Casey Kaplan

Nathan Carter
ALL CITY
November 16 – December 22, 2006

Nathan Carter presents sculpture, photographs, mobiles, wall relief sculptures, videos, drawings and collages in “ALL CITY,” his third solo show at Casey Kaplan Gallery, New York.

These works attempt to visualize the chaotic intersection of communications, overlapping networks of transportation, and unfolding geopolitical events.

High-density color patterns, lines, letters, and graphic diagrams represent modes of communication such as faxes, Morse code, cell phone signals, pirate radio, ship-to-shore frequencies, air traffic control transmissions, and text messages written on the go. These symbols are intermingled with representations of airplanes, dirigibles, helicopters, subways, large- and small-scale vehicles, communication towers, train diagrams, signage, contrails, and flight patterns. Irreverent texts and menacing abstract shapes add to the sense of disorder, leading to the question: What happens when lines of communication break down?

A partial list of works described in the artist’s own words:

One giant traveling blue and Bavarian cream language machine that uses its alphabet set-up and selection of antennae to send out heavy musical broadcasts, propaganda, and urgent text messages about foul weather and geopolitical schisms.

A loosely affiliated menacing armada of eighteen black and blue dirigibles covered with threatening insignia flying through bad weather in an aggressive formation trying to find a place to land. They're hot under the collar, low on patience, behaving erratically, and looking for trouble.

Six green weather balloon stations sponsored by well-meaning humanitarian/scientific research groups perched on a red landing platform. Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior R.I.P. in Davy Jones’s Locker.

One 747 "Heavy Big Bird" stacked to the rafters with American Youth of university age drinking and self-medicating to dramatic excess while weathering air pockets on a bumpy trans-Atlantic flight piloted by an astronaut and a well-known and much missed literary figure.

A triptych of Harry Beck inspired way-finding subway map diagrams representing New York, London, and Paris.

Three photographs of object collections that tell stories illustrating the answers to the questions: "Hey buster, what's in your pocket?" "How are we going to get the message through to the front if all we have is this old transistor radio?" and "Where did you learn the protocol for Moscow Rules, on the Farm?"

A magnified handy hanging Morse code educational/learning instrument.

Two strange amorphous floating shapes with high visibility symbols and incident recording sensors.

A full set of blue and red text messages warning wandering malcontents, merchant marine types, wayfarers, and information merchants to STAN BAC -- adjust attitude -- fLaP yoUr fLaiR fLApS -- and STAN KLR.