January/February Show- Lorraine Glessner

Artspace Liberti is proud to present its first show of 2011, Church Drawings- a solo exhibition featuring the drawings by Lorraine Glessner. This exhibition runs from January 7- February 20, 2011. There will be a reception for the artist on Friday, February 4 from 6:30-9:30PM.

Glessner’s drawings are responses to sound and speech- specifically sermons. She describes the process in the following way:

“I draw in church during the sermons because it helps me hear and retain the words. I also draw in meetings, lectures, etc., whenever and wherever I'm sitting and required to listen as I find I can concentrate better when I'm doing something with my hands.

I usually begin by drawing the first thing I see-a piece of furniture, the shadows in the architecture, the pattern of someone's shirt-and let the drawing take on a life of it's own. Most of the time, the object or pattern I started with isn't recognizable when the drawing is finished. Usually, I only work on these drawings for one sermon and rarely work back into them.”

The majority of the drawings on view were originally created in sketchbooks. For the purposes of this exhibition, these originals have been scanned and printed as an archival ink jet and then hand colored using a ballpoint pen.

Lorraine Glessner received an MFA in Fibers from Temple University, Tyler School of Art, where she is currently an Assistant Professor in the Fibers and Material Studies Department. Lorraine also holds a BS in Textile Design from Philadelphia University and an Associate’s Degree in Computer Graphics from Moore College of Art and Design. Recent awards include two Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Individual Creative Artist Fellowship Grant in Crafts, the Anne K Allison Award, Woodmere Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the Montserrat Award, 301 Gallery, Beverly, Massachusetts. Recent exhibitions include solo shows at Watchung Art Center, Watchung, New Jersey and Cabrini College, Radnor Pennsylvania and group exhibitions at Parlor Gallery, Asbury Park, New Jersey, Artspace, Richmond, Virginia and Clay Scot Gallery, Birmingham, Alabama. Her work is included in the recently released Encaustic With a Textile Sensibility by Daniella Woolf and Encaustic Art: The Complete Guide to Creating Fine Art With Wax by Lissa Rankin. Lorraine lectures, teaches, exhibits her work nationally and maintains a studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. See her complete CV and work at www.lorraineglessner.net

The artists’ reception will be held on February 4th from 6:30-9:30PM at 2424 E York St in Philadelphia between Gaul and Cedar Sts.

While the gallery does not maintain regular viewing hours, visits can be scheduled by appointment. Please e-mail us at artspaceliberti@gmail.com to arrange a visit. Viewing is also possible during Sunday church services between 10:30AM-12:00.

Artspace Liberti is a multi-discipline arts venue organized and maintained by liberti church east.