Artificially Natural

A A A Comments By Keith Bowers Wednesday, Nov 10 2010

Yellena James' former shows have names such as “Succulence,” “Stasis,” and “Aquarium.” No wonder: Her mesmerizing paintings and drawings contain paisleylike jellyfish and otherworldly plants that are loose and organic while also painstakingly precise. Her vividly colored forms are vaguely representational yet strongly purposeful — like an elaborate vintage wallpaper pattern that's slowly changing after being injected with LSD. Artist Pete Belkin also mixes synthetic elements with natural forms, but in three dimensions. Some of his works consist of groups of long branches, painted garish colors, that appear to be climbing and embracing large trees. Their work comes together in “Biosynthesis.” Belkin's installations conjure being inside a larger organism, whereas James' 2-D works serve as windows to faraway places. The gallery calls it an “alluring ecosystem.” We call it a natural mix.

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Nov. 20-Jan. 1, 2010

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