Old is New
Francie Shaw

GALLERY I

October 5 - October 29, 2011

Opening Reception: Thursday, October 6, 2011, 6-9 pm

In the show, Old is New Francie Shaw incorporates physical parts of prior work into the new pieces – hence the title. The materials are incommensurate: black and white brush drawings of people based on newspaper photographs (from "Weights and Measures," her prior show at A.I.R.); bits of her old canvases; monotypes; and painted papers. Shaw often starts with an old test paper of brush strokes. From this field of grass-like many-toned grays spring figures engaged in recognizable but isolated actions, from marching guerilla fighters to old friends greeting each other. Bold graphics of color are in front, behind and inside the action simultaneously. Unreal cartoonish personages stand nearby. Paisley and spiral patterns emerge from the background color. There are many yellow painted paper discs, which appear as either particles of dust or giant suns. The scale of perception is flexible, micro and macro at once. The use of multiple layers works in tandem with unanchored interpretations. We see daily experiences, painful and pleasurable, shadowed by our shared monsters, existing in a timeless world.

View the full Press Release here.