Ever Baldwin

“…The sound of flying whirred past me a voice called far away

The swallows grew still and bats came out light as breath

around the stranger by himself in the echoes

what did I have to do with anything I could remember

alI I did not know went on beginning around me

I had thought it would come later but it had been waiting”

—W.S. Merwin, excerpt from Threshold

Marinaro is thrilled to present Stranger in the Echoes, Ever Baldwin’s second exhibition with the gallery.

In Baldwin’s new series of work, they continue to push the boundaries of the canvas into the hand carved frame and expand the visual vocabulary of the work using color and sculptural elements. In these works, the painting line extends into the frame, diverging from historical paintings where frames are used as decoration, here the painting becomes part of the frame and the frame becomes part of the painting. Baldwin expands this notion in some of these works, where color has been applied to the frame and sculptural elements that mimic painted elements are added to frame body. These actions remove the partition between wood and canvas and create a whole mixed media composition.

The new works highlight vibrant colors and dynamic compositions. The use of expanded color is striking, as Baldwin uses contrasting palettes that evoke emotion and movement. They blend abstract and representational elements, creating a visual language that invites interpretation. Bold, sweeping brushstrokes combine with intricate details and organic forms intertwine with geometric shapes. Themes of nature and the body frequently emerge in their work, often depicted through landscapes or fragmented figures that Baldwin observes or experiences in body and emotion. Baldwin transforms elements of everyday life in the paintings by repeated repainting and destruction, which creates a unique visual language with an underlying a sense of depth and complexity, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the narrative of each piece.

The melding of frame and painting reference a connection to altarpieces. While altarpieces are often rooted in religious themes, Baldwin’s work explores secular themes that carry emotional weight, blurring the lines between sacred and everyday experiences. This connection to personal and communal narratives resonates with the reflective quality of altarpieces. Both altarpieces and Baldwin’s work engage the viewer, prompting reflection and contemplation. Altarpieces are designed to invite prayer and meditation, Baldwin also invites these actions and encourages personal interpretation and emotional connection, fostering a sense of involvement in the narrative. Many wood altarpieces reflect the cultural and social contexts of their time. Similarly, Baldwin’s work responds to contemporary issues, weaving in cultural narratives that reference the body and sexuality.

Ever Baldwin lives and works in Catskill, NY. They hold a BFA in painting from The Maryland Institute College of Art and an MFA from The School of The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Recent solo exhibitions include The Ogunquit Museum of American Art, Ogunquit, ME; LeFebvre et Fils, Paris; Emma Gray HQ, Los Angeles, CA; and JAG Projects, Hudson, NY. Their work has been included in groups shows at Vielmetter, Los Angeles, CA; Modern Art, London; and Art Omi, Ghent, NY among others.