Loading Video . . .
Sculptural Artist Laurie Lea has created an impressive, large suspended glass fixture that explores the play between light and form in response to several passages of Scripture.
Isaiah 61:1
Judges 7:20
Isaiah 9:2
1 Corinthians 11:24
Isaiah 30:26
Mark 14:3
Isaiah 60:19-20
Exodus 13:21
Psalms 104:2
2 Corinthians 4:6-7
Sacred Light
By
Laurie Lea
Credits:
Curated by:
Michael Markham
2019
9' x 15"
Glass, Resin, LED Lighting, Monofilament
Sculpture
Primary Scripture
Loading primary passage...
Loading Passage Reference...
Share This Art:
For many years my sculpture has explored the relationship between light and form: how light affects form and form affects light, primarily in visual, psychological and symbolic ways. My forms originated with the single human form and slowly evolved over time into simple geometric shapes of circles, spheres and cylinders representing the human condition. The light comes from artificial sources and represents God and the invisible reality underlying appearance. The interaction of light and form gives me a way of examining human existence both in the physical dimension of observable phenomena and in the spiritual (invisible, intangible) dimension. Broken and translucent materials such as glass cover but do not obscure the light, referring to states of fragility, fragmentation, transformation, and redemption.
SACRED LIGHT comprises a body of work consisting of long cylindrical transparent forms covered by broken glass and illuminated from within by white light (LED). Cast from tree forms, these forms are suspended by monofilament so that they slowly move and turn, casting reflections on walls, ceiling and surrounding space. The fusion of broken forms and light is a visual metaphor for hope and redemption. The theme of how our brokenness alliterates and even hides the light of the Father is found throughout the scriptures, even though it leaves with the hope of a light to be captured. From Gideon's pitchers breaking to reveal light, to Mary's alabaster box shattered as a memorial for Christ's death, to the very Eucharist itself, the broken bread and body of Christ, we stare at glimpses of the eternal light we were supposed to reflect. Jesus proclaimed Himself the "Light of the world." The gospel of John says "the Light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot extinguish it;" Isaiah speaks of this Light shining in the darkness and His glory rising on us. Thus, this fusion of light and broken forms is meant to be a picture of Christ in us, the Hope of glory, in both our human frames and in this dark and broken world.
Spark Notes
The Artist's Reflection
Laurie Lea is a New York-based visual artist exploring the integration of light and form (matter) through the media of sculpture, installation and poured works. Her interest in science and the nature of reality has guided her investigation of the intersection of the physical, visible dimension of observable phenomena with the invisible, intangible dimension of quantum physics. In addition to sculpture and poured works, she is creating light-forms to place on the coast of different countries where land meets water and day meets night. She is developing a language of light to express her ideas.
Lea has presented work in galleries, museums and alternative venues in the US and countries around the globe: Canada, Mexico, Sweden, Japan, Africa and Europe. She initiated and wrote the original Public Arts Ordinance for Atlanta, Ga when serving on the city's Fulton County Arts Council.
She is recipient of numerous awards, grants and residencies which include the Georgia Arts Council Purchase Award, grants from The Brooklyn Arts Council; Artists Grants/Artists Space; the New York Council on the Arts; Southern Arts, England and the Arts Council of Great Britain. During her time in England she was awarded a one-person exhibition and Artist Residency at the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, Bournemouth, England. She also won a commission for a sculpture installation at the Walsall Museum & Art Gallery in Walsall, England. She was keynote speaker at the International Symposium of Art and Light at the University of the Creative Arts in Farnham, England. Recently, Lea has been awarded Artists Residencies in Greece and New York City. She has received the Gottlieb Foundation Individual Art Support Grant and was awarded the Professional Artist in Residency at the Pilchuck School of Glass near Seattle, WA.
She is a McDowell Colony Fellow and currently Artist in Residence at the YWCA Brooklyn, in Brooklyn, NY.
Laurie Lea
About the Artist
Laurie Lea
Other Works By
Related Information
Loading Video . . .