True to his nature and consistent with his previous solo exhibitions at NEXUS, Nic Coviello is showing artwork varying widely in size, materials and application. New, large-scale color field landscape paintings and the introduction of birds of prey into his botanical imagery add complexities of space and narrative.  

The artwork is divided and arranged thematically into a series of concrete framed wall spaces that defines the NEXUS/Foundation for the Arts’ floor plan. Each “frame” isolates some aspect of the process of making, exhibiting or looking at these intentionally artificial images.    

One wall titled “Coming Home, Hawk Mountain*” is an assemblage of small acrylic paintings flanking a large-scale view from Hawk Mountain Sanctuary’s North Lookout. This piece embraces the sanctuary’s mission by depicting an extraordinary flight of migratory raptors. The Appalachian valley and sky bathed in an orange/grey palette suggests the sweep of the land and the wide-screen display that presents these majestic soaring hawks. The silhouettes of the broad winged hawks were applied with a thickened layer of bronze paint to the “sky” with the aid of computer cut masks. Similar to actual “spotting”, the metallic paint reflects and alters the apparent color of each bird form as the viewers change their line of sight.  

Two of the largest gallery frames contain a group of cadmium colored landscape paintings on canvas. These paintings, each abstract in the original concept, are punctuated with the botanical details of trees, branches and shadow forms to give each “landscape” its focus. Populating the fields with various life forms introduces the narrative and mood is altered by creating or flattening color space. 

One other wall area contains an improvisational construction of photo-based acrylic screens on blue, polymer coated aluminum plates. These computer-aided images depict the place and act of “Spotting Raptors” from the ridges that ring the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. 
 
*Hawk Mountain Sanctuaryis a 2,600-acre natural area in southeastern Pennsylvania that is famous as the world's first refuge for birds of prey. Today, visitors flock to Hawk Mountain each autumn to watch the annual hawk migration. Between August 15 and December 15 an average 18,000 raptors fly past its ridgetops, often at eye-level. Scenic overlooks range from 1,300 to 1,500 feet in elevation offering spectacular views. 

Opening Reception: March 12, 2009 6 to 9 PM
Closing Reception: April 3, 2009 6 to 9 PM

More about Nic Coviello