CURRENT EXHIBITION
OVER THE RAINBOW:
Color, Value, and Form
Featuring works by Gail Shaw-Clemons
Opening Reception: May 20, 6-8 pm
On view May 20–June 25, 2023
Artist Talk: June 14, 6-7pm via Zoom
Featured image: The Promise by Gail Shaw-Clemons. Photography by John Woo.
Washington, D.C. Artist Gail Shaw-Clemons’ mastery of the rainbow roll technique is on full display in this vibrant exhibition of her monotype sculptural prints. Her work challenges the eye to see color not experienced before. Nearly 50 of these vivid works comprise the exhibition, dominant in the series are sculptural assemblages that twist paper and color into even more high-contrast rainbows.
This body of work began at Pyramid Atlantic when it first opened from the Covid 19 shutdown. Working with color became a healing and rejuvenating process for the artist, presenting a needed distraction from the horrors of Covid, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the political unrest. Using a technique inspired and invented by her mentor, Professor Thadeusz Lapinsky, who taught at the University of Maryland, Shaw Clemons’ rainbow roll process allows an array of gradient colors to be printed with one passing of the roller, while maximizing colors.
“This series represents the fact that beauty can be created in response to—and in spite of—trauma, disappointment, fear, and bewilderment. It is akin to how Jazz translated feelings into sound yet created beautiful music,” remarks the artist. “Rainbows are a sign of hope, new beginnings, and transformation dating back to biblical times. Children are fascinated by them, while envisioning that pot of gold Over the Rainbow. The LBGTQ community has embraced the rainbow representing inclusivity, diversity, and the spectrum of human sexuality and gender. Coincidently, my research revealed the rainbow as a complete circle, which can only be seen in its full glory from 30,000 miles above the earth, as the horizon interrupts our full view. The circle is symbolic of oneness, unity, perfection and has been a recurring shape in my work even before the rainbow roll.”—Gail Shaw-Clemons
About the Artist:
Gail Shaw-Clemons is a print and mixed media artist and activist. Born in Washington, D.C., she received her Masters Degree in Printmaking from the University of Maryland. She has exhibited extensively, with many works included in public and private collections in the USA, Brazil, Norway, Sweden, China, Fondazione il Bisonte – Florence, Italy and the Republic of Ireland. Her work is also in the collection of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Library of Congress, and the Banneker-Douglass Museum. Shaw-Clemons has a studio at Stable Art and prints at the Bob Blackburn Printmaking Studio in New York as well as the Pyramid Atlantic Printmaking Studio. Shaw-Clemons taught at the United Nations International School in New York for 24 years and is currently an adjunct professor at Bowie State University. Learn more about her at gailshaw-clemons.com.
Photo by SteroVision
Save the Dates!
Virtual Artist Talk with Gail Shaw-Clemons
Wednesday, June 14, 6-7pm
Join us for an in-depth talk with artist Gail Shaw-Clemons Gail about her process for creating the pieces in the current exhibition Over the Rainbow: Color, Value, and Form. The session will be held via Zoom and moderated by Pyramid’s Artistic Director Gretchen Schermerhorn.
Over the Rainbow Printmaking
2-day Workshop: Saturdays, June 24 and July 1, 2-5pm
Join artist Gail Shaw-Clemons to learn more about her rainbow roll printing techniques by getting hands-on in this workshop at Pyramid Atlantic!
Exhibition Gallery:
Made possible in part through funding provided by
Previous Galleries
- Apr 01 2023: MEMBERS MASHUP
- Feb 11 2023: A COLLABORATION OF CREATIVITY
- Dec 17 2022: PASTPORTS
- Nov 19 2022: 10x10 INVITATIONAL 2022
- Oct 15 2022: ALTERED ENVIRONMENTS
- Aug 20 2022: LOOKS GOOD ON PAPER
- Jun 17 2022: ARE WE THERE YET
- May 07 2022: LIFE AQUATIC
- Mar 11 2022: MEMBERS MASHUP 2022
- Jan 22 2022: EXPLORING DEAF GEOGRAPHIES
- Dec 4 2021: 10x10 INVITATIONAL 2021
- Sep 17 2021: REFLECTING BACK TO THE FUTURE
- Jul 24 2021: NINE ARTISTS
- May 29 2021: MAPS AND MAZES
- Apr 16 2021: NATURAL CONNECTIONS
- Feb 26 2021: RELIEF
- Nov 13 2020: 10x10 INVITATIONAL 2020
- Sep 26 2020: MASHUP 2020: ELECTION YEAR