NOON Projects is honored to present "Slow Opening" by Jay Stern, the artist’s second solo exhibition with the gallery. This new body of work unveils a series of expressive, layered oil paintings that explore the intricate relationship between memory, time, and transformation. "Slow Opening" invites viewers into a space that feels both familiar and distant, capturing ephemeral moments of transition and quiet introspection. Much like memory, Stern assembles his compositions from fragmented elements into expansive forms, employing directional light to subtly evoke the emotion arising from the fleeting nature of information over time. The exhibition title reflects Stern’s fascination with the hidden layers of activity within what is considered 'still,' and the slow, unfolding blooms that emerge from looking. Through rapid brushwork and built layering, Stern’s paintings balance domestic intimacy with the rawness of nature. He seeks to capture these instants just before the relentless tide of life carries them from the present into the past. Stern’s work meditates on the generosity of time, a concept symbolized through imagery of flowers and landscapes, and echoed in the words of curator Hilton Als: “Time can be very cruel, but it can also be very generous to artists who are paying attention.” The works urge viewers to appreciate the quiet beauty and respect the active nuances of daily life often overlooked, while emphasizing the majesty and conflict of each passing moment and encouraging reflection on how our identities are shaped by both presence and absence. Since moving to Maine in 2021, Stern has been inspired by the region’s landscapes and rich artistic history, while maintaining a conscious distance from idealized reverence or sentimental representation. Interested in presenting nature in a pure way, works like Roofline Sunset, Kezar Lake and Desire Destination find Stern making a deeper connection between man-made objects that often inform nature’s fluid sensibilities. This evolving queer perspective fosters a unique form of voyeurism that goes beyond the ordinary, shedding light on and celebrating the aspects of his surroundings that Stern finds most captivating. "Slow Opening" reflects Stern’s belief that memory, much like his paintings, is not a fixed point but a living, evolving entity—always in the process of becoming, reshaped by time, perception, and the quiet moments of transformation. "Slow Opening" will be on view at NOON Projects from December 13, 2024, to January 25, 2025, with an opening reception on December 13, 2024, from 6–9 PM. For more information email info@noon-projects.com or call +1-971-341-6648