Nancy Pane Fortwengler will be shortly celebrating her solo show at Alexandria’s  The Art League from June 4 – July 6, 2009 (opening reception June 11th at 6:30pm).  The show, Fabrications, is a testament to transparency, layered work, textiles and movement for this pastel artist.  

It so happens that coincidentally I’ve been re-reading Victoria Finlay’s book, Color:  A Natural History of the Palette.  Finlay takes a chapter to discuss the history and origins of white from lead white paint to Whistler’s Woman in White to the white houses of England and Wales.  The entire book is a fascinating journey and it’s lead me to concentrate particularly on pastel works (which is not my preferred medium) in the painstaking detail of Fortwengler’s studied style.  Below are three pieces from her Dresses collection that capture the spirit of a white light wind and a beautiful melody.  

Nancy Pane Fortwengler, Exploration, Oil on Linen

Nancy Pane Fortwengler, Taking Flight, Pastel

Whistler, The White Girl/The Woman in White