Color Lines - A.I.R. Gallery

Starting tomorrow night and running through November 1st a talented artist and friend, Taryn Wells, is presenting a solo exhibition at the A.I.R. gallery in Brooklyn, NY.  Taryn's work is thought provoking - theme is often centered around her experience as a mixed race woman growing up in a suburban, and primarily white, environment.

Taryn's primary medium is graphite and her drawings are so finely detailed they feel as lifelike as a photograph.  I am always moved by her work and definitely recommend that you check out this exhibition. Please see the the press release below for a complete description of this showing as well as the gallery address, dates, and times. 

BROOKLYN, NY, SEPTEMBER 2009 - A.I.R. Gallery is pleased to announce Color Lines, a solo exhibition by artist Taryn Wells. The exhibition will be on view from October 7th through November 1st, 2009, with an opening reception on Thursday, October 8th from 6 to 8 pm.

Color Lines brings a distinct viewpoint to the often overlooked history of the multiracial American and the complicated subject of racial classification. The featured works examine the dualities and dark truths of America through a new perspective. Wells’ self-portraits illustrate her personal relationship to the topic as the artist identifies as multiracial. The drawings are sometimes sardonic, sometimes somber, but always compelling.

By using graphite for the entire series, Wells creates sharp contrasts and a sense of isolation and grit, portraying her problematic place in the world as a multiracial individual. Most importantly, the medium transmits the continuous motif of black and white – both a thematic and literal translation of identity. The incorporation of the “box” motif suggests that the subject is under the viewer’s microscope, imparting feelings of constraint and limitation.

“Ms. Wells’ work “provides no easy answers in her exquisite drawings which grapple with the psychological implications of society’s definitions of racial identity. These monumental graphite drawings of her own face, some of them nearly three feet tall, combine portraiture, anatomy, pop culture, and an unflinching gaze to create an artistic tour de force.” -Susan Navarre, Executive Director, Brookline Arts Center

Color Lines asks us to discard our prior beliefs and look at race in a new manner, for Well’s works offer an opportunity for dialogue concerning the plurality of race.

Taryn Wells earned her BFA at Boston College. She is the recipient of numerous awards and her work has been featured in several publications including Nerve House and CALYX. Wells’ work is exhibited internationally, including New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Madrid, and Tokyo. She is a National Artist of A.I.R. Gallery in Brooklyn.

A.I.R. – ADVOCATING FOR WOMEN IN THE ARTS SINCE 1972. A.I.R. Gallery is located at 111Front Street, #228, in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn. Gallery hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 11am to 6pm. For directions please see www.airgallery.org. For additional information, please contact A.I.R. Gallery Director, Kat Griefen at 212-255-6651 or kgriefen@airgallery.org.

Image Credit: Taryn Wells