“One by One” Monoprints and Variable Editions by Lisa Barsumian
Lisa Barsumian returns to The Cooley Gallery for “One by One,” an exhibition and sale of monotypes and variable editions on view from July 16th through August 13th. In this exhibition the gallery introduces over thirty-five brand new works by the Paris based ex-patriot artist Barsumian. While all artists describe themselves as “observers,” Lisa focuses on a subject and renders it without a context, portraying its essence. Whether in paint or print, Lisa is inclined to focus on an aspect of her subject and compose it down to a harmonious minimum, a place where positive and negative cheerfully coexist. For this exhibition Lisa chose familiar, everyday subjects: a lawn chair, a pomegranate or a cat walking through shadows. The prints are clean and simple with only one subject represented in the course of one print. Individual prints in “One by One” are the result of an elaborate process. The concept begins with the discipline of drawing. The drawing is etched with a steel point onto a copper plate which is then inked. A water-soaked rag paper (where the image will print) is laid on top of the plate and then a piece of felt covers this printing sandwich. The whole thing is run through a press and with it goes illusion of control for the artist. Atmospheric conditions, paper irregularities and the mood of the press are only some of the unknowns artists surrender themselves to in the monoprinting process. There’s no erasing or painting over the plate. If the final image is not satisfactory the plate is discarded or reworked but, typically, the whole process begins again.
