You are here

Carmen McNall: Pathways of Time

Type:

Country:

Categories:

Date: 
Thursday, 27 July 2023 to Tuesday, 22 August 2023

"My work tells the stories of female figures of strength, focusing on those who work with their hands; keeping alive the artifacts of humanity." – Carmen McNall

California based artist Carmen McNall’s paintings are punctuated by deep woodcuts creating a balance between textured patterns and stretches of pure pigment. By combining painting with added wood carving techniques, the paintings are not just rich in color, but embody the idea of “handcrafted, " a theme that is central in her work through both process and subject matter as hands play a recurring role.  The faceless figures in McNall’s work resemble Goddess-like muses as they rest in dynamic yet effortless poses. Each one embodying strength, confidence, and wisdom. The figures are adorned with a novel blend of symbolic patterns and mark making. They rest within their own elements, surrounded by a complex yet tranquil interior landscape that inhabit both ancient and futuristic realms.  

Through this work, McNall explores the body as a vessel, a container that carries us through life, using both literal vessels such as vases and containers, as well as human forms. She investigates all that is held within us: memories, tension, energy, healing properties, intuition and how these manifest into movement. 

"My work is very planned out because of the nature of wood carving, every mark is permanent and therefore must be intentional. A lot of the process is in the concept and vision for each piece. I spend quite a bit of time sketching the composition, the colors and pattern designs. I like to work on a body of work simultaneously, having multiple paintings in progress at once. This way I can step back and see the work all together, the way I feel it’s meant to be viewed. 

Once I finish painting, I carve into the pieces using woodcut gouges, creating texture within the patterns. This is a very raw part of the process, no mark you make can be undone so it’s about accepting each mark and the handmade quality it creates. This is what I love so much about the woodcut process. It’s very honest and reveals each moment in time that went into the making of the piece, learning to work with the wood and letting the grain of the wood determine the mark making." 

Venue ( Address ): 

661 Sun Valley Rd, Sun Valley, ID 83353

 


 

Follow @_artweek

 


 

 

Other events from Gilman Contemporary

view
John Westmark: On the Fold
01/25/2024 to 02/29/2024
view
Joanne Freeman: These Days
01/25/2024 to 02/29/2024
view
Deck the Walls
12/11/2023 to 01/24/2024
view
Kelly Ording: Pathways of Time
07/27/2023 to 08/22/2023

Pages

 

Related Shows This Week

view
Ying Hung: PUZZLE BREATHING
10/04/2024 to 10/18/2024
view
Steve Silver: Empirical Horizons
09/05/2024 to 11/02/2024
view
Sara Siestreem (Hanis Coos): milk and honey
09/06/2024 to 10/19/2024
view
LORI COZEN-GELLER ||| THE HUMAN CONDITION
10/18/2023 to 12/16/2024
view
NATHAN GLUCK: UNLOCKING THE MIND: Nathan Gluck’s Early Surrealist Collages
09/14/2024 to 10/26/2024
view
Den Poitras - 'Blissful Lights'
09/07/2024 to 10/26/2024
view
Dóra Maurer: PB – Persona Berg
09/17/2024 to 11/15/2024
view
JOHANNA DIEHL - CONTINUITÀ
09/06/2024 to 10/31/2024

Pages