JOE VOLLAN
water under the burning bridge
opening: Friday, April 17th 2020
Arch Enemy Arts is pleased to present Water Under the Burning Bridge, the gallery’s third solo exhibition from doom fantasy-folk artist, Joe Vollan. The series—seven paintings, two mixed media drawings, and one sculptural mask—documents an early episode from the City of Rusted Gallows. For those following the sagas of this world, Vollan explains that Water Under the Burning Bridge pre-dates the factory accident by over a century when all of the skeleton society townspeople believed the bramble thorn smokers were witches. As it turns out, they were. Vollan writes:
On a foggy night, the townspeople rounded up all of the witches, corralled them onto the covered bridge, and lit it on fire. There were no survivors. Weeks later, magnolia trees sprung up along the riverbanks. It is believed that the witches live in the knots of these twisted trees, and every night, when the moon is at its brightest, they crawl out to play pranks, cast spells, and place curses on the long-since-dead townspeople.
Each piece in Water Under the Burning Bridge depicts a scene from this story in chronological order. Each title is a line from the artist’s narrative in the form of a rhyming poem.
Vollan’s painting style is elaborate and eccentric, evoking a sense of wonder that makes the artist’s fantasy-lore come to life. Vollan sets Water Under the Burning Bridge apart by interspersing his narrative paintings with hand-made ephemera, almost like collectible memorabilia from the City of Rusted Gallows. One can imagine the first title painting was a poster made for the townspeople to commemorate the parade that led the witches to their death. “The Foxes Spoons” feel like old family heirlooms coveted by the secret skeleton society as the very spoons the fox played on that fateful day. These pieces immerse us further into the dark, yet playful world of the City of Rusted Gallows. They make Vollan’s twisted tales even more real, and we can’t wait to see what happens next.
"The devils mask" (2020) Epoxy and acrylic on ceramic mask 6.5”x9” $650 USD
"Water under the burning bridge" (2020) oil on masonite 8”x10” (10.5”x12.5” framed) $800 USD
"The grim procession crossed graveyard ridge" (2020) oil on masonite 11”x14” (15”x18” framed) $1500 USD
"Such wondrous wonders await yelled the barker" (2020) oil on birch panel 6”x8” (10”x13” framed) $600 USD
"We continued on though our hearts grew darker" (2020) pencil and oil on paper 5”x7” (11”x12.5” framed) $500 USD
"The foxes spoons" (2020) oil and pencil on wood mounted paper, oil on spoons 9”x11” framed $800 USD
"Birch forest ritual under tide locked moons" (2020) oil on birch panel 4”x10.5” (5”x11.5” framed) $500 USD
"The snowshoe summer tore us apart" (2020) oil on masonite 8”x10” (10”x12” framed) $800 USD
"Bless your black and broken little heart" (2020) oil on masonite 8”x20” (11.5”x23.5” framed) $1600 USD
"With a screech, a howl and a clickity-clack, the witch said ‘goodnight’ and the sky went black." (2020) oil on birch panel 14”x18” (16.5”x20.5” framed) $2500 USD
OTHER WORKs BY JOE VOLLAN
'Goodbye to The Coalheaver's Daughter' by Joe Vollan from his 2018 Arch Enemy solo, Tone Deaf Funeral Singers 24 x 20" limited edition print (edition of 10) signed and numbered by the artist Printed on archival matte paper $75 each
"The Summertime Scavengers" (2019) oil on birch panel 13 x 16" framed to 17 x 20" $2000 USD
"The Witch Who Ate The Wolf" (2019) epoxy clay, acrylic on wooden nesting doll set tallest ~8" $2000 USD
"The Inheritance Was Gone Within Hours" (2019) oil on birch in custom painted vintage frame with artist sculpted elements 10 x 12" framed to 13 x 15" $1200 USD
"The Devil's Gift" (2019) oil on birch in a vintage frame with custom artist sculpted elements 8 x 10" framed to 10 x 16" $800 USD
"It Seemed That The 8 Fingered Butcher Was Losing On Purpose" (2019) oil on birch in vintage frame with artist sculpted elements 8 x 14" framed to 11.5 x 15" $1100 USD
"Ruckus on Brockfield Lane" (2019) oil on birch panel in vintage frame with custom artist sculpted elements 12 x 16" framed to 17 x 20" $1900 USD
"Death Card" (2019) ink on antique paper in antique frame 2.5 x 3.5" framed to 4 x 5" $150 USD
"Six Blind Pallbearers and the Tone Deaf Funeral Singers" (2018) oil on birch panel 10 x 8" framed to 14 x 12" $800 USD
"The Gate to Hell Was the Most Beautiful Thing I Had Ever Seen, For I Knew That Everyone I Had Ever Loved Was Waiting For Me On the Other Side" (2018) oil on birch panel 10 x 7" framed to 14" x 10.5" $700 USD
"Let Your Dagger Light the Way" (2018) oil on masonite 5 x 7" framed to 8 x 10" $500 USD
"And Goodbye to The Coal Heaver's Daughter" (2018) oil on birch panel 10 x 8" (13 x 11") framed $800 USD
"Someday When You Tiptoe Over The Pale Poppies" (2018) oil on birch panel 5 x 7" framed to 6.5 x 9" $500 USD
"Agnes Dreams of Falling Flowers" (2018) oil on birch panel 10 x 12" framed to 12 x 14" $1000 USD
"The Gray Eyed Foxes of Summer Have All Gone Away" (2018) oil and graphite on birch panel 5 x 7" framed to 7.75 x 9.5" $500 USD
"The Arsonists Left Town and the Swindlers Moved In" (2018) oil on birch panel 12 x 7.5" framed to 14.5 x 10.5" $800 USD
"All My Riches To Perch As Proudly As You For A Day" (2017) acrylic on birch panel 6.5 x 8.75" framed to 10 x 12" $600 USD