L.A.Fairbanks | Studio 314
“Flight of Narrows”
Excerpt, Photo Inlay
20.5x19x2.5
"Untitled"
Monoprint
15x22 |
Bio
L. A. Fairbanks was born in the rural countryside of Colfax, Washington, moving to the Walla Walla Valley when she was ten. She identified early in life with the rolling fields of wheat, trees, rivers, creeks, chickens, cows, flowers and vegetable gardens—instilling within her a strong sense of place. "I consider southeastern Washington my home, the Blue Mountains my backyard and the Columbia River my favorite neighbor."
She received a Bachelor's of Science degree in Environmental Studies from Utah State University, studying Soil Science, Geology, Geography, Plant/Tree Taxonomy, Rangeland Management, Biology, Chemistry…to name a few. She created her own degree in nature writing with minor emphases in Biology and English. "I'd heard a lot of science people don't know how to write and a lot of writers don't know science, so I decided to combine the two." She worked for two years in a soil science lab, complete with geeky latex gloves, safety glasses and a lab coat. Other jobs have included jewelry making and polishing as well as publishing a few essays here and there.
Now she is jumping with both feet into full exploration of the visual world and its translations. "Images of color and form, texture and lines flash across my brainpan on a continual basis. Sometimes I get a chance to write it down; sometimes I just step back and let it flow." |
“Liftoff”
Monoprint
11x15 |
Statement
My art has evolved to incorporate the essence and science of the natural world with my love of language, expression, and spirit. Reflected within titles such as "The Uncertainty Principle," "Walden," "Algael Rhythms," and "The Ostensible Lightness of Being."
Last summer I worked extensively with steel, shaping and carving with an angle grinder while playing with various acids and bases in the tinting process. In the fall I had a show of photographs, taken mostly of rusted metal barrels while perusing local junkyards for materials. The photos were inlaid within handmade frames that I then carved or textured to bring a three dimensional aspect. February's show combined carved metal (aluminum this time) with a continuation of the abstracted photographs mounted on top. We'll see where I end up next! Returning to Walla Walla has been a holistic journey for me, exploring the depth of what it means to call this place home; to convey the specificity and tangibility of place; to engage in my community and be an active citizen. This endeavor consistently pulls my attention to all that is worn and abandoned, landscapes of life discarded and neglected. I wonder about them, about the stories they could tell if they had a voice. It is in these stories I am interested, connectors of generations past speaking to the future. Deeply weaving the continuity of existence to the ethereal subtleties of now. |
“Picasso: Le Visage de la Femme”
Photograph/Aluminum
20x10.5 |
“Summer Rain”
Photograph/Aluminum
20x14 |
“Murder and a Green Dress”
Photograph/Aluminum
20x11 |
Events
Indelible, Photographs by L. A. Fairbanks
Colville St. Patisserie, Walla Walla | February 1- March 31, 08
Women for Peace, a live music event Friday, March 28th, 2008 from 6-8pm at the Colville Street Patisserie. Acoustic performer Hatti Moss will be accompanied by Samala Coffey as part of the March of Peace events. Also featuring Women for Women International, an organization that seeks to empower women survivors of war through job skills training, rights awareness and leadership education, and business development support. To find out more, see their website at www.womenforwomen.org/programs.htm and come to this event! |
Links
March of Peace
Crow's Shadow Monothon
Discover Magazine
The New Yorker
Contact
Studio 314
Elliott House
314 E. Poplar
Walla Walla, WA. 99362
E-mail: summerofdiscontent@gmail.com |
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