The poet W.H. Auden observed, “It takes little talent to see clearly what lies under one’s nose, a good deal of it to know in which direction to point that organ.” Eric Nash looks and contemplates where we glance, gather information and move on.
Sunset Boulevard, oil on canvas, 38 x 60"
Commenting on his paintings of iconic Los Angeles signs, Nash notes, “In a city built on hopes and dreams, they stamp the beginning of countless stories and memories of people from all backgrounds and from all places.”
A green highway sign indicating the upcoming exit for Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles is celebrated in a finely rendered 38-by-60 inch canvas that invites the viewer to become aware of the sign’s construction and the applied letters with just a hint of potential decay. One wonders if the letters peel off, will Sunset Boulevard disappear, too?
The Boulevard, however, is a place of legend, and legends live on. It stretches from Hollywood and Beverly Hills to the Pacific Ocean, movie lots and celebrity homes lining its length. The 1950 film bearing the street’s name and starring Gloria Swanson and William Holden is an example of film noir, shot in black and white with meticulous lighting and a dark cynicism.
Chateau Marmont, oil on canvas, 38 x 60"
A Pool in the Hills, oil on canvas, 48 x 72"
In A Pool in the Hills, Nash paints a film noir scene in color. The eerily lit pool stands out against the featureless darkness of the night, suggesting both refreshment and potential threats.
He explains, “As an artist, I seek out singular and iconic scenes. Stripped of unneeded information and presented in a documentarian yet idealized way, I work to elevate and preserve highly familiar but often overlooked moments. Within this context, freeway signs and pools become the true monuments of Los Angeles. The pools at night become emblematic of the mystery and possibility of Los Angeles. Together they create a portrait of a legendary city that is so strongly defined by the car and water.”
Eric Nash in his studio
An exhibition of his latest work, LA Singularity, will be shown at Skidmore Contemporary Art in Santa Monica, California, October 29 through December 3. —
Skidmore Contemporary Art Gallery 2525 Michigan Avenue B-4 • Santa Monica, CA 90404 • (310) 828-5070 • www.skidmorecontemporaryart.com
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