Newburyport MA, April 28, 2010. Lisa Goren has been painting Antarctica ever since she visited the frozen tundra in 1997. Her watercolors show an unfamiliar landscape in a new light. “I spend my time exploring the vibrant colors of the ice and the very hardy wildlife. It is such a pleasure to hear that, until they saw my work, people didn’t believe that Antarctica could be more than black and white.”
You may view these watercolors at the Firehouse gallery at Market Square in Newburyport from May 5 through June 6 during regular Box Office hours (Wed-Sun, 12N-5P or until curtain). Also, please join Lisa for an Artist's Reception on May 8 from 2-4pm and enjoy some light refreshments with her.
Goren has always been fascinated by the Antarctic and in 1997 was lucky enough to be able to travel “South” for a short time. Her paintings are from photos (as opposed to “plein air”) and are an attempt to address the question of ‘reality vs. imagination’ by bringing the beauty of Antarctica to our world here. In general, Goren’s work is more “realistic” and representational which can be a surprise if you’re not familiar with the Antarctic landscape.
Often Goren is asked what is there to paint in Antarctica aside from white snow and black and white penguins; to which she responds, “I found Antarctica to be awash in color. As my trip was scheduled for the height of the Antarctic summer (February) everything that could be in bloom, was. With such a short season, there is a very short riot of color. Along with the plants, volcanic rock, blue ice, penguins and seals (among others); created a varied and colorful landscape.”
Seeing this landscape has made her rethink how we perceive water and ice. Over time she has become much more familiar with the beautiful and ever-changing manifestations of substances most of us take for granted every day. “In Antarctica, dirt and snow algae can create amazing effects in what might be assumed to be a totally white landscape and icebergs are so dense that the only light waves which pass through are what I call a “Caribbean” blue. It was my interest in water and its variations that encouraged my foray into the use of watercolors. When I’m working I feel that I am closer to understanding the variety of my subject(s) because I am using my water as a critical part of my tools” explains Goren.
With these paintings Goren says she hopes to use the colors that she saw as a way of inviting people to re-imagine their mental pictures of the bottom of the earth, which for Goren is “one of the most exciting places on the planet”.
Back to The Latest News