Contact: Sharon Fisher
February 1, 2008

“Signs of Gravity” monotype display scheduled for Slemp Gallery at MECC

“Signs in Gravity,” a showing of sixteen monotypes by artist Mary Barton Nees, will be on display in the Slemp Gallery at Mountain Empire Community College from February 18 through March 28.

Nees received her Master’s in Fine Arts at East Tennessee State University. She previously learned the magic of monotypes at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia.

A monotype is a painting done on an un-incised plate (usually Plexiglas) that is then transferred onto paper through the use of an etching press. The pull is one of a kind, with no edition possible, hence the term mono= one + type= impression. The plate is worked up with ink, much like a traditional painting, but the pull of the press and the reverse image brings a surprise element in the process that serves Nees’ conceptual purpose.

Much of her life has been captivated by a conviction that art is visual language, as well as a code into culture. While raising her own four children, she volunteered art history lectures in the schools, challenging students to read the work before they were told anything about it.

Nees’ inspirations come from the prophetic Hebrew writings, the Apocalypse of John, and her own poetry. She teaches foundation classes at East Tennessee University and has had international experience teaching a collograph workshop at the Luxun Academy of Fine Arts in Shenyang, China. Her work is in private and public collections nationally and internationally.

Referring to this showing, entitled “Signs of Gravity,” Nees states, “Our feet are grounded here for a time. Gravity holds us and weights us to terra firma. What compels me is a surprising intervention of hope. I look for ways to communicate these ideas visually.”

For more information, contact Alice Harrington at 276-523-2400, or aharrington@me.vccs.edu.

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