Judith Mullen: Aerie at Linda Warren Gallery

by jeffery mcnary

Upon entering the Linda Warren Gallery for Judith Mullen’s current exhibition, “Aerie”, the viewer immediately realizes something exciting is gonna happen. It’s a wonderland, one of thrilling, beautiful art. It’s a cotillion of color, of sculpture, of painting and installation. Here the artist has become dramatist, captivating, with an abundance of works in varying media, and with incredible generosity.

“All of the paintings are done in the fresco technique and I’ve chosen this method for a variety of reasons”, Mullen shares.  “Initially I was very drawn to the organic “whiteness” of the plaster, and as I worked over time I began to fully appreciate the materials used to create a fresco panel.” The major influences of Lee Bontecous and Kandinsky are found in these works.

“Homage to Bonteque III”, mixed media, is a “pebbly” painting upon a surface mixed of sand and limestone putty. Its rich earth shades hold the aura of the cave drawings of the prehistorics. The artist imported limestone putty and found river sand, mixing a formula used to create a foundation. She then worked the wet plaster with pigment and charcoal.  “In this manner I am very much connected to the history of painting to include the cave painters of 30,000 years ago”, she adds. “I had an opportunity to visit these remarkable works in France (Grotte deNaiux) and they are truly inspirational.”

“In Site IV”, mixed media of pigment, charcoal, wax, ink, tea, as are other pieces in that series, inspired by the presences of birds, as can be seen in the yellow ochre pigment of the work. “The image of the bird has always appeared in my work, however in this series,” says the artist, “I wanted to make it front and center, the focal point rather than the side kick. The bird appears in this piece to be successfully negotiating its way around a complicated environment using it’s own momentum to accomplish this goal.” She continues, “The ideas of courage and fortitude along with adaptability, acceptance and action hopefully are brought forth through this image. Maybe it was the new construction site found across the street from my studio in the city or the telephone/electrical poles that dot the prairie path outside my home in the suburb that displaced the bird and its nest… in either case, the task of rebuilding and adapting was played out.  On some level I think we can all identify with the bird in this scenario.” Her vision, the connections, that application and detail traffic between the conceptual, process and endgame is executed perfectly in this work.

Comes now, “In Site XIII” mixed media installation, that daring epic in scale work upon which the show pivots and to which the viewer is drawn as to a bonfire on a distant hill. Centered in the middle of the wall is a huge piece of very worked paper with slashes in it.  This piece of tracing paper, Mullen used to embed charcoal into a new fresco piece.  “I have been saving these left over tracing paper pieces for years, playing with them on the wall, trying to make some sort of 3-D sculptural piece,” she says. 

“I tried adding wax, have used all sorts of stiffeners, you name it to make the paper firm.  Finally, I decided to use wire under the piece and ta-da…I was off and running.”  There are blue rocks, “an idea I had swimming around in my head from a book I read on Thomas Merton and his ideas on spirituality and rocks.” These are at the foot of the installation, carved and shaped from Styrofoam. “I found myself using all the materials I use in the tree sculptures but in a different way…on the wall.  My interpretation of the piece is that it’s somewhat of a fight between nature and the man made world, the ying and yang of life, something along those lines.”

The work is startling. It is art having shed its skin, dancing and delighting as if leading the viewer about by lantern. There’s the street…the wrecking-ball…street cones…fallen branches…things, caught in chaos.

Mullen’s tree sculptures are new additions to her package. She continues the use of things natural and un-natural…broken branches, rice paper, wire, plaster, paint, Styrofoam, studio rags, etc., etc. and of course, birds. Here are more of her inner-thoughts, her firefly hunting. “The sculptures evolved out of the painting process, about 2 years ago.  I’ve always been drawn to the poetry of the ‘naked winter’” she says, “tree branches and began collecting broken ones found as I walk. So, each piece begins with a branch which is then sometimes attached to a base or is hung from above.”

Judith Mullen received her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has exhibited throughout the Midwest, including shows at the Chicago Cultural Center, Evanston Art Center, a recent solo exhibition at The Contemporary Art Workshop in Chicago and is currently having a concurrent solo exhibition in Los Angeles at JK Gallery.  She also will be having a solo show this year at The Krasl Art Center in Michigan. She was the recipient of numerous grants and awards, including an Illinois Arts Council Fellowship.  Her work is also on display in the Drawing Center of New York’s artist’s registry.

“Along with my stated inspirations, I find all of my inspiration from routines, rhythms and travels of my own life as it intersects with those around me.  I live in a suburb surrounded by forest preserve and travel to the city each day where my studio is located”, she notes.  “It works for me.  It is where nature and the man made world intersect and the various ways this plays out that I find myself drawn in to wander around.”

There’s no dominant color in the show. It all works together, yet it’s almost out of control, like a spectacular, contemporary fireworks display, soon to be fabled. It wrings out every sense of the imagination. “Where do I see myself headed from hear?  For me, it’s always been about the process so hopefully that will continue to be the case.  I’m open to wherever that will lead me.”

Judith Mullen: Aerie will be on display at Linda Warren Gallery from January 22nd to February 27th. Linda Warren Gallery is located at 1052 W. Fulton Market St., Chicago, IL 60607.