Figurative Art and comic books. I’ve always made art with whatever materials were available—paint, pencil, even sand. One day, I found a spool of wire in my tool drawer and made two small climbing figures as a gift. Everyone loved them, and I enjoyed the process, so whenever a celebration required a gift, I got out my pliers. Now, I sculpt exclusively in wire, using only cutting pliers and my hands, often free-sculpting gestures before building out muscle masses.

I’m drawn to the action of climbing because it presents the figure suspended in space, revealing angles rarely seen in traditional sculpture. It also invites interpretation—do you see ascent or descent? Wire itself fascinates me because its identity remains unchanged; unlike carved wood or cast metal, it is still wire. Its industrial nature and permanence make it a unique medium, perfectly suited to expressing movement and form.

Pamela Nelson

Pamela Nelson’s work in LIGHT = COLOR is a joyous celebration of spring, colorful renewal and the interplay of light. Her pieces weave painted colors together, evoking symphonic harmonies. The exhibition connects to her 2007 NorthPark installation, COLOR EQUATIONS. The realization that color is the result of different wavelengths of light paired with the combination of various colors reflects the essence of her installation at NorthPark.

With a modernist palette influenced by textile artists and weavers, Nelson embraces both geometry and spontaneous jazz-like improvisation. Her works on recycled paper add an intimate and organic element, while her signature use of bright color captures the optimism of spring.

Craighead Green Gallery
167 Parkhouse St
Dallas, TX 75207
214.855.0779

Sunday + Monday // Closed
Tuesday – Friday // 10am–5pm
Saturday // 11am–5pm

craigheadgreen.com