Liza LaBarge’s “Lace Lines” Exhibit
January 5 – March 18, 2017
The Project Space at Creative York
10 N Beaver Street, York, PA 17401
Opening Reception: Thursday, Jan 5 from 6-8pm
Free and open to the public!

“Lace Lines” will showcase a number of intricate, large-scale charcoal and soft pastel drawings by New York artist Liza LaBarge.

ARTIST STATEMENT:
The Lace Lines Series conceptually explores the ever-changing roles of femininity. I examine crocheted lace as a means of stitching together feminist themes. The detailed weaving and threading of the crocheted lace acts as a visual representation for the idea that we as humans are all shaped by various environmental influences, traditions, and past historieslinking together to form one life. Contemporary Artist Wangechi Mutu states, the image of woman is in a “constant process of becoming, changing, and surviving.” Within this series, lace becomes a visual representation of various conditions weaving together to shape/form female figurative imagery.

The visual subject of woven lace also references the mythological stories of The Three Fates or The Moirai. These mythological characters personified the destiny of man through the act of weaving. The first fate, Klotho, whose name means spinner, weaved the thread of life. The Second fate, Lakhesis, measured the thread of life, while the third fate, Atropos, cuts the thread of life; ultimately ending one’s life.

Therefore, these lace pieces additionally explore a visual contemplation of the life cycle. Images referencing life and death are acknowledged within a single framework. The subtle image of the sonogram (birth) is present while simultaneously referencing the image of mummification (death).

Through this series, I hope to show the audience an intensified use of “everyday” drawing materials (Charcoal and Soft Pastel) and truly push the medium as a Fine Art form through the process of reductive drawing techniques and additive soft pastel applications. I strive to create intense theatrical depictions that attract the human eye, while simultaneously incorporating delightfully disturbing undertones.
~ Liza LaBarge

Liza LaBarge was born in Potsdam, NY in 1990. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a minor in Pre-creative Arts Therapy from the State University of New York at Potsdam in 2012. She has spent ample time mastering the materials of charcoal and soft pastel through observational drawing techniques. Her large-scale charcoal drawings merge the real with the surreal to create allegorical works that synthesize historical and contemporary influences of femininity. She recently obtained a Master of Fine Arts degree in Visual Studies from the University at Buffalo.

To learn more about Liza LaBarge, please visit http://www.lizalabarge.com/

This exhibit will run concurrently with the “Art In Industry” exhibit in the Kerlin Gallery at Creative York.

Creative York
10 N Beaver St
York, PA 17401
717.848.3200
www.creativeyork.org
info@creativeyork.org

Gallery Hours:
Tues, Thurs, Sat 10-2,
First Fridays 5-9,
and by appointment.