An embroidered piece of cloth shows abstract shapes that might be a dark blue river, a dark green urban skyline from a distance and possibly mountains in the distance or a wall. The abstracted landscape is beautiful but hard-edged and pixillated, which gives it a fearsome affect. — “Blue” (2021) by Azadeh Gholizadeh. 22.5 x 22.5, needlepoint merino wool, alpaca wool, felt on canvas mesh. Photo courtesy of Pentimenti Gallery

The World Around Us is Pentimenti Gallery‘s latest exhibition, a two-woman study of types of vantage points and what they are or could be looking at. The predominantly flattened perspectives of Amy Boone-McCreesh and Azadeh Gholizadeh’s works lead the consuming mind to reach beyond the basic representational aspects.

A framed work on paper shows a fancy purple curtain at the right, tied back to reveal a wood-framed window with heavy black security bars across it and in the outside, an abstract swirl of many colors and textures, lines and shapes floating as if in chaos. The homespun aspect of the window and curtain contrast with the threat of the outside, with bars to protect the inhabitants from the outside chaos. — “Purple Curtains at a Cabin” (2021) by Amy Boone-McCreesh, 38 x 29, mixed media and collage on paper, photo courtesy of the author

Framed from within windows, the worlds around Amy Boone-McCreesh, at least in her collection here of images on paper, seem restricted by distance and perhaps self-conjured hallucinations. The busy mixed media visions group together several different design elements to kitschy effect. In “Purple Curtains at a Cabin,” a wooden windowsill looks out through its steel bars onto an ambiguous, swirling yard.

A bright-colored paper collage shows a view in a window, framed by purple and orange designs. Seen through the window are horizontal stripes of chocolate brown and bright yellow. A key hangs from a cup hook below the work. — “Purple Curtains at a Cabin,” 38 x 29 inches. Mixed media and collage on paper
2021, by Amy Boone-McCreesh, 38 x 29, mixed media and collage on paper, photo courtesy of Pentimenti Gallery

The outside seems to have stolen the palette and maybe small gem-lets from the gaudy curtains pulled back for us to see the scene. These curtains are like a dollar store scarf, an aesthetic in line with the artist’s stated explorations of class, taste-making, the cultural markers of luxury, etc. In Boone-McCreesh’s windows you might find flat-pressed paper flowers, beaded necklaces, or variously patterned cut out bits of the compositional paper that reveal different layers of colors and materials to jarring effect. I have a slight aversion to her pictures, but once I’ve submitted to their chaos, they feel occupiable, of a declared (to a fault?) unpretentiousness.

Azadeh Gholizadeh’s meditative pieces leave action alone for muted peace in their palettes. Though the woolwork takes a decidedly different route in their minimal imagery, they still retain that conscious materiality shared with Boone-McCreesh. Take “Blue,” a square shot of a lone tree. Within this picture are four separately patterned weavings made of two different types of wool and felt, which fill out into a full scene of fore, middle, and backgrounds. A full landscape is brought together without much presented. The nature illustrated is given enough distance and definition in the form of clear boundaries by material and color, which lets us fill the image in with a breath of life. It’s engrossing the way you can see process in each row, each subdivision of the composition process.

A gallery with a dark wood floor and a large glass window on the street shows two works on paper framed and under glass, on the left wall. In the middle of the floor is a sculptural piece, blocky with “feet” at the bottom, a pole jutting up from the “feet” and ending in more blocks at the top and what looks like one arm bent up at the elbow giving support to the top stack of blocks — Installation View of “The World Around Us” at Pentimenti Gallery. Photo by the author

A sculptural piece, blocky with “feet” at the bottom, a pole jutting up from the “feet” and ending in more blocks at the top and what looks like one arm bent up at the elbow giving support to the top stack of blocks — “The Tree,” by Azadeh Gholizadeh, 67 x 27 x 11 inches
Wood and wool, 2022. Photo courtesy of Pentimenti Gallery

These nature scenes are inspired by Gholizadeh’s life in Iran prior to coming to the US. Her studies in architecture and urban planning must have some bearing on the artwork, like in the beaminess of “The Tree,” the show’s lone installation. The weaved blocks of multi-toned green at either end of a pole are so fun, squishy, playful, alive. It’s great to see while the sun is coming in one of the gallery’s front windows. The blockiness of this artist’s work was what initially drew my interest, and she did not disappoint.

The World Around Us observes what’s stated in the title, though I’d argue the pictures aren’t so focused on what’s around; moreso distances, untouchable views and wistful, aspirational potential locations. Amy Boone McCreesh’s aspirations or satire of such are pointed towards class commentary amid ambiguous ruminations of scenes directly in front of her, while Azadeh Gholizadeh’s landscapes take on nostalgic ‘sitting in nature’ scenes. Colorful, fun and full of ideas to pursue beyond the images themselves, this show is worth a look before its closing at the end of October!

“The World Around Us” is a two-person exhibition on view at Pentimenti Gallery from September 12–October 28, 2023 @ 145 N 2nd Street. There is a small step but the gallery is accessible.

Corey Qusheshi last wrote about Branche Coverdale at Paradigm Gallery and Studios. Read Corey’s review of that show.

‘The World Around Us’ at Pentimenti Gallery goes beyond the usual landscape representation

By Corey Qureshi October 3, 2023

Our reviewer, Corey Qureshi visits Pentimenti Gallery and comments on the exaggerated flat-land depictions by Azadeh Gholizadeh and over-the-top through the window scenes by Amy Boone-McCreesh, saying that the two-person pairing is "colorful, fun and full of ideas to pursue beyond the images themselves." "The World Around Us is at Pentimenti until October 28, 2023.