Garry Nichols has a distinct hand, unique vision, and obvious understanding of formal structure, the arabesque, and the vibrancy of color. Born in Tasmania, an Australian island even more isolated than the mainland, he grew up steeped in the island’s unusual landscape, and Australia’s complex heritage of white convict settlers, indigenous Aborigines, and the clashes between these two groups. These inherited cultures infuse his paintings, from his bulbous shapes reminiscent of Tasmanian foliage, to specific motifs, such as images of carvings from the 19^th century Tasmanian Ross Bridge. Garry’s uncle published a book of history and photos of this bridge, and of the gargoyle-like, Celtic-inspired carvings by Daniel Herbert, a convict, who won his freedom for his artistic craft, and so, between the personal connection to his uncle, his empathy with the convicts forced from their native lands, and the sheer power of these adornments, Garry has embraced these images within his own art. Also pervasive in his work is the medieval story of A Ship of Fools, an image that acts as a metaphor for the hypocrisy and corruption of the ruling class, as well as the convict ships. Color, too, is more than simply graphic marks, for, like the imagery, it is metaphoric, with the ochres, greens and yellows emerging from the colors of the lush Tasmanian rain forest, and the blacks, reds and whites reflective of the dry heat elsewhere on the island. Now through June 7, in a solo exhibition at the Herald Art & Culture Center (42-35 Main St., 2^nd fl., open M-Sat, 10-6) in Flushing, we can see these paintings with their layers of hidden stories and painterly metaphor. Start exploring even before getting to the gallery, smell the smells of NYC’s true China Town as you walk down Main Street, but then enjoy the dive into the world of Garry Nichols. You will be happy you did. Garry will give a lecture during the closing party on 6/6, 3-7pm.