Mostly Monochrom in Black and White

Gualala Arts will present Mostly Monochrome: Nature Art in Black and White, an evocative exhibition exploring the natural world through the dramatic simplicity of black and white. Featuring works by Tempra Board, Kristin Coddington-Gordon, Chris Grassano, Gail Jackson and David Yager, the exhibit will be on view in the Burnett Gallery from June 10 through July 4. A public reception will be held Friday, June 11, from 4 to 6 p.m.

Black-and-white art has a rich history and a unique ability to evoke emotion and create a sense of timelessness. Without the distraction of color, attention shifts to composition, texture, tone, light and pattern. Mostly Monochrome brings together five artists who use these qualities in distinctly different ways while sharing an abiding connection to nature.

Tempra Board, a mostly self-trained artist, works in ink, illustration markers, watercolor, oil and collage, frequently drawing inspiration from Mendonoma landscapes and the plants and animals that inhabit them. Her path to art began through nature journaling, followed by studies in botanical illustration through the New York Botanical Garden’s continuing education program. Her illustrations have appeared in books and magazines. For Mostly Monochrome, Board will present works in pen and ink and black watercolor washes.

Kristin Coddington-Gordon combines a background in scientific illustration and natural history with ceramic sculpture. A devoted conservationist and environmentalist, she creates work reflecting her deep connection to the natural world. Her art encourages viewers to consider their own relationship with the environment and the importance of stewardship and conservation.

For Chris Grassano, the landscape of Cazadero and its majestic coast redwoods provides continuing inspiration. Grassano studied Fine Art at Montclair State University before moving to San Francisco and studying illustration at Academy of Art University.

Her distinctive black-and-white technique begins with a surface covered in white gesso followed by black oil paint. Grassano then scratches and scrapes into the surface using various tools, gradually revealing his compositions. Additional washes of thinned black paint create depth and dimension. Through this process, she seeks  to capture the complex and slightly unpredictable rhythms of the natural world.

Mendocino County wildlife photographer Gail Jackson approaches photography as a visual nature journal, documenting seasonal changes, quiet transitions and relationships among local flora and fauna. Although much of her work is known for vibrant color, Mostly Monochrome reveals another side of her photography.

Working without color shifts Jackson’s focus toward light and shadow, allowing familiar subjects to become more mysterious and contemplative. For this exhibition, she is printing her photographs on Hahnemühle Photo Rag Metallic paper, exploring the interplay of image, light, shadow and reflective surface.

Jackson’s connection with nature is also deeply personal. Curiosity about the natural world and time spent photographing wildlife have provided a source of creativity, connection and hope. Her monochrome photographs invite viewers to slow down, look closely and experience the beauty, fragility and quiet emotional power of the wild.

David Yager, a ceramic artist with more than 35 years of experience at the wheel, creates high-fired functional stoneware designed to be both useful and artistic. He studied under nationally recognized ceramic artist Michael Lucero at California State University, Chico, as well as Jack Windsor, founder of the university’s ceramics program and a master glaze scientist. For Mostly Monochrome, Yager will feature sgraffito-decorated and painted bowls inspired by the region’s natural world.

Together, the five artists of Mostly Monochrome demonstrate how removing color can reveal something entirely new. Through drawing, painting, photography and ceramics, the exhibition invites visitors to pay closer attention to the forms, textures, patterns and contrasts that define the natural world.

Mostly Monochrome: Nature Art in Black and White will be on view June 10 through July 4 in the Burnett Gallery at Gualala Arts. The public is invited to attend the opening reception Friday, June 11, from 4 to 6 p.m.