Silence Breaking is a hidden gem of a show featuring abstract paintings by Gail Winbury at the Carl and Helen Burger Gallery on Kean University’s idyllic, park-like campus in Union, NJ. A New Jersey native, Gail Winbury’s oil paintings depict interpretations of various poems and personal stories that manifest into abstractions with colliding shapes and colors. Her use of gestural abstraction and expressionist lines reflect her interest in the elicitation of psychological responses via painting. Most of the work in the gallery is in large square format, dominated by celadon or mint blue green – a color frequently ranked among the calmest colors. The Field of Green series, which is most of the show, is a departure for the artist, whose previous series had much more aggressive lines and brighter shapes, which more comfortably rested into a traditional rectangular surface dimension. The compositional choices in this body of work are deliberate and minimal, reflecting a more meditative feel full of cooler tones and calmer transitions.
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Most of the pieces, such as Field of Green I and Field of Green VI, read vertically even though constrained to a square. The use of oil sticks is very gestural, and the process is both additive and subtractive. The artist has great control over how much the surface will take, stopping at strategic moments. For example, Field of Green VII has a dominating black shape to the right and light wash all throughout the rest of the canvas, which shows raw linen but otherwise has very minimal detail. The use of pink around the black form also plays an important role of extruding green to the surface of the painting.
Two works to the right in the gallery are outliers from the rest. Both were created later in 2023. The one closer to the corner is titled Elegy for Carol, in memory of a dear friend and former colleague of the artist. The work is personal, emotional, and energetic; the composition is complex and full of dilemmas. Particularly, Winbury’s use of olive green in this painting is drastically different as it stands on equal footing with a multitude of other colors. The artist is drawing most of the lines and shapes, creating depth and intricate layers within the space. She illustrates the thought process and the vulnerabilities, as viewers witness the process of her working through her decisions.
The painting next to it is titled Repose and contains the most “recognizable” imagery where Winbury’s abstraction is starting to shape-change and morph into something recognizable in the viewer’s subconscious mind. The use of an oval eye-like shape creates an illusion of either a creature or partial face feature but, on closer examination, changes before the viewer’s eyes.
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The choice of work for the show by former gallery director Lynette Zimmerman is tailored to a student audience in this academic setting, exposing the uninitiated to the complexities of painting. The idea of pairing abstract visual work with poetry is an interesting approach aimed at educating. Gail, in turn, makes abstract painting more approachable for any viewer. The layout and curatorial choices by Mary Clare King also make the show flow very approachable and engaging. In any other venue, the show would be considered text-heavy. However, it’s a great match for both school groups and university students.
The poetry that inspires some pieces from the Field of Green series is written by James Crews. The naturalistic subject matter and the spiritualistic language focus on mindfulness and a meditative state of mind, which are beautifully reflected in Winbury’s work. The overall experience of the show allows contemplation and meditation as the artist invites the viewer into her own thought process and knowledge of visual psychology.
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All photos courtesy of Kean University unless otherwise indicated
Silence Breaking: Gail Winbury at Karl and Helen Burger Gallery
Kean University Through December 6, 2024
1000 Morris Ave, Union Township, NJ 07083
About the writer: Anna Shukeylo is an artist, writer, educator, and curator working and living in the New York Metropolitan area. She has written for Artcritical, Painters on Painting, and Art Spiel. Her paintings have been exhibited in solo exhibitions at Kean University, NJ, Manchester University, IN, and in group shows at Auxier/Kline, Equity Gallery, Stay Home Gallery, among others. @annashukeylo