Leslie Goldman
“Material Lineage” Exhibition Feature
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Through walking, I deepen my relationship with my body and the world around me. I walk through and around my neighborhoods, observing the change and beauty around me and within me. This exchange between my body, its processes, and the places I inhabit forms the basis of my work. I translate this exchange into paintings, drawings and three-dimensional forms.
In this installation, different works are combined; they interact with each other, with light, and with the indoor and outdoor environments of the window. The viewer is invited to contemplate their own connections to their bodies, the world around them and their own mortality.
Instagram @lgoldmanart109
Can you start by telling us more about the pieces you submitted to the “Material Lineage” exhibition, your inspiration and the process behind it?
In my work I use organic forms, mostly inspired by plants. For this exhibition, I created an installation in the window. I created a structure with wire and added pieces that had been made with a variety of materials: duralar (plastic), tissue paper, book pages, ink, hair, etc. I was interested in how the light coming through the window would interact with the piece as well as how the work would interact with the view looking from the inside out. I hope to see how it changes with the seasons as well.
You mention that walking is central to your artistic practice. Can you share a specific experience or walk that had a profound impact on your work and your connection to your body and surroundings?
I am inspired by the ideas of anthropologist Tim Ingold who writes about walking as creating lines. When I’m walking, I sometimes think about this, and how walking the same routes over and over deepens the energetic connections to the place in which I walk. I find that I am attracted to specific trees, and I enjoy watching them change with the seasons. Up until a few years ago, I lived in Brighton. There was a small park near my apartment that I passed regularly on my walks. The trees there always inspired me. They were gnarled and twisted and looked like they had survived tough conditions. They were full of beautiful flowers in the spring and the foliage changed color in the fall. I enjoyed visiting them. I would also frequently walk into Brookline. There were Golden Rain trees there. I was fascinated by their seed pods and was excited when I was able to collect some that had fallen to the ground. The forms of these seeds appear frequently in my work and are central to the piece in the exhibition.
How do you choose the specific neighborhoods and locations for your walks, and what draws you to these areas in particular for artistic inspiration?
I mostly walk in neighborhoods where I live or work. I like that I see something new each time I walk, even in a familiar place. Inspiration can be found anywhere if you take the time to notice the beauty around you.
You work with a variety of mediums, including paintings, drawings, and three-dimensional forms. How do these different mediums help you express the nuances of your relationship with your body and your surroundings?
I am drawn to materials that require the use of my body in some way. Drawing connects the eye, hand, mind, and the subject of the drawing. It forces me to slow down and look closely. Paper cutting also requires looking closely and attention to detail. When I paint, I use my hands instead of a brush. The movement is looser, creating a different energy. Wire allows me to draw in three dimensions, bringing forms off the page and into the viewer’s space.
What is the hardest part about being a visual artist and how do you overcome that?
Since I make artwork that is not easily definable, like painting landscapes or making sculptures, I find explaining my work to be difficult. Also, there is a pressure to make work that others will want to buy. I try to make work that I feel I need to make rather than making work to please others.
How do you envision your art evolving in the future, and what new concepts do you hope to explore in your upcoming work?
I’m planning to explore different places and climates to see how that might change the forms of my work. I also want to bring more color to my work.
How do you measure success as a visual artist?
That is a difficult question that I am still deciding. Right now success for me is making work that I need to make and being able to share that with others.
What message would you like to share to emerging artists based on your experience?
Know your WHY and use that to guide you. There are so many distractions and people telling you what to do. If you understand the purpose of what you do, that can guide you forward.
