This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Oct. 9, 2012 - Local St. Louis favorite Fredrick Nelson presents new works at Atrium Gallery. His exhibit, “Songs Without Words – New Works on Paper,” delivers lovely color stories soaked in rhythmic detail.
Deep cobalt blues and eggplant purples create pieces with greater intensity, balanced with more fragile dances of pastel hues. Nelson’s color sensibility is brilliant, celebrating pastel’s palette and textural properties, while playing with form and layered marking.
Nelson’s pieces are relatable without losing complexity. The art chair at Mary Institute Country Day School is a favorite for a reason. “Songs Without Words” lives up to the harmony of its title.
Rachel Heidenry holds a B.A. in art history and human rights from Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y. A former Beacon intern, she recently completed a Fulbright research grant studying mural painting in El Salvador and is currently a fellow at the Slought Foundation in Philadelphia.
We asked her to return to St. Louis and give us her take on some of the art exhibits that have opened recently. Heidenry is also the daughter of features editor Donna Korando.