Issue 13
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Featured Artist
Lou SwanLou's first memories of photography are at age nine with her father and a Kodak instamatic camera.
From early teenage to the present day Lou has always had her camera(s) within easy reach, if not constantly in her grasp, wherever she has been in the world. She has always preferred the inanimate, sited within an environment of light and freedom. Her work has spanned many decades from an early enthusiasm assisting a local news and wedding photographer to the heady heights of her commercial studio shooting catalogues, cars, kitchens and everything in between. All the while collecting and collating ideas and images, and constantly adding to her diverse portfolio. To date she has not exhibited her work. read more about lou. . .
Photography has provided her with a portal allowing the creation and illustration of essential ideas in a sometimes gentle and sometimes shocking manner. She has recently been examining the world of fractals and eternal patterns, potentially for use in clothing, furnishings, paper, glass and metals. In short, everything that can be printed into or on to she aims to print on to or in to or …eventually … An abiding fascination throughout her life has been creating the perfect optical illusion, fooling the eye. This, coupled with a love of shadow, light, dark and texture with her innate recognition of the fragile tactility inherent in the planet's nature has provided her an eternal platform replete with ever changing subjects. Thus Lou delights in using shadow and reflection to explore and manipulate the shapes and textures of specific pieces. Whilst an avid disciple of the Bohemian lifestyle, in short a bit of a party girl, Lou guards her freedoms and solitary spaces almost jealously. Having lived in city, town, village, ocean and remote countryside, Lou now resides happily at seventeen hundred metres above sea level on the sunny side of a Spanish mountain. Nearest neighbors some kilometers away, near enough to call in an emergency and far enough not to be a constant distraction from her life and work. Ideas abound in this, her earth given studio space. Lou and her writer and musician partner glory in their privileged and solitary existence venturing occasionally to the local town for supplies and scuttling home, post haste, after a perceived surfeit of humanity. Safe in the knowledge that the small yet efficient pack of dogs have protected their treasured world of creativity and peace. When asked of her greatest achievements in life Lou will invariably cite her two daughters. Now at thirty-two and twenty-four years of age respectively, they are her life's primary passion. One an artist and entrepreneur in Bristol U.K., the other a blossoming film director at present living and working in the Cayman Islands and soon to be in transit back to Europe. The plan for the future comes in two guises: The burgeoning project of the past couple of years has been Lou's 'The Forest of Dreams'. This is a plan to construct a forest within a forest. A space of natural or 'real' tree growth augmented, interrupted and teased by her own diverse constructs. 'Artificial' trees created in situ to reflect the importance of the natural surroundings and also to generate through the use of up to date eco-technology such as solar and kinetic pathways to generate necessary power to sustain the project also photosynthetic Graphene leaves producing water from the air. This entire scheme is designed to reach out, as would roots and branches, to the local community, thus regenerating a land deserted by the young population due to changes in the global requirement for traditional products and the ever present need to earn money. A plan to build, through art, a refreshed and healthy environment for the future. The slogan "Interesting. Educational. Engaging. Sustainable and Fun" has been mooted. More adjectives to be added by visitors and volunteers as the gig progresses! A self generating, clean water producing, example of how the world could be if only we took the time to look and learn. A space of nigh on zero carbon footprint encouraging the proliferation of indigenous plant species and the re-introduction of lost local assets. This love of the forest has nurtured another project into being: ‘The Battle of the Oaks’; alluding to and demonstrating the majesty of the forest. Lou is looking for space to exhibit. Living amongst the trees over the last 6 years has lured Lou deeper into the clutches of the forest environment. The pure calm within the forest is littered with juxtaposition, the footing, the plants, the boughs and branches all seem intent, individually and collectively, on unfooting the audience, it is chaos. Yet, if approached slowly and quietly, the abundance of what surrounds becomes apparent. Getting close to nature, the scents, textures, sights and sounds. Everything has its place, harmony is created. This project seeks to add impact to the global struggle against the constant destruction of the environment. Lou’s personal footprint upon the planet’s resources has decreased yet further over the last few months as a slight hiccough occurred with the business plan as previously described. Though none of her passion has abated she has had to change tack slightly for the interim. However, a fervent belief in nature still structures all of her work. She has been exhibiting in the local area of Granada where she lives and is receiving very promising reviews and has a solo show booked for the end of Feb 2020. Lou has now found herself a new caretaking project within a valley 1200 meters down the mountain, now at 500 meters above sea level, within an olive grove, abandoned and neglected for many years. The trees are furthering her involvement within the arboricultural field, olives, figs, pears, orange, lemon and peach rather than high and mighty oaks. Their ages and fruits giving light to yet more personalities within their structure, from ancient to young, mirroring and contrasting the ‘dominant’ species, us humans, upon land. Highlighting the natural, shining a light on the necessity of these fruits of nature. The Olive trees give aspiration, encouragement and diversity to and about everyday life. The ancient Fig, a tree that gives, strives for life and will not quit. The delicate peach that grows within a confused and tangled bramble. Lou is continuing to express love, life and progression in tree form! Due to the aspect of her personal landscape changing visually, sunsets and skies now dominate many parts of her images and are building a different colour in her mind’s eye. Less of the prevailing dark twisted forest scape and more of a bright hope capturing the hope of new life in the primordial, yet nurtured gnarled barks and branches of a more open and managed land. In forming these images she is pursuing the original ‘Forest’ but with more vivid colour, a different light and a definite increase in the direction and cause of her work. Another concern that Lou now illuminates is Water, she lived for years with an abundance of free flowing clear mountain spring water. Depressingly this profusion is dying and drying as the climate changes. There is snow but not now in its previous abundance on the southern slopes of the Sierras. Her aim is to change the perception of this omnipresent, and precious life source in visual form. ‘Laundrette’ is another new concept in her images. Posing yet more questions … “Why have your own? There is life, community, clear and clean, Without your own washing machine!’ As always, the ideas and images abound. Situation normal! Less provision and access to produce her art has it’s ups and downs but she is never and will never be deterred! |
On Memory
JK Anowe explores the intersection of memory on public and private history. Walk with him on this rhythmically complex journey. Read JK's poem "A Musical Malady" and his commentary here.
—Christine Taylor, EIC |
The Gallery
Anniversary Special
In honor of our first anniversary, we bring you this feature of sparks! Stand strong. . .
MY GRANDMOTHERS TELL ME TO STOP CRYING by Cleo
RELAPSE by Shannon Frost Greenstein MAYBE ONE DAY WE WILL BE LIONS by J. B. Stone |