Francine Perlman “Now and Then”

Ceres Gallery

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Francine Perlman presents excerpts from her new book Arc of the Viral Universe, and a recent book-sculpture that signals the start of a new direction, together with large abstract oil pastels from much earlier in her career.

Arc of the Viral Universe is a year-long collaboration (April 2020-April 2021) with poets, writers, photographers, and arts professionals, each creating their own books for this project initiated by feminist artist Carla Rae Johnson. In her book, Perlman is having a conversation with Mystery Dearest, the name she’s given to the coronavirus, in text, drawings, and monotypes. Beginning with anger, Perlman slowly develops a fondness for Mystery, a friendship of sorts, in recognition of the reality that Mystery has in fact facilitated the downfall of a tyrant, though with the death count of global war.

As a staunch anti-plastic crusader and a commitment to the health of the oceans, which are seriously endangered, Perlman’s created her book-sculpture Story of the Sea, with wooden covers and 10 pages of viscosity monotypes on delicate translucent Japanese paper. The story begins with many lively sea creatures, and then comes the plastic floating into the sea. Finally, there is the dark ending.

Perlman has had a joyous reunion with large oil pastels she has not shown in many years, and is very happy to be presenting these works as well.