Several paintings by Hope College junior Nathan Klay of Holland will be exhibited at Butch's Dry Dock beginning with a reception on Saturday, Feb. 4, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The exhibition, "Memoir of a Prodigal," features 10 recent paintings by Klay, and will continue through the end of February.

The exhibition represents his first sustained painting since 2001, which was also the first year he had work on display at Butch's. In the years between he has worked with photography, computers, found imagery, scanners, photocopiers, inkjet printers and laser printers. Butch's featured an exhibition of his photography in February and March of 2005.

Of his latest pieces Klay noted, "Painting, like writing, is an editorial process comprised of additive and subtractive parts. My work is about discovering an image, rather than divining one. In so doing, I unabashedly follow the tradition of Abstract Expressionism, and of my mentor Del Michel." Michel, now retired, was on the Hope art faculty from 1964 to 2003.

Klay added that he values the opportunity to share his work with an audience, particularly in a forum like Butch's, which enables viewers to experience the paintings in the context of enjoying dining or conversation.

"We all remember the question, 'Does a tree in the forest make a sound when it falls if no one hears it?' My paintings are 'heard' only when they are seen," he said. "If one of them fell in the woods and no one saw it, the painting wouldn't make a sound."

Klay is a 1998 graduate of Holland Christian High School and is the son of Dr. Robin Klay of the Hope economics and management faculty. He is majoring in philosophy and art at Hope.

Butch's is located at 44 E. 8th St. in downtown Holland. Proceeds from the sale of the works will be donated to Friendship House, a new housing initiative at Western Theological Seminary incorporating developmentally disabled adults with seminary students. 

• Share
• Tweet
• Post