Exhibition essay excerpt:
Continua: Shared Foundation
Curatorial Statement by Leesa Streifler
Holly Fay is known for her sensitively executed work regarding natural phenomena. Fay’s new work, “Low,” (2021) focuses on clouds. The piece is a composite work consisting of five drawings hung in an arrangement that has some works located below eye level and some above, taking up a vertically-oriented expanse. Black frames strongly define the edges of these delicate works, varying in size and proportion from small to medium scale. A single cloud is presented in each frame, located on a rich, deeply-toned graphite ground, offering nuances of form and light, with a vast range of grey tones resulting in emotionally charged, pensive images. The framing was designed as part of the work, creating a strong visual boundary around each piece and exposing a border of the drawing surface. The pieces are framed without glass to allow the eye to penetrate the image without reflection. Fay situates each cloud in a kind of nether world—a dark void—that is neither abstract nor representational, evoking a sense of unease in that one does not know exactly where to place them. Fay’s use of ecru rag paper contributes a historical quality to the work, even encouraging nostalgic associations. The placement of the pieces below and above eye level, along with the framing, focuses on each cloud as part of a collection of images, rather than one continuous skyscape. The five framed pieces are purposely separated in order to isolate each image, suggesting a fracturing of natural ecological processes. The composition is intentionally unbalanced, inferring disconnection. This work proposes that we question the meaning of familiar phenomena on a deeper level. Although there is hope in this work, it is imbued with feelings of solastalgia, the discomfort that is derived from thoughts of impending ecological destruction.