September 5 - October 17, 2024
Opening Reception
Thursday, September 12, 6 - 8 p.m.
Gallery Hours
Monday - Thursday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
From the life force that pumps our blood to the gravitational pull that keeps planets in orbit, our existence depends on the fluidity of energy. Life is a fluid convergence of matter creating our universe. In the exhibition Fluidity, Laura Gurton and Nancy Hayes explore this concept through their art. Gurton finds fluidity in both her process and the resulting images, while Hayes taps into the energy of fluidity during creation.
Gurton uses materials that attract and repel to create surfaces that appear in motion. She mixes oil paint with alkyd medium, creating a syrupy consistency, and builds surfaces layer by layer using a wet-on-wet technique. While the paint is still wet, she applies dots of paint, then adds translucent glazes after drying, allowing underlying layers to shine through. The timing of each layer’s drying process determines the final outcome, making the paint appear alive and fluid, referencing both micro and macro elements of the universe.
Hayes, on the other hand, views fluidity more spiritually. She engages in an ongoing dialogue with her painting, akin to writing a story where characters define themselves. Using pattern, line, shape, and color, she forms a narrative. Dominant shapes filled with color provide a visual start, which she may elaborate on or disregard. Her intuition, likened to an inner voice, guides her, making the process like examining under a microscope, revealing complexities. Each step keeps the energy clear and flowing, creating the final outcome.
In both artists’ work, fluidity is essential. For Gurton, it is a characteristic of her materials and process, while for Hayes, it is a mental and spiritual journey. Their approaches demonstrate how fluidity, whether in material handling or creative thought, is fundamental to their art.
Laura Gurton was born into a family of artists and has always worked in one medium or another. Her love for art materials led her to explore a range of techniques while attending the Philadelphia College of Art, School of Visual Arts, and Parsons School of Design.
She received a BFA from the School of Visual Arts and an MA from Parsons and Bank Street College of Education. She studied color theory, painting, printmaking, art history, art education, and animation.
Inspired by the natural beauty and artist communities around her, her work has flourished over the past twenty years. She has had opportunities to exhibit throughout New England, the Hudson Valley, New York City, and California. Her work has been recognized on international stages such as the 55th Venice Biennale, Procidamerica in Italy, Art Southampton, The LA Art Fair, Miami Context, and the 59th Venice Biennale, where her animation videos were shown at the Palazzo Bembo, European Cultural Center. Her work was also included in Art Taipei, Taiwan, in 2023.
Nancy Hayes is an artist who has brought her personal vision to many mediums, including terra-cotta clay, acrylic paint, and watercolor. Regardless of the medium, a consistent theme emerges in her work: how her brain organizes space, pattern, color, and form. Although her sculptures and paintings are considered abstract, they seem to depict unseen worlds. Rather than expressing frenzy, they portray highly organized ecosystems where each part depends on the whole. This unity and interdependence reflect the building blocks of matter and a spiritual presence that leaves us wondering.
Hayes worked in terra-cotta clay for over twenty-five years as a ceramic sculptor before bringing her imagination and unique expression to painting. She has received numerous awards and grants, including a Massachusetts Cultural Council Grant in the crafts category, a New Bedford Cultural Council Grant, and a Society of Arts and Crafts Artist Award. Her work is included in the collections of the DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, the Danforth Museum, the New Bedford Libraries, as well as many private collections.
For more information, please visit http://www.bristolcc.edu/gallery or email Kathleen.Hancock@BristolCC.edu.