Forthrights and Meanders by Alina Gallo

WHAT THE DRAWINGS THINK Christopher Thompson And is not human life in many

parts of the earth governed to this day less by time than by the weather, and thus by an unquantifiable dimension which disregards linear regularity, does not progress constantly forward but moves in eddies, is marked by episodes of congestion and irruption, recurs in ever-changing form, and evolves in no one knows what direction. -W.G. Sebald, Austerlitz

Alison Hildreth’s drawings (Forthrights and Meanders) make two powerful claims about the kind of work that images can do; what makes these claims powerful in her coordination of them into an argument about drawing’s capacities that her drawings literally put to the test by subjecting these aptitudes and abilities to the rigors of life on the ﬂat blank page. First claim: the drawings suggest that thinking need not be undertaken by a human being in order to be intelligible to her. That is, there are modes of thinking out there, in the world, out there inventing the world, that we have neither produced not sanctioned but which we can incorporate. Second claim (and embedded within the first point, but so much more provocative that it seems that the first follows from it instead of the other way around): drawings think. That is, drawings do the work of an intellection that becomes available to us as though it were we who had fought for its results. Drawings do not render thought, illustrate though, stimulate thought; they enact and practice it. In his book on Spinoza, Expressionism in Philosophy, Gilles Deleuze writes that “Spinoza can consider two fundamental questions as equivalent: What is the structure (fabrica) of a body? And what can a body do? A body’s structure is the composition of its relation. What a body can do corresponds to the nature and limits of its capacity to be affected.” This capacity of a body—to be affected Deleuze defines “as the aptness of a body both for suffering and acting.”

LEFT: Forthrights and Meanders #1, Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on rice paper, 12.5 x 55.5 in, 2007 RIGHT: Forthrights and Meanders #2, Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on rice paper, 12.5 x 56 in, 2007

Thought they never depict one, Hildreth’s drawings are firstly a Moebius strip. This means that before the marks begin to accrue, before it becomes possible to trace routes from here to those there from which there is no escape, there is already an immaterial membrane in place.

It coincides with the blank page but is not reducible to it. This membrane will not determine but will effectuate passages, connections, meshings between the zones of the drawing and the figures they produce, and will also help to show them how and where to open out into the world. The drawings undertake the variety of work outlined by Deleuze and Felix Guattari in their book What is Philosophy?, moving into the world in order to collaborate with it in creating new forms of life: “Life alone creates such zones where living beings whirl around, and only art can reach and penetrate them in its enterprise of co-creation.”

It is made from the most heterogeneous textures, bone, epithelium, sheets to write on, charged atmosphere, swords, glass cases, people, grasses, canvases to paint. All these zones are joined end to end in a band which has no back to it, a Moebius band which interests us not because it is closed but because it is one sided, a Moebian skin which, rather than being smooth, is on the contrary (is this topologically possible?) covered with roughness, corners, creases, cavities which, when it passes on the ‘first’ turn will be cavities, on the ‘second,’ lumps. But as for what turn the band is on no-one knows nor will know in the eternal turn. Jean-Francois Lyotard, Libidinal Economy

Fragments #5, Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on paper

The greater the distance, the clearer the view: one sees the tiniest of details with the utmost clarity. It is as if one were looking through a reversed opera glass and through a microscope at the same time. And yet, all knowledge is enveloped in darkness.

-W.G. Sebald, Rings of Saturn

Forthrights and Meanders: Numbers 1-37

Forthrights and Meanders #17 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on paper, 15 x 54 in, 2008

Forthrights and Meanders #4 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on paper, 14 x 55 in, 2007

Forthrights and Meanders #5 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on paper, 12.5 x 55.5 in, 2007

Forthrights and Meanders #6 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on paper, 15 x 54 in, 2007

Forthrights and Meanders #7 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on paper, 15 x 54 in, 2007

Forthrights and Meanders #8 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on paper, 12.5 x 55.5 in, 2007

Forthrights and Meanders #10 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on paper, 12.5 x 56.5 in, 2007

Forthrights and Meanders #9 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on paper, 12.5 x 55 in, 2007

Forthrights and Meanders #11 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on rice paper, 12.5 x 56.5 in, 2007

Forthrights and Meanders #12 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on rice paper, 12.5 x 56.5 in, 2008

Forthrights and Meanders #13 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on rice paper, 12.5 x 55.5 in, 2007

Forthrights and Meanders #14 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on rice paper, 15 x 54 in, 2008

Forthrights and Meanders #15 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on rice paper, 15 x 54 in, 2008

Forthrights and Meanders #16 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on rice paper, 15 x 54 in, 2008

Forthrights and Meanders #18 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on rice paper, 15 x 54 in, 2008

Forthrights and Meanders #19 Graphite, encaustic and ink was on rice paper, 15 x 54 in, 2008

Forthrights and Meanders #20 Graphite, encaustic and ink was on rice paper, 15 x 54 in, 2008

Forthrights and Meanders #21 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on paper, 12.5 x 55.5 in, 2008

Forthrights and Meanders #3 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on paper, 12.5 x 56 in, 2007

Forthrights and Meanders #23 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on rice paper, 36 x 55 in, 2008

Forthrights and Meanders #24 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on rice paper, 12.5 x 56 in, 2009

Forthrights and Meanders #26 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on rice paper, 12.5 x 56 in, 2009

Forthrights and Meanders #27 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on rice paper, 15 x 54.75 in, 2008

Forthrights and Meanders #28 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on rice paper, 12.5 x 55.75 in, 2009

Forthrights and Meanders #29 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on rice paper, 12.5 x 56 in, 2009

Forthrights and Meanders #30 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on rice paper, 12.5 x 56 in, 2008

Forthrights and Meanders #32 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on rice paper, 12.5 x 56 in, 2009

Forthrights and Meanders #33 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on rice paper, 12.5 x 56 in, 2009

Forthrights and Meanders #34 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on rice paper, 12.5 x 56.25 in, 2009

Forthrights and Meanders #35 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on rice paper, 13 x 56.5 in, 2009

Forthrights and Meanders #36 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on rice paper, 12.5 x 55.5 in, 2009

Forthrights and Meanders #37 Graphite, encaustic and ink wash on rice paper, 14.25 x 55.25 in, 2009

Appendix SELECTED SOLO EXHIBTIONS 2010 2008 2005 2003 2002 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996

1994 1993 1992 1990 1987 1985 1982 1980 1977 1976

The Art Gallery at the University of New England, Westbrook, ME June Fitzpatrick Gallery, Portland ME June Fitzpatrick Gallery, Portland, ME Center For Maine Contemporary Art, Rockport, ME University of Maine, Farmington, ME June Fitzpatrick Gallery, Portland, ME Farnsworth Museum, Rockland, ME June Fitzpatrick Gallery, Portland, ME Arden Gallery, Boston, MA Kouros Gallery, New York, NY Maine Coast Artists, Rockport, ME Clark University Gallery, Worcester, MA Arden Gallery, Boston, MA Rothenfeld-McDermott Gallery, Cleveland, OH Kouros Gallery, New York, NY The Painting Center, New York, NY Condeso-Lawler Gallery, New York, NY Joan Whitney Payson Gallery of Art, Portland, ME Barridoff Galleries, Portland, ME Barridoff Galleries, Portland, ME Barridoff Galleries, Portland, ME Chroma Gallery, Portland, ME Open Book and Art Forum, Portland, ME University of Maine, Forum A, Augusta, ME North Yarmouth Academy, Yarmouth, ME St. Josephâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College, Windham, ME

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2009

2008 2007

2006 2004 2003

2002

Boston Prinkmakers Field Report Show, Gordon College, Meham, MA, Brickbottom Gallery, Somerville, MA, Smith College, Northampton MA, Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art, Hays, KS, W. Keith and Janet Kellogg University Art Gallery, Pomona, CA Spineless Wonders, Atrium Gallery, Lewiston, ME The Business of Art, The Art Gallery at the University of New England, Westbrook, ME Early Summer Group Show, New Era Gallery, Vinalhaven, ME Animal Houses, LC Bates Museum, Hinckley, ME Black and White, June Fitzpatrick Gallery, Portland, ME Drawings from Maine, Nancy Margolis Gallery, New York NY Boston Printmakers, 60 Years, Wiggon Gallery, Boston MA Graphite, Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME Graphite, June Fitzpatrick Gallery, Portland, ME Fusion, June Fitzpatrick Gallery, Portland, ME North American Print Exhibition, Boston University, Boston, MA Year of the Print, L.C. Bates Museum, Hinckley, ME Naked, June Fitzpatrick Gallery, Portland, ME Exquisite Corpse, Walker Art Gallery, Bowdoin College, ME North American Print Exhibition, Boston University, Boston, MA ICA Gallery, Maine College Of Art, Portland, ME Four Vinalhaven Artists, University of Maine, Orono, ME Composition Notebook, Center For Maine Contemporary Art, Rock port, ME 50 Year Anniversary Exhibition, Center For Maine Contemporary Art, Rockport, ME Site Specific Installations, Vinalhaven, ME

2001

2000

1999 1998

1997

1996 1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990 1989

1988 1986 1984

1983 1982 1981 1980

Ingredients For Peace Exhibition, United Nations, New York, NY North American Print Exhibition, Boston University, Boston, MA Rosemarie Frick Curates, Maine Art Gallery, Wiscasset, ME Bruce Brown Collection, Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME Artists Books, Boston Public Library, Boston, MA Three Artists, Blum Gallery, Bar Harbor, ME Island Artists, Farnsworth Museum of Art, Rockland, ME Print Exhibition, Treat Gallery, Bates College, Lewiston, ME New Acquisitions, Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME Joan Whitney Payson Gallery of Art, Portland, ME Maine Coast Artists, Rockport, ME Kouros Gallery, New York, NY Rosemarie Frick Curates, Robert Clements Gallery, Portland, ME Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME Triennial Exhibition, Fuller Museum of Art, Brockton, MA Kouros Gallery, New York, NY Two Artists, Vassar Center Gallery, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY North American Print Exhibition, Duxbury Museum, Duxbury, MA Kouros Gallery, New York, NY Two Artists, Arden Gallery, Boston, MA Kouros Gallery, New York, NY Print Fair, New York, NY Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME Maine Coast Artists, Rockport, ME Farnsworth Museum, Rockland, ME Metropolitan Museum of Art Mezzanine Gallery, New York, NY Condeso-Lawler Gallery, New York, NY Foreman Gallery, Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY The Painting Center, New York, NY Michael Walls Gallery, New York, NY Monmouth Museum, Lincroft, NJ 40 Years of Maine Art, Maine Coast Artists, Rockport, ME Drawing Show, Boston Center For The Arts, Boston, MA University Place Gallery, Cambridge, MA Frick Gallery, Belfast, ME Perspectives, Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME Island Portfolio, Dean Velentgas Gallery, Portland, ME Chicago Biennial Exposition, Chicago, IL Alison Hildreth, William Manning, Toni Wolf, Barridoff Galleries, Portland, ME Condeso-Lawler Gallery, New York, NY Barn Gallery, Ogunquit, ME Unity College, Unity, ME Baxter Gallery, Portland, ME Mainers Away, Joan Whitney Payson Gallery of Art, Portland, ME Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME Maine Painting, Farnsworth Museum, Rockland, ME Baxter Gallery, Portland, ME Jurors Award, Hope Sound Gallery North, Portland, ME Painting and Sculpture, Maine Coast Artists, Rockport, ME Portland Art Building, Portland, ME Ellsworth Wiley Gallery, Hartford, CN Works on Paper, Maine Coast Artists, Rockport, ME Maine Festival, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME Works on Paper, Joan Whitney Payson Gallery of Art, Portland, ME Farnsworth Museum, Rockland, ME

PUBLICATIONS Maine Art Scene Online Magazine, “Printmaker: Alison HIldreth,” Interview with Brenda Bonneville, May 2009

The Maine Sunday Telegram, February 22, 2009 The Maine Sunday Telegram, November 16, 2008 The Maine Sunday Telegram, April 13, 2008 The Camden Herald, June 9, 2005 Portland Phoenix, “Golden Horde: Center for Maine Contemporary Art’s 50th Anniversary,” Christopher Thompson, August 23, 2002. Bangor Daily News, “Exhibition at Farnsworth a compelling study in con trasts,” Kristen Andresen, March 23-24, 2002. The Courier Gazette, “Art inspires poetry at the Farnsworth,” 2002. Maine Sunday Telegram, “Linked by their pursuit of unsullied visions,” Phillip Isaacson, June 9, 2002. Maine Times,“Intellect and intuition in Rockland,” Edgar Allen Beem, April 4, 2002. The Ellsworth Weekly, “Views from the Edge,” Nan Lincoln, June 15, 2000. Maine Sunday Telegram, “Accepting an invitation to muse on challenges of flight,” Phillip Isaacson, April 2, 2000. Maine Times, “Soul and sisterhood on paper,” Edgar Allen Beem, May 2000. Portland Press Herald, “Alison Hildreth’s show good excuse for getting down to Boston,” Ken Greenleaf, March 18, 1999. Maine Sunday Telegram, “Hildreth’s dark creatures of the night fascinate, repel,” Phillip Isaacson, July 6, 1997. Art in America,“Review: Alison Hildreth at Arden,” Carl Little, February 15, 1996. Maine Times, “Frost Gully show displays the best of Vinalhaven,” Paul Karr, February 15, 1996. The Worcester Phoenix, “Mother Nature: Alison Hildreth takes from her own backyard,” Leon Nigrosh, March 15, 1996. Maine Times, “Belfast shows four female visions, Haines Sprout Tate, July 28, 1995. Maine Sunday Telegram, “Art Review: Four Women Four Visions,” Phillip Isaacson, July 16, 1995. Maine Times,“Maine printmakers make their mark(s) at Round Top,” Haines Sprout Tate, June 23, 1995. Maine Sunday Telegram, “Vision, decision lom large in Maine artist’ abstrac tions,” Phillip Isaacson, April 23, 1995. Maine Times, “Stop Look Listen,” Haines Sprout Tate, July 14, 1994. Maine Sunday Telegram, “The artists of Vinalhaven offer a dynamic display,” Phillip Isaacson, July 17, 1994. Maine Sunday Telegram, “A little help for seekers of fine art,” Phillip Isaac son, February 21, 1993. Casco Bay Weekly, “Painting the inescapable lightness of being,” Margot McWilliams, March 12, 1992. Kennebec Journal, “Journeys through land, sea, soul entice Maine artists,” Donna Gold, June 15-16, 1991. York County Coast Star, “Keeping the protagonist off-guard in the art world,” Stuart Nudelman, April 18, 1990. Portland Evening Express, “Payson show links 2 artists,” Bob Niss, April 5, 1990. Maine Sunday Telegram, “Island artwork comes ashore to Portland gallery,” Bob NIss, December 1990. Maine Sunday Telegram, “Show reflects mind/paint struggle,” Sherry Miller, November 25, 1990. Casco Bay Weekly, “Island Collaboration,” Margot McWilliams, 1990. Maine Times, “Alan Magee and Alison Hildreth in pursuit of depth,” Edgar Allen Beem, April 13, 1990. Maine Sunday Telegram, “Journeys of introspection and fantasy.” Phillip Isaacson, April 29, 1990. Art New England, “Regional Reviews,” Shirley Jacks, March 1989. Camden Herald, “Eight Artists featured at Maine Coast Artists,” Susan Sulz er, August 10, 1989.

Maine Sunday Telegram, “The Show of Shows: Maine Coast Artists’ 10th An nual proves, as usual, a stunning attraction,” Phillip Isaacson, June 19, 1988. Maine Sunday Telegram, “Jurying at two galleries, and a critic’s verdict.” Phillip Isaacson, June 28, 1987. p. 46 A. Art New England, “Regional Reviews: Alison Hildreth One Woman Show,” Pat Reef, 1987. Maine Times. “Maine Coast Artists’ annual rite of discovery,” Edgar Allen Beem, 1986. Art New England, “Regional Reviews: Alison Derby Hildreth at Barridoff Gal leries,” William Barry, December 1985/ January 1986. Portland Evening Express, “Hildreth shares exhilarating journey,” Patricia An derson, October 25, 1985. Portland Press Herald, “Barridoff displays a local sampler,” William Barry, November 22, 1984. Camden Herald, “Art Review: MCA Gallery,” Susan Stump, August 18, 1983. Portland Evening Express, “Two shows spotlight School of Art,” William Bar ry, March 4, 1983. Portland Evening Express, “Offerings present contrast,” William Barry, June 18, 1982. Vision: A Journal of the Visual Arts in Maine, “Portland Artists Showing,”Larry Hayden, Vol. III No. 3. Dec/Jan/Feb 1980-81. Camden Herald, “Art Review: MCA’s Works in Paper,” September 3, 1981. Portland Press Herald, “Paperworks: Payson Gallery of Art’s latest show packages with a rare sensitivity for provoking thought,” William Barry, December 10, 1980. Maine Times, “Art Review: Finding talent at Maine Coast Artists,” Sandra Garson, 1980. The Wise Guide, “At the Galleries,” May 7, 1979. The Wise Guide, “Public Hanging at Gallery Music,” December 13, 1977. Maine Sunday Telegram, “Receive Art Awards Here,” March 31, 1963.

EDUCATION 1976 1956-57 1955-56 1955

B.F.A., Portland School of Art, Portland, ME   National Academy of Art, New York City, NY   Art Students League, New York City, NY   B.A., Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY

SELECTED AWARDS 2009 2008

La Napoule Art Foundation Artist-In-Residence, France Art Honors for Leadership in the Arts, Maine College of Art, ME

SELECTED COLLECTIONS New York Public Library, New York, NY Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY Brooklyn Museum of Art, Brooklyn, NY Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME Colby College Museum of Art, Waterville, ME Union Mutual Life Insurance Company, Portland, ME Bates College Museum, Lewiston, ME Farnsworth Museum, Rockland, ME Elizabeth Noyce Collection, Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME Walker Museum, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA Smith College, North Hampton, MA Boston Public Library, Boston, MA Offenbach Foundation for Graphics, San Francisco, CA

Front Cover Forthrights and Meanders #19, 2008, graphite, encaustic and ink wask on rice paper, 15 x 54” Back Cover Forthrights and Meanders #19, 2008, graphite, encaustic and ink wask on rice paper, 15 x 54” Design Alina Gallo Lisa Pixley Photography Jay York Tonee Harbert Essay Christopher Thompson