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55 Orchard Street, New York, New York 10002 212 989 5467 fax 212 989 5642
 
 

Maureen McQuillan: Necessary Detours
March 25 - May 1, 2010



For well over a decade, Maureen McQuillan has been investigating the infinite possibilities of line by exploiting the inherent nature of simple materials. The centerpiece of this exhibition is a series of photograms created by making marker drawings on multiple layers of transparent material, then exposing the photo paper beneath these stacks of abstract, linear imagery. Using low-tech means--a light bulb, photo paper and chemicals, with no additional materials or mechanical or digital manipulation--the artist achieves mysterious and beautiful effects that reference patterns found in nature as well as those revealed by high-tech means, such as micro- or telescopic imagery. The artist has noted: "I began making cameraless photographs four years ago, but instead of recording the outline of an object, I am capturing the shadows of a many-layered drawing: the lines themselves, as they fall for an instant on the paper. I start by drawing on layers of clear material until I have a stack of interlocking images. It is a slow, repetitive, meditative way of working. Over time, the lines I have so painstakingly made disappear in the cloudiness of the stacked material and only reappear during the process of making the photogram. I can recombine the drawings in interesting ways to take the work in new and often surprising directions. I experiment within the narrow confines of my simple process to create strange combinations of light and focus."
 
Also in the exhibition are works that extend the same principles into different media. On view are a series of layered drawings on stacks of transparencies, illuminated by a light box; and multi-layered geometric drawings made from marker on transparent Japanese book-mending tissue saturated with glue.
 
  Maureen McQuillan, Untitled Photogram (QCG/2)
Untitled Photogram (QCG/2), 2010
Unique silver gelatin print
28 7/8 x 36 inches image size
Maureen McQuillan, Untitled Photogram MM10113
Untitled Photogram, 2009
Unique silver gelatin print
21 3/4 x 22 1/4 inches
Maureen McQuillan, Untitled Photogram MM10115
Untitled Photogram, 2009
Unique silver gelatin print
8 1/2 x 10 3/4 inches image size
  Maureen McQuillan, Untitled Photogram (Small Spiral/Counterclockwise)
Untitled Photogram (Small Spiral/Counterclockwise), 2009
Unique silver gelatin print
8 1/2 x 10 3/4 inches image size
Maureen McQuillan, Untitled Photogram (QCG/1)
Untitled Photogram (QCG/1), 2010
Unique silver gelatin print
28 7/8 x 35 5/8 inches image size
Maureen McQuillan, Untitled Photogram (
Untitled Photogram ("X"), 2009
Unique silver gelatin print
8 1/2 x 9 7/8 inches image size
  Maureen McQuillan, Untitled Photogram (Flash)
Untitled Photogram (Flash), 2009
Unique silver gelatin print
11 x 17 inches image size
Maureen McQuillan, Untitled Photogram (Wave)Untitled Photogram (Wave), 2008
Unique silver gelatin print
11 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches image size
Maureen McQuillan, Untitled Photogram (Small Double Spiral/Clockwise)
Untitled Photogram (Small Double Spiral/Clockwise), 2009
Unique silver gelatin print
8 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches image size
  Maureen McQuillan, Double-sided Drawing (Comb)
Double-sided Drawing (Comb), 2009-2010
Marker and glue on Japanese book-mending tissue (18 layers)
9 3/4 x 11 1/8 inches
Maureen McQuillan, Double-sided Drawing (Pinwheel)
Double-sided Drawing (Pinwheel), 2009-2010
Marker and glue on Japanese book-mending tissue (31 layers)
11 1/4 x 11 1/2 inches
Maureen McQuillan, Double-sided Drawing (Pyramid Grid)
Double-sided Drawing (Pyramid Grid), 2009-2010
Marker and glue on Japanese book-mending tissue (24 layers)
11 x 10 inches
  Maureen McQuillan, Double-sided Drawing (6X)
Double-sided Drawing (6X), 2009-2010
Marker and glue on Japanese book-mending tissue (21 layers)
9 1/4 x 11 inches
Maureen McQuillan, Double-sided Drawing (Snake)
Double-sided Drawing (Snake), 2009-2010
Marker and glue on Japanese book-mending tissue (46 layers)
9 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches
Maureen McQuillan, Double-sided Drawing (Stair)
Double-sided Drawing (Stair), 2009-2010
Marker and glue on Japanese book-mending tissue (32 layers)
10 x 10 1/4 inches
  Maureen McQuillan, Double-sided Drawing (Basket)
Double-sided Drawing (Basket), 2009-2010
Marker and glue on Japanese book-mending tissue (75 layers)
10 x 10 1/4 inches
Maureen McQuillan, Lightbox Drawing (Scape)
Lightbox Drawing (Scape), 2009-2010
Marker on acetate sheets on light panel in Plexiglas box
11 x 16 x 1 1/2 inches
Maureen McQuillan, Lightbox Drawing (Double Spiral/CC)
Lightbox Drawing (Double Spiral/CC), 2009-2010
Marker on acetate sheets on light panel in Plexiglas box
11 x 16 x 1 1/2 inches
  Maureen McQuillan, Lightbox Drawing (Notched Field)
Lightbox Drawing (Notched Field), 2009-2010
Marker on acetate sheets on light panel in Plexiglas box
11 x 16 x 1 1/2 inches
  Maureen McQuillan, installation 1
Installation view
Maureen McQuillan, installation 2
Installation view
Maureen McQuillan, installation 3
Installation view
  Maureen McQuillan, installation 4
Installation view
Maureen McQuillan, installation 5
Installation view
Maureen McQuillan, installation 6
Installation view
  Maureen McQuillan, installation 7
Installation view
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