Janet Pedersen finds inspiration in color and patterns of light and dark in a landscape. If she decides to add a figure, she directs an angle or gesture of the pose so that it becomes part of the landscape, reinforcing the overall design. She moves through the painting process fairly quickly with bold, loose brush strokes to keep the work fresh and in the moment. If a painting begins to feel too predictable, Janet challenges her process by throwing in an unexpected line, shape, or patch of color. This often redirects a whole painting. Ultimately, she hopes to capture a certain feeling or mood that originally inspired her.
Tricia Townes’ current work explores the idea of American identities. Her plan is to explore different communities through the art and designs of their cultures, to paint those designs in the original, culturally specific colors on one side of a transparent mylar sheet, and to paint at least part of the other side of the sheet in the red, white and blue of the American flag. Her aim is to visually show how different ethnic groups bring their own flavor to this country of immigrants.
Townes began with designs from the Arabic and Islamic worlds because of the beauty and wealth of the art from those groups, and because Arabic and other Islamic peoples have been ostracized lately. Her own ethnic group, the African-Americans of West African origin, has also perennially been a lightening rod for the bad behavior of others. Pieces based on West African designs have been included on her website.
Recently, she has also made some pieces employing designs from the Chinese and Greek cultures. When she can obtain them, she will also include comments from members of the communities depicted on any subject they choose to discuss related to their feelings around this country and their place in it.
440 Gallery is located at 440 Sixth Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn, between 9th and 10th Streets, and is convenient to the F, G, and R subways. The gallery is open on Thursday and Friday, 4pm – 7pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 11am – 7pm, or by appointment.