Violet behind closed eyes
15 x 11 Monotype, Handmade Paper, Collage 2018
ARTIST STATEMENT
Nature, astonishingly simple, yet mysterious is the essence of my art. I work with the phenomena of a physical world tied up with nature as an inherent part of our humanness. We now find ourselves at a junction signaling an axial shift; an inescapable moment when Nature responds to humankind’s folly in her own spectacular way. I am exploring the underneath, the barely noticeable, that is, the steady evidence of climate change. Much of my work is about crossings made in these transitory times — a shift from season to season, crossing the sea from one shore to another. Chasing the waning light of a previous age or embarking on a new adventure, crossings are inevitable.
BIO
Elisa Lanzi is an artist from western Massachusetts who creates works at the intersection of printmaking, papermaking and collage. She is a member of the Zea Mays Printmaking Studio (Florence, MA) where she received a “Certificate in Green Printmaking: Intaglio.” She also is on the Exhibition Team coordinating shows as part of the collective global art project, “Extraction: Art on the Edge of the Abyss.” Elisa made paper for many years at Trout Paper, a hand-papermaking studio in Washington County, NY.
Her work is exhibited frequently in juried and invitational settings and is represented in public and private collections. Selections from her 2020 monotype series, “Shelter in Place” are featured in the Flat File Gallery at Zea Mays Printmaking. This year her artists’ book “Stonewashed,” about the devasting effects of fast fashion, was acquired by the Herman B. Wells Library at the University of Indiana, Bloomington.
Raised in an artistic family, Elisa has created art through formal and informal study and practice since her early years. Her art history and studio background, papermaking apprenticeships, and printmaking courses support her creative work. In addition to making art, Elisa is actively engaged in curating, giving talks and teaching workshops. In 2020 she co-created a video tutorial series on making paper at home with recycled prints.
