The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum

For Twenty Six Contemporary Women Artists, Dona Nelson contributed twenty small ink and crayon abstract drawings (see the installation photo in the archive section of this exhibition). This body of work no longer exists so the artist has lent a painting made in 1968. That same year, Nelson participated in the newly established Whitney Museum Independent Study Program and also graduated with a BFA from Ohio State University. The untitled painting on view here was created through a gridding process in which Nelson carefully and repeatedly reproduced a singular gesture of ink flung across the canvas. The artist’s investigation into the products of spontaneity continued in her later work, as seen in Federal Yellow. For a series of two-sided paintings started in 2002, Nelson poured, soaked, and stained the canvas, allowing for unforeseen effects on the reverse. In some cases, the artist elaborated on the surprising images that resulted from chance. With Federal Yellow, Nelson was reminded of the US national symbol of the eagle, hence the title.