Portrait by Erin Ng.
A few weeks ago Jay Nelson and Rachel Kaye opened up their Sunset home to us and we got to chat with them about their art practices and what they've been up to. At the moment they are in France for a few weeks, while Jay builds a custom camper and then will road trip with it. In San Francisco, they are showing work together in Paring #2 at Chandran Gallery, which is on view through July 2.
If you've ever been to Mollusk Surf Shop or Outerlands in the Sunset, then you've seen the wooden treehouse loft and geometric light fixtures Jay is recognized for, along with the custom campers he builds.
Rachel Kaye's work I was less familiar with, but then realized she and Jay are married. Rachel has been showing her paintings throughout the Bay Area at spaces like Needles & Pens, Mollusk, Paule Anglim Gallery, Johansson Projects, Berkeley Art Museum, and other galleries across the country and internationally.
Read the interview and see more photos below.
SFACC: Can you talk about how you approached Pairing #2 at Chandran. How did you go about creating the platform for Rachel's painting. Is that something you both had been thinking of doing at a show, or was that more specific to the space at Chandran?
JN&RK: The structure for Pairing #2 was a response to the structures we made for In concert at Johansson Projects (last year). We also wanted to create something specifically for Chandran Gallery (considering space/light/viewing points). When it came to hanging the paintings, that is something we don't totally consider until the structure is done, we brought in about 4x the work that is hanging and we play around with the composition as a whole until it feels right.
SFACC: You mentioned directing the perspective of the viewer for you paintings, just like when you go to a museum and see a bench in front of a painting. You want to put as much intention into how a viewer physically interacts with the space and painting, as much as you do in creating your work.
JN&RK: Yes, we create visual cues as a way to direct the experience we hope people will have, for example on the top floor of the structure there is a railing that gives, what we think is a nice distance to see Rachel's painting.
We think that when you physically have to interact with art, the art work becomes engaging or at least the interacting encourages more of a relationship.
Painting by Jay (left) and Rachel (right).
JN&RK: I think that speaks a lot about layers and experiencing the work as a whole object, it's an installation exhibition as well as a painting exhibition. Which can also be seen as a way to view our process as collaborators and how we work in the studio together (metaphorically).
Drawing on paper by Rachel Kaye.
Painting by Jay Nelson.
JN&RK: We are very interested in the idea of collaboration. Traditionally in painting collaboration is thought of as a painting worked on together. For us it's more of a dialogue on collaboration, as a couple with a child we share everything and that transfers over into our work.
Paintings by Jay.
SFACC: The Sunset is a special place, being so near the ocean, and more of a mellow part of the city. How does being in this neighborhood influence your work, process, and other parts of your life? You definitely have a great community out here, and are near so many friends.
JN&RK: Being close to friends that share common interests and lifestyle. We like that it feels like a small town within the city. It's important for Jay to be able to surf on a regular basis, living across town would compromise that. It's pretty amazing to be living in a city and also have such incredible nature just two blocks away. We walk on the beach almost every morning.
With Rachel Kaye and Jay Nelson in their studio behind their home.
New paintings in the studio, Rachel (left), Jay (right).
Portraits by Erin Ng.
Jay: Well, I'm here now and in the middle of it, this one is on a Mercedes 407d flat bed. I've always wanted to build a camper one of these trucks. In the end its going to be be more of a house truck and less of a small camper. Its a huge challenge building here in every way. The materials are totally foreign and come in different dimensions, I have to work in metric. I'm using tools that are not mine and in Europe the regulations on tools are a little looser so the tools are not what I'm use to. And then there's the language barrier, going to a lumberyard or hardware store can take hours because I can't just tell the guys what I want.
I think the process of making art is about opening your self up to an unknown, this is what I hope to do with every project weather its painting or constructing, there should always be moments of self doubt and crisis. And although this dark time in making is hard the coming out and then discovery is what keeps me making work.
SFACC: Generally, you hadn't been regularly participating in group shows or having solo shows, since you're usually busy with client work. But why is exhibiting work in a gallery an important of maintaining a studio practice? What is it about working on a series of work, and then organizing the show, and then seeing the work in a space that is crucial to developing as an artist?
JN&RK: It's important to take work out of your studio, when you see other people looking at your work, that's when you really see it, it becomes objective, or at least you see it in a new context. its a necessary part of being an artist and we're both happy to come back to it.
Mural by Rachel Kaye at Chandran Gallery.
SFACC: Reflecting on Paring #2, and your show together at Johansson Projects in Oakland last year, are you feeling that you want to work on more exhibitions? How did these two shows excite you?
JN&RK: Yes, we both feel like its an exciting path and want to keep going. We have ideas for different structures and ways of showing painting. By sharing a show we're taking less ownership of the work which gives us more freedom in what we make.
SFACC: There are so many great painters in SF and the Bay Area, who's work is abstract and non-figurative, can you tell us about what you feel San Francisco art looks like?
JN&RK: The Bay area is built on a history of escapists and outsiders, this is the best thing about where we live. I think everyone making work here should embrace this.
Thank you to Jay and Rachel for speaking with us and opening up their studio. See more of their work by following them on Instagram, @Jay and @ray_ray_kaye.
Paring #2 is on view at Chandran Gallery through July 2.
Tuesday-Saturday, 12-6pm. 459 Geary, San Francisco.
