by Brian Goslow
Lisa Lebofsky is a painter from New York who is currently in the midst of an 18 to 24-month long mission of residency hopping across The United States and Canada. Her paintings explore the emotional and physical human relationship with nature. Artscope managing editor Brian Goslow exchanged questions with her via email in advance of the “Expeditions: From Iceland to the Gobi Desert” exhibition that will be on view from February 1 through March 10 at the Paula Estey Gallery, 3 Harris St., Newburyport, Massachusetts.
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR WORK THAT’LL BE IN THE SHOW IN TERMS OF TITLES, MEDIUM AND HOW IT WAS CREATED — AND WHAT YOU HOPE TO CONVEY THROUGH IT.
(My) artwork in show (will be):
“Ice from Aqajarua,” oil paint on paper, 5” x 7”.
It was painted en plein air one still silvery morning while anchored off the coast of Greenland. In this painting, I explored the muted palette of the scene, channeling the subtle tonal style of Giorgio Morandi in producing a painting imbued with a quiet yet invasive energy, with space for contemplation for the viewer.
“Labrador Iceberg,” oil paint on aluminum, 4″ – 5” x 7”.
Utilizing the reflective qualities of the aluminum to create the inner blue glow that bleeds out from the depths of icebergs and glaciers, I focused here on the abstract movements and erosion of a section of an iceberg. I begin with a thick layer of blue, with repeated and gradually thickening layers of white to obliterate this enticing blue and to create the jagged disrupting “teeth” of ice; all to produce a spiraling composition that is both calming and agitating.
“Melting Iceberg, oil paint on aluminum, 4″ – 25” x 40” and “Melting Iceberg, oil paint on aluminum, 6″ – 25” x 40”.
Both of these paintings are of icebergs I witnessed on expeditions and travels to Newfoundland and Labrador (#4 was from the Labrador Sea; #6 was from a cove in central Newfoundland; both witnessed from boat on separate occasions). At this point, I had been traveling the globe for witnessing icebergs at various stages of their lives for several years. I began to think of these icebergs as individuals with their unique stories carved onto their facades, all traveling to some unknown destination, isolated, melting, inspiring and beautiful, to meet an unavoidable demise.
DO YOU THINK CREATING WORK THAT CELEBRATES/FOCUSES ON OUR NATURAL SURROUNDINGS ENCOURAGES ITS VIEWERS TO BE MORE ACTIVE IN PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT?
Yes. I’ve actually written an article about this here: http://mahb.stanford.edu/blog/natures-vulnerabilities/. But to quote from, and summarize it: Art generates awareness. We care about that with which we are aware; which in turn, inspires us to be better. In humanizing the story of climate change by revealing nature’s vulnerabilities as our own, it is my intention for my audience to be moved to respond personally and proactively.
(“Expeditions: From Iceland to the Gobi Desert” featuring work by Lisa Lebofsky, Lisa Goren, Will Nourse, Katherine Richmond and David Stone, can be seen from February 1 through March 10 at the Paula Estey Gallery, 3 Harris St., Beverly, Mass. You can read an excerpt from our preview of the exhibition – and find out how to get a copy of our January/February 2018 issue – and find out how to get your copy — here: https://artscopemagazine.com/2018/01/ice-ice-baby-expeditions-at-estey/.)