The Cranberry Isles, located off the coast of Maine, have a rich history of boatbuilding and fishing, with a population that has dwindled over the years as more visitors come to enjoy the islands. Despite this decline in permanent residents, the memory of those who have lived on the islands remains imprinted on the land, as noted by Lauret Savoy in her book “Trace: Memory, History, Race, and the American Landscape.”
One such visitor who left a lasting impression on the Cranberry Isles was Emily Nelligan, a Connecticut resident who spent her summers on Great Cranberry Island. Her charcoal drawings, showcased in the exhibition “Emily Nelligan: Early Drawings” at Alexandre Gallery, depict the mystical landscapes of the islands with a touch of enchantment reminiscent of artists like Odilon Redon and Gustav Klimt.
Nelligan’s use of charcoal captures the primordial beginnings of the land, with tonal shifts in shades of gray that evoke a sense of ancient mystery. Her drawings, such as “1 September 62,” transport the viewer to a world where rocks morph into bubbles and pine trees fade into the background, creating a sense of ethereal beauty.
Despite the intimate size of her works, Nelligan’s drawings offer a unique perspective on the landscape, with skewed and abstracted elements that challenge the viewer’s perception. In pieces like “Toward Manset” and “Woods near Preble Cove,” she plays with light and shadow to create a sense of otherworldly beauty that transcends traditional representations of the natural world.
While Nelligan’s landscapes may seem abstract and unfamiliar, her detailed drawings of individual plants reveal a different side to her artistic practice. Pieces like “Untitled” showcase her skill in capturing the intricacies of nature, with leaves and stems that resemble maps of a hidden world waiting to be discovered.
In her triptych “Woods near Preble Cove,” Nelligan explores the repetition of tree trunks along narrow sheets of paper, creating a sense of place that is both confounding and mesmerizing. The play of light and shadow in her work brings the landscape to life, hinting at a hidden world just beyond the surface.
“Emily Nelligan: Early Drawings” is a testament to Nelligan’s lifelong dedication to capturing the essence of the Cranberry Isles in her art. The exhibition, on display at Alexandre Gallery in Manhattan, offers a glimpse into the timeless beauty of the islands through the eyes of a truly talented artist.
