Gerald Jackson at Gallery Onetwentyeight

When you first walk into the intimate space at Gallery Onetwentyeight, it’s hard not to be immediately taken in by the two large raw canvases covered in black and white house paint that flank the walls in the front of the gallery. There is a film screening in the front of the gallery that shows his process, which should be watched more than once to fully appreciate the show. The film begins with the artist Gerald Jackson explaining how he came to work in Black and White instead of the bright multi-colored works made of found objects and paint on wooden skids (pallets) for which he is known. Then we see him painting the two canvases, throwing the paint, can and all, onto the canvas, and using pieces of torn cardboard and his body to paint instead of brushes. At one point in a state of complete immersion in his own process, he lies on the canvas and makes “snow angels” in the paint. Then at end of the film we see him in a colorful hand painted patchwork suit “saluting” the Statue of Liberty. Beyond the Black and White paintings I was drawn in by the beautiful muted blue and green canvases, the colors evoking the color of lady liberty against the water. Gerald repurposed old paintings, painting over them revealing only a stripe of color from the painting underneath. The show continues into the back gallery with large xeroxed prints and small hand colored collages.

The show runs through February, 10, 2013 at Gallery Onetwentyeight in the Lower East Side. MAP