On view through February 11th at High Line Nine Gallery, Reverberation is a two-person exhibition featuring the works of artists Chellis Baird and Jim D’Amato. The exhibition captures the work of two artists pushing the boundaries of abstraction, while simultaneously capturing the synergy between their bodies of work. Chellis Baird blurs the intersection of painting, sculpture and textiles by reconstructing handwoven canvases while Jim D’Amato uses line and flat space to create intricate, biomorphic works. Curated by Josh Campbell, viewers are invited to explore a world of immense color and texture. The surprising artistic connections between Chellis and Jim are revealed in this unique exhibition.
Back in November, you displayed your first joint exhibition called Rejuvenation. Rejuvenation was a collaboration with the well established real estate company, Serhant. What’s the relationship between the two exhibitions?
Rejuvenation was an opportunity to show our work outside of a traditional gallery setting. By having it in a unique residential space the works in it were seen in completely different way. It was a wonderful experience working with Serhant.
We wanted our next show to be with a gallery, which could provide even more context for our work. High Line Nine has been the perfect venue for that, and our curator Josh Campbell did an amazing putting it all together.
Would you consider Reverberation a continuation of the work shown in Rejuvenation?
Rejuvenation laid the groundwork for our collaboration but the bodies of work in the shows are different. There are certainly connections between them but most of the works in Reverberation are brand new.
Can both of you speak a little bit to the inspiration behind the titles, Reverberation and Rejuvenation?
The titles speak to the connections between our works and how those connections extend to the viewer. We wanted the experience of each show to be embodied in the titles which I think we achieved.
How do your individual artistic styles and aesthetic work together?
There’s a lot of synergy between us. We’re both minimalists in some ways and maximalists in others. We use color very purposefully and make work that’s both universal and personal.
What do you hope that viewers will take away from this exhibition?
We’d like the viewers to experience the work in a multitude of ways. Whether they’re seeing it up close or at a distance, we’d like their experience to be intimate. We’d like them to bring their own interpretations to it, and through that process hopefully experience abstraction in a new way.
I’d love to hear a little bit more about your individual artistic processes and the materials that you use. Can you walk me through a typical day in your studio?
Both of our practices are equally meditative and labor intensive. We’re both very committed to seeing our works through until they’re fully realized which takes a lot of sacrifice. Regardless of the materials we’re using it’s about pushing the works as far as they can go.
Chellis and Jim, your works are centered around vivid, bright colors. Chellis, you’ve mentioned in the past your connection to the color red. Can (both) of you speak to your connection to color?
We’re both very specific with our use of color and the psychological implications in those color choices. We’re both very connected to the color red and try to utilize it for maximum effect. Since our compositions are so focused on space our use of color (which is often purposely reductive) is very important.
What else is coming down the pipeline?
Based on the success of both shows we’ve recently been presented with several exciting opportunities for the near future. Those are top secret for now but we’ll definitely spread the word when the time is right.
About Chellis Baird
American artist Chellis Baird blurs the intersection of painting, sculpture and
textiles. Baird explores the elements of painting by reconstructing handwoven
canvases from a unique perspective. Her bespoke process begins with woven
structures as her base. Each canvas starts with neutral toned materials that are
then painted, dyed and sculpted into dimensional brushstrokes. She creates
tangled compositions through a series of twists, knots, and upcycled textiles.
Baird’s background in fashion allows her to dress the canvas with imagination.
Not unlike a garment, she uses color to emphasize the authenticity and body of
each piece.
Baird received her BFA in textiles from Rhode Island School of Design and
studied studio art at the Art Students League in New York City. Baird’s first solo
museum exhibition, TETHERED, was held at the Myrtle Beach Art Museum in
South Carolina from September 7 – December 19, 2021. Most recently, the artist
was awarded a 2022 fellowship at the National Arts Club.
Instagram: @chellisbaird
About Jim D’Amato
Jim D’Amato (born 1978) is an American artist. His work has been exhibited
internationally in galleries, alternative spaces, and museum stores.
It is available in the Pierogi Gallery Flat Files in NY. It has also been available at
museum stores and art institutions through Art-o-Mat, a unique organization
helping make art accessible to the public. In 2011 he curated the exhibition “Afterlife” in NYC.
His work has been written about in The New York Times, Forbes, Gothamist,
and other notable publications. It is numerous prominent private collections in
the United States.
Instagram: @jimdamato
