Alluding to the landscape paintings that were in vogue as the United States began to colonize the West, Mary Iverson’s paintings attempt to conquer nature. Rendered with geometric precision, her depictions of ships loaded with heavy cargo extend into wide grids that systematize the sweeping landscapes she uses as a backdrop. The grids never fully manage to dominate the nature scenes (some painted by hand and others borrowed from magazines). Instead, they twist and curve, floating above expansive waterfalls and canyons that refuse to be tamed. Check out photos from Mary Iverson’s current solo show at San Francisco’s Shooting Gallery, courtesy of Cameron Van Loos. — Nastia Voynovskaya
