Alice M. Stern – Livia's Garden

Artist’s Reception/First Tuesday ArtWalk:
* November 1, 5:30 – 7:30

Exhibition Dates:
* November 1 – 29

Alice M. Stern artist statement:

In early spring of 2020, I decided to use the lock down as an opportunity for a Covid Art Residency.

I planned a series of collages, inspired by a room of frescoes from the Villa of Livia at the Palazzo Massimo Museum in Rome, dated second half of the first century BC. The frescoes are magical, unforgettable, and timeless, four walls covered with images of birds, plants, and architectural elements.

To create this series, I printed my photos of Livia’s Garden on fine rice paper, emphasizing details, atmospheric qualities and the juxtaposition of trees, flowers, and animals. Simultaneously, I splashed sheets of textured and smooth Japanese rice paper with acrylic washes in varying degrees of transparency.

The collages were impromptu assemblages in which I deconstructed, restored, and reordered to reflect my visceral experience of the world of Livia. I sanded, ripped, cut, layered, and glued, repeating the process over and over until I uncovered the dream and the imaginary place. Edges are collaged to continue the viewer’s experience from several angles.

To me, the beauty of a series is the interaction among related pieces as small groupings emerge within the complete body of work. Currently, there are 53 collages in this collection: 18x24x2”, 12x12x2”, and 8x8x2”.