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The objects in “Kay Jackson: Environmental Works” are equal parts religious icons, Joseph Cornell boxes, William Christenberry architectural miniatures, and fancy Christmas cards, with a dash of Gustav Klimt ornamentalism and Rachel Carson environmentalism thrown in. Jackson goes medieval with her art, using centuries-old gesso and gold techniques in depictions of endangered species and other environmental-themed images. Her small statues and paintings range from wall-hung pieces with finely textured surfaces to an abacus-like device with moving parts, and even a piece that features an “alphabet” of dangerous chemicals, from lead to CFC. But the most striking pieces are those that combine delicately milled gold adorned with tempera paint. In one, Jackson features an endangered Grevy’s zebra in stark black-and-white on gold; in another, she pays homage to the buffalo, set against a western landscape limned in pitch-perfect Charles M. Russell hues.
The exhibit is on view Tuesdays to Fridays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 28 at George Washington University’s Luther W. Brady Art Gallery, 805 21st St. NW. (202) 994-1525.