Forget-Me-Nots

James Morse, TJ Rinoski, Margaret R. Thompson and Dylan Williams 

March 21 – April 26, 2025

Opening Reception
March 21st @ 6pm - 8pm
39 White Street, Tribeca

There is so much hope in a little flower, and so many flowers in a little hope.
-Mehmet Murat ildan

1969 Gallery is pleased to present Forget-Me-Nots, a group exhibition featuring the works of James Morse, TJ Rinoski, Margaret R. Thompson, and Dylan Williams. Each artist brings a distinct sensitivity to universal moments, exploring both natural and domestic scenes. Their works elevate ordinary experiences into spaces of contemplation and reverence.

James Morse’s (Northport, MI) art goes beyond conventional representations of nature, offering a thoughtful exploration of emotion and connection. Through meticulous layering, his work emphasizes the tactile nature of paint, allowing its material presence to take center stage. Each piece reflects Morse’s relationship with the natural world, as he intentionally avoids traditional perspectives, as seen in Holy Blue Hills. His approach to every aspect of the process speaks to a profound respect for the materials, enriching his connection to the places he paints.

With a similar attention paid to the materiality of her work, Margaret R. Thompson (Santa Fe, NM) mixes her oil paints with wax, sand, soil, mica, and ash collected from the New Mexico desert. By combining these diverse elements, she creates works that reflect nature not just in subject matter, but through the very texture and substance of her medium. Her symbolic, large-scale compositions evoke a spiritual reverence for nature, blending observations from her daily life with mystical landscapes. 

TJ Rinoski’s (Richmond, VA) work focuses on the everyday. His tendency to paint scenes devoid of clear narrative mirrors the elusive nature of memory itself. By working with a deliberately unfinished and abstracted style, Rinoski captures the ambiguity of fleeting moments—whether in the form of an open window or a burning candle sitting on a table in his work Doing Fine. His paintings function as a memorialization of experiences that are, by their very nature, ephemeral.

Dylan Williams’ (London) practice is shaped by his lifelong connection to the Welsh countryside. Rooted in the hills, fields, and forests of his youth, his paintings explore the metaphysical bonds between the land and the unseen forces that inhabit it—spirits, energy, and dreams. I love the whole world depicts a forget-me-not flower cradled in the palm of a hand,  symbolizing love and remembrance. With a minimal use of paint, Williams seeks to capture the quiet, meditative essence of nature, translating his personal and inherited experiences into serene landscapes that reflect both the physical and the transcendent aspects of the world around him. 

Forget-Me-Nots highlights the transient nature of our experiences. These four artists capture the unnoticed details and encourage a deeper reflection of the spirit embedded in the everyday, reminding us to pause and reflect on the significance of life's quiet, defining moments.

For Inquiries, please contact
Madeline Ehrlich I madeline@1969gallery.com

About 1969 Gallery

Founded in September 2016, 1969 is a contemporary art gallery in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood. Through solo / group / external exhibitions and art fair presentations, the Gallery has cultivated the careers of its represented artists and a broader community of artists primarily devoted to painting.

Follow 1969 Gallery on Instagram via @1969gallery.