Brittany Nelson
S C I E
N C E
SCIENCE
ISBN 978-1-4675-7217-0 © David Klein Gallery
B R I T T A N Y
3
Brittany Nelson SCIENCE June 15 - July 20, 2013 David Klein Gallery 163 Townsend Birmingham, MI 48009 248.433.3700 www.dkgallery.com
N E L S O N
SCIENCE
The photographic work of Brittany Nelson challenges the medium’s characteristic conventions. Furthermore, it defies our traditional expectations of how to look at photography. In fact, at first glimpse some might hardly conceive Nelson’s stunning abstractions as photography at all. From afar, her compositions can easily evoke the intricacy of drawing, translucent layers of watercolor, finely etched lines or even the shadows of smoke. The engagement of these visuals is immediate. We are engaged in a space that holds the illusion of texture and the promise of depth. Overall, Nelson’s works lure us in, inviting us to search for more information up close, between the folds.
B R I T T A N Y
5
Brittany Nelson: The Science Series By Stephanie Buhmann
N E L S O N
However, drawing is hardly on Nelson’s mind. While her training at Cranbrook has equipped her with a solid background in interdisciplinary photography, she does not think about nor aim to reference drawing when creating her work. In fact, she is deter-
mined to let it remain rooted in the materiality of the photographic medium. Instead of using a camera and film, she extracts her compelling images from the reactive relationships of the materials involved. What fascinates her is the separation of the photo process from the representational image. To Nelson this marks the moment when we are
SCIENCE
B R I T T A N Y
7
N E L S O N
no longer looking through the material to assess the image, but are in fact examining the surface and material characteristics. This motivation reveals curiosity but also entails a particular sense of humor: Nelson not only dismisses but mocks the traditional preciousness inherent in her materials. It is her uninhibited approach to experimentation and freely mixing up her ingredients that provides the ultimate push to her genre’s usual confines.
vocabulary at its optimum state. It also is a catalyst of sorts. By embodying the digital era, it aids in moving the work away from the traditional and somewhat nostalgic dark room reference and brings it into a distinctly contemporary context. The scanned files are printed large to create compositions that are permanent and are able to capture every minute detail of the originals. Here, texture no longer exists in reality but has become a stunning optical illusion. At this stage, Nelson’s work has found its ultimate abstraction, a state achieved through a chain of chemical and digital reactions.
The process involved in Science reflects her interest in creating work that requires the destruction of analog materials. It embraces a chemical combination that reacts violently with the silver in the photo paper. The outcome is staggering. The paper suddenly blisters, the gelatin layer becomes detached and chemicals begin to crystallize. It is a rather rebellious technique considering that this process damages the intended functionality of the paper and its most costly component, silver. Measuring only 8 x 10 inches, these chemically impermanent and textured sheets are visually mesmerizing. They might be toxic but their dimensionality, color and line make for vivid and highly seductive compositions. But Nelson does not stop at this point. She then scans these works to offer yet another form of transformation. To her, the scanner is a crucial tool to fixate the visual
Nelson is focused on working within a very constrained set of variables. Until these are fully exhausted, she finds much variety, pertaining to both form and color. It is especially the latter that speaks to us emotionally. This is partially due to the fact that, although determined by the chemical reactions involved, the palette of each work alludes to something rather natural. While any association remains abstract, Nelson does admit that nature marks an important source of inspiration. She heralds from Montana and has spent significant time in Yellowstone National Park, for example. There she has particularly noted a unique palette defined by the park’s geysers and volcanic activity. In addition, Nelson has a keen interest in space and astronomy, collects minerals (which she keeps close on her desk) and owns a variety of aquariums. No inspiration is literal or illustrative, but it is the interplay of artificial and natural phenomena that finds its reflection in Nelson’s work. It is the naturally occurring things that look incredibly unnatural that spark her curiosity and they certainly provide her exploration of the photographic medium with a strong sense of depth.
SCIENCE
B R I T T A N Y
9
GELATIN SILVER
N E L S O N
SCIENCE
Gelatin Silver - 2013, C-print, face mounted plexi, 40" Ă— 40", Edition of 5
SCIENCE
B R I T T A N Y
13
MORDANÇAGE
N E L S O N
SCIENCE
Mordanรงage 2 - 2013, C-print, face mounted plexi, 72" ร 72", Edition of 5
SCIENCE
Mordanรงage - 2013, C-print, face mounted plexi, 72" ร 72", Edition of 5
SCIENCE
B R I T T A N Y
19
EXCERPTS
N E L S O N
SCIENCE
Test - 2013, C-print, face mounted plexi, 60" Ă— 50", Edition of 5
SCIENCE
Blue - 2013, C-print, face mounted plexi, 60" Ă— 50", Edition of 5
SCIENCE
Black - 2012, C-print, face mounted plexi, 60" Ă— 50", Edition of 5
SCIENCE
Purple - 2011, C-print, face mounted plexi, 60" Ă— 50", Edition of 5
SCIENCE
Green - 2011, C-print, face mounted plexi, 60" Ă— 50", Edition of 5
SCIENCE
B R I T T A N Y
31
SCIENCE
N E L S O N
SCIENCE
Science 5 - 2012, archival inkjet, 24" Ă— 20", Edition of 10
SCIENCE
Science 3 - 2012, archival inkjet, 24” × 20”, Edition of 10
SCIENCE
Science 15 - 2012, archival inkjet, 24” × 20”, Edition of 10
SCIENCE
Science 1 - 2012, archival inkjet, 24” × 20”, Edition of 10
SCIENCE
Science 25 - 2012, archival inkjet, 24” × 20”, Edition of 10
SCIENCE
Science 24 - 2012, archival inkjet, 24” × 20”, Edition of 10
SCIENCE
B R I T T A N Y
45
DAYLAB
N E L S O N
SCIENCE
Day Lab - 2013, archival inkjet, 10" Ă— 8", Edition of 10
SCIENCE
After Rodchenko - 2010, archival inkjet, 32" Ă— 26", Edition of 10
SCIENCE
Brittany Nelson b. 1984 in Great Falls, Montana Selected Solo/Group Exhibitions David Klein Gallery, Brittany Nelson: Science, Detroit, MI 2013 Art Miami, with David Klein Gallery, Miami, FL, 2012 Art Platform Los Angeles, with David Klein Gallery, 2012 Visweek, Sheraton Seattle, Seattle, WA, 2012 22 Gallery, Modular 22, Chicago, IL, 2012 College of Visual Arts, Faculty Exhibition, St Paul, MN, 2012 Cranbrook Art Museum + Cranbrook Science Museum, Light and Color, traveling exhibition, Detroit, MI, 2012 The Print Center, online exhibition, Philadelphia, PA, 2012 Cranbrook Art Museum, No Object Is An Island: New Dialogues With The Cranbrook Collection, Bloomfield Hills, MI, 2011 David Klein Gallery, Liz Cohen, Brittany Nelson, Lauren Semivan Detroit, MI, 2011 Greenwood Museum of Art, Click 646, Greenwood, SC, 2011 David Klein Gallery, Summer Select, Detroit, MI, 2011 Art Aspen, with David Klein Gallery, Aspen, CO, 2011 Cranbrook Art Museum, Here Here, Bloomfield Hills, MI, 2011 Forum Gallery, Material Girl, Bloomfield Hills, MI, 2011 Forum Gallery, Can I Live, Bloomfield Hills, MI, 2010 Waller-Yablonsky Gallery, Shadow Box, Bozeman, MT, 2009 Photoworks San Francisco, Polaroid Showcase, 2009 Tart Gallery, February, Bozeman, MT, 2009 Baxter Gallery, Illumination, Bozeman, MT, 2009 Tart Gallery, Space/Time, Bozeman, MT, 2007 Emerson Cultural Center, Naked Negative, Bozeman, MT, 2005 Montana State University, Personal Vision, Bozeman, MT, 2005 Awards/Residencies The Print Center, Fish/Pearce Prize for excellence in process based work, Philadelphia, PA Minneapolis Institute of Art, Collector’s Tour, 2013 Minneapolis College of Art + Design, Faculty Grant, 2013 Vermont Studio Center, Artist in Residence, Johnson, VT, 2012 Cranbrook Art Museum, commissioned work, Bloomfield Hills, MI The Print Center, 86th International Competition Philadelphia, PA (juror Jennifer Blessing, Curator, Guggenheim) Cranbrook Academy of Art, Director’s Award, 2011 Cranbrook Academy of Art, Emerging Artist Award, Finalist, 2011 Cranbrook Art Museum, Purchase, Bloomfield Hills, MI Merit Scholarship Award, Cranbrook Academy of Art, 2010 Hunke Photography Scholarship Award Winner, Montana State University, 2007 Critical Mass, Juried Portfolio Finalist, Photolucida, 2007
Collections Cranbrook Art Museum, Bloomfield Hills, MI Mercedes Benz Gallery, Detroit, MI, works on loan Numerous private collections Bibliography Brittany Nelson Science. Buhmann, Stephanie. Catalogue, David Klein Gallery, 2013, The Armory Show, Catalogue, David Klein Gallery Artist, 2013 Jet Fuel Review, Spring Issue 2013, Lewis University, Chicago, IL Gum Printing and Other Amazing Contact Printing Processes Anderson, Christina Z., 2013 Visweek, VisWeek Art Show: Brittany Nelson, Catalogue, 2012 Blue Canvas, Blue Canvas + Cranbrook, Issue 12, 2012 Art Photo Index, Brittany Nelson, web feature, 2012 Visual.ly. Skau, Drew. Visweek 2012 Art Show, web article, 2012B Cranbrook Art Museum, No Object Is An Island, Catalogue, 2011 Nonfigurative Photo. Collins, Douglas. Iterative Art of BrittanyR Nelson, web article, 2011 I Cranbrook Academy of Art, Here Here, Graduate Catalogue, 2011 T Zone Zero, Brittany Nelson Space/Time. Meyer, Pedro. web feature, 2011 T Experimental Photography, Anderson, Christina Z. A 4th and 6th Editions, 2010 Teaching Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Minneapolis, MN Adjunct Professor, Department of Design / Media Arts 2012 - 2013 College of Visual Arts, St Paul, MN Adjunct Professor, Photography Department, 2012 - 2013 University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC Adjunct Professor, Department of Photography, 2011 Montana State University, Bozeman, MT Adjunct Instructor, Department of Film and Photography 2008 - 2009 Education Cranbrook Academy of Art, Master of Fine Arts, Photography, Bloomfield Hills, MI, 2009 – 2011 Montana State University, Bachelor of Arts With Honors Photography, Minor Philosophy, Bozeman, MT, 2003 – 2007
N Y
51
Brittany Nelson b. 1984 in Great Falls, Montana Selected Solo/Group Exhibitions David Klein Gallery, Brittany Nelson: Science, Detroit, MI 2013 Art Miami, with David Klein Gallery, Miami, FL, 2012 Art Platform Los Angeles, with David Klein Gallery, 2012 Visweek, Sheraton Seattle, Seattle, WA, 2012 22 Gallery, Modular 22, Chicago, IL, 2012 College of Visual Arts, Faculty Exhibition, St Paul, MN, 2012 Cranbrook Art Museum + Cranbrook Science Museum, Light and Color, traveling exhibition, Detroit, MI, 2012 The Print Center, online exhibition, Philadelphia, PA, 2012 Cranbrook Art Museum, No Object Is An Island: New Dialogues With The Cranbrook Collection, Bloomfield Hills, MI, 2011 David Klein Gallery, Liz Cohen, Brittany Nelson, Lauren Semivan Detroit, MI, 2011 Greenwood Museum of Art, Click 646, Greenwood, SC, 2011 David Klein Gallery, Summer Select, Detroit, MI, 2011 Art Aspen, with David Klein Gallery, Aspen, CO, 2011 Cranbrook Art Museum, Here Here, Bloomfield Hills, MI, 2011 Forum Gallery, Material Girl, Bloomfield Hills, MI, 2011 Forum Gallery, Can I Live, Bloomfield Hills, MI, 2010 Waller-Yablonsky Gallery, Shadow Box, Bozeman, MT, 2009 Photoworks San Francisco, Polaroid Showcase, 2009 Tart Gallery, February, Bozeman, MT, 2009 Baxter Gallery, Illumination, Bozeman, MT, 2009 Tart Gallery, Space/Time, Bozeman, MT, 2007 Emerson Cultural Center, Naked Negative, Bozeman, MT, 2005 Montana State University, Personal Vision, Bozeman, MT, 2005 Awards/Residencies The Print Center, Fish/Pearce Prize for excellence in process based work, Philadelphia, PA Minneapolis Institute of Art, Collector’s Tour, 2013 Minneapolis College of Art + Design, Faculty Grant, 2013 N Vermont Studio Center, Artist in Residence, Johnson, VT, 2012 E Cranbrook Art Museum, commissioned work, Bloomfield Hills, MI The Print Center, 86th International Competition L Philadelphia, PA (juror Jennifer Blessing, Curator, Guggenheim) S Cranbrook Academy of Art, Director’s Award, 2011 Cranbrook Academy of Art, Emerging Artist Award, Finalist, 2011 O Cranbrook Art Museum, Purchase, Bloomfield Hills, MI MeritNScholarship Award, Cranbrook Academy of Art, 2010 Hunke Photography Scholarship Award Winner, Montana State University, 2007 Critical Mass, Juried Portfolio Finalist, Photolucida, 2007
Collections Cranbrook Art Museum, Bloomfield Hills, MI Mercedes Benz Gallery, Detroit, MI, works on loan Numerous private collections Bibliography Brittany Nelson Science. Buhmann, Stephanie. Catalogue, David Klein Gallery, 2013, The Armory Show, Catalogue, David Klein Gallery Artist, 2013 Jet Fuel Review, Spring Issue 2013, Lewis University, Chicago, IL Gum Printing and Other Amazing Contact Printing Processes Anderson, Christina Z., 2013 Visweek, VisWeek Art Show: Brittany Nelson, Catalogue, 2012 Blue Canvas, Blue Canvas + Cranbrook, Issue 12, 2012 Art Photo Index, Brittany Nelson, web feature, 2012 Visual.ly. Skau, Drew. Visweek 2012 Art Show, web article, 2012 Cranbrook Art Museum, No Object Is An Island, Catalogue, 2011 Nonfigurative Photo. Collins, Douglas. Iterative Art of Brittany Nelson, web article, 2011 Cranbrook Academy of Art, Here Here, Graduate Catalogue, 2011 Zone Zero, Brittany Nelson Space/Time. Meyer, Pedro. web feature, 2011 Experimental Photography, Anderson, Christina Z. 4th and 6th Editions, 2010 Teaching Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Minneapolis, MN Adjunct Professor, Department of Design / Media Arts 2012 - 2013 College of Visual Arts, St Paul, MN Adjunct Professor, Photography Department, 2012 - 2013 University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC Adjunct Professor, Department of Photography, 2011 Montana State University, Bozeman, MT Adjunct Instructor, Department of Film and Photography 2008 - 2009 Education Cranbrook Academy of Art, Master of Fine Arts, Photography, Bloomfield Hills, MI, 2009 – 2011 Montana State University, Bachelor of Arts With Honors Photography, Minor Philosophy, Bozeman, MT, 2003 – 2007
SCIENCE
Acknowledgements Nicole Killian Liz Cohen Christina Z. Anderson John Rowland Laumont Photographics David Klein Gallery
Exhibition Director: Christine Schefman Design: Nicole Killian Editor: Haley Roberts
SCIENCE