“A Show Called Worker”

“Karmic is a word people don’t actually think is a word because of various tools on the internet, or because of other rationales and dictation,” writes local artist Nathanael Roney. “Words like karmic, they work like words are supposed to work when we use them.” This and other pithy observations and musings can be found on his website.

Roney is probably better known for his visual art. For just under seven years he created bold covers and laid out inspired page design at Mountain Xpress. (As a writer for that paper, I personally own him a huge debt of gratitude for the number of my own stories that he elevated to high art with his insightful graphics and hand drawings.) Roney has also created murals in public spaces (such as the one in process on the outside of the building along Jarrett St. in West Asheville) and frame-worthy poster art for touring bands. But even though he’s skilled at setting words to pictures, he’s equally adept at creating images with words. Because he gets words. Their slipperiness, their imprecision and, alternately, their deft aim. He gets the distance between words and images and also the slight-of-hand that marries those two worlds.

Roney’s new exhibit, A Show Called Worker, hangs in The Mothlight (701 W. Haywood St.). The images can be viewed during any show at that venue, but an opening reception takes place tonight at 8 p.m. The artist will read in the gallery shortly thereafter.

Here, Roney performs at a 2009 opening for Take Me Out.