Untitled, 2009; wood, sand, and string. Courtesy of Ratio 3, San Francisco.

All of Mitzi Pederson's work in "I'll Start Again" is untitled, and walking throughout the main space of her show at Ratio 3, it is hard to distinguish if each piece should be viewed individually or if the artist is more interested in creating something of a gesamtkunstwerk. Utilizing such common materials as wood, paper, and string, the very floor of the gallery plays to Pederson's advantage. The tension she captures with the string and wood sculptures, each hanging somewhat precariously upon the walls, is striking. Unlike previous wood and string pieces that were generally larger and louder, these smaller works pack a much stronger punch. A few resourcefully negotiate the architecture of the gallery itself, either by wrapping around the corner of a wall or disappearing and reemerging behind exposed pipe.

Largely dealing with the idea of tension, and how materials succumb to new ways of utilization, Pederson devises small and rather simple investigations that still manage to captivate the viewer. In one such work, Pederson sprayed sand onto a very thin piece of wood, which she then bent, and hung over string, creating an arching form. The gesture of the arch, the tension in the string, and the sparkle of the sand combine to create an ethereal affect. Unfortunately, in contrast to this strong showing in the main gallery, the back room of Ratio 3 leaves much to be desired, with only a large, scattered wall sculpture, another floor sculpture, and a few mixed media works on paper. Altogether, these pieces felt plain compared to the humbly impressive acrobatics of the gallery's main space.

Mitzi Pederson: "I'll Start Again" is on view at Ratio 3 in San Francisco through October 24, 2009