Full Nelson

Gingerly open the signed and numbered, limited-edition portfolio of prints that accompanies "New Religions," John Nelson's new show at Gallery Materia, and try resisting the urge to smile at the first image: a big pair of tighty-whities.

John Nelson

On the "Verge": John Nelson's "New Religions" is an ironic union of literary and visual art.

Details

By John Nelson is on exhibition at Gallery Materia, 4222 North Marshall Way in Scottsdale, through February. For more information, visit www.gallerymat eria.com or call 480-949-1262.

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More About

• John Nelson
• Eric Susser
• Grandmaster Flash
• William Blake

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As with Nelson's previous work, his paintings grab the viewer with deceptively simple icons -- body parts, commonplace objects like a coffee mug or a gun -- and then demand closer attention with layers of meaning, using subtle, almost subconscious placement of cryptic words.

In the case of the men's underpants, which reference the lyrics of Grandmaster Flash's "White Lines" with repeating script imprinted on them ("dang dang diggity dang"), two statements turn the brief encounter into something more intriguing, maybe even scandalous. "Promisekeeper," all in caps, fades into inky black at the top of the image, while "Restraining Order" primly marks the bottom.

Unpredictably, this is paired with "Verge," a short text about Mother Earth making a mistake with Father Sky. "New Religions," indeed.

Exploring different religious myths and traditions, Nelson collaborated with literary couple Eric Susser and Deborah Sussman Susser to create a book full of new deities, martyrs and mythological heroes. The illuminated works of William Blake served as an inspiration.

But neither the images nor the prose tells the whole story on its own.

"We didn't want it to be illustrated," says Susser. "We came up with images that are juxtaposed, but not literally." "'Verge,'" explains Nelson, "is a creation myth, but it's kind of like a one-night stand."

Eight more pairings of text and symbol complete the series, each distinguished by its own eloquent irony. "And there's an underlying truth to irony," says Nelson.

Susser and Nelson talk about collaborating again, perhaps on a large-scale installation at Bentley Projects. It would be the first installation for both of them.

The working title? "Sorry, No Art Today."