Solondz on Newbury

ESTHER SOLONDZ

         Esther Solondz is currently showing at Naga Gallery (through February 27th) on Newbury Street in downtown Boston. Hidden in part of a large church on a street corner, the gallery is tucked inside and full of fantastic works both by Esther Solondz and other artists who have installation pieces. Solondz’s work varies as she experiments with different natural processes. In this exhibit she chose the rusting process and did a series of women. The pieces are all rather large and have a meticulous process to reveal the features of the female head, each named after a rose.

         She creates women that she does not know personally and they can be imaginary, though she works off of vintage photographs that she collects. It is important for her to work with different processes and the rusting process is one that she has clearly mastered. The process starts with a rough sketch that is not seen in the final product (with a couple exceptions in this exhibit that have trace markings). She then applies fragments of metal carefully over her outlines and uses salt and water as well as other materials such as cotton. Depending on her desired effect, she allows the rusting process to take place hours, days, or weeks. The final product is stunning and has very delicate features with dark and layered hair, or visa versa. One way she controls this outcome is through applying the metal directly to the paper that she places on a panel, or inverting the image onto plastic for an especially faint look. All of these methods are stunning and the ghost-like images are as interesting as the layered and thick ones.

         Solondz received a degree from the Rhode Island School of Design in photography as well as a graduate degree from New York University in film. She currently lives and works in Providence, Rhode Island.

 

NAGA GALLERY

67 NEWBURY ST.

617-267-9060