Delicate Cutting

Threadlike strips of creamy paper support the moon, or the Leaning Tower of Pisa, or possibly Devendra Banhart, in the work of Tahiti Pehrson. At “Nature’s Ladders,” the cutout artist presents slightly psychedelic, X-Acto-intensive paper sculpture. Calling to mind shoebox dioramas gone mad, the highly intricate, three-dimensional images often focus on musicians. Aside from the abovementioned longhair, who used a Pehrson as album cover art, Joanna Newsom, M.I.A., and the White Stripes have all been subjects of the artist’s wild yet colorless visions — the work is generally made with white paper, manila cardstock, or plain cardboard. An unexpected and brilliantly observant use of negative space figures strongly here, as does a sense of fragility and joy that stems partly from the medium, and partly from a pure talent given free rein.

An opening reception for “Nature’s Ladders” features live music by Kings & Queens and starts Thursday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m.
May 7-June 30, 2009