Owego, N.Y. — One focuses her art on nature. Another, at the tender age of four, creates her art because, “Everyone wants art and I need to make art for them.” Both artists’ works are Tioga Arts Council’s (TAC) featured solo exhibitions for August with opening night at 5:00 p.m., Friday, August 5, at the Arts Council, 179 Front St., Owego.
“Reflections from the Pond” from artist Sonji Lee focuses on a connection to nature, and the deep love and respect she feels for it. In a statement provided by TAC, Lee explains her art process and the reasons she chooses to create her art the way she does.“I also utilize many repurposed and reclaimed finds in my art: from rusty old metal found in old ‘dumps’ to family heirlooms, antique cut nails, sawblades, copper, old tools, and many other items that are gifted to me or that I find on my excursions. The undying respect of the land is of the utmost importance as I reclaim the natural objects in my art. Many of the gifts of nature and the repurposed objects that I use are collected on my daily hikes around this beautiful property. I hope that my art will inspire others to seek answers through a deep, compassionate, and loving relationship with nature.”
Lee’s work will be on display in TAC’s Main Gallery.
August’s Youth Exhibition “Jubilation” features the work of four-year-old Luciana “Chi Chi” Jubilee Di Stefano. Luciana loves to draw, with a strong interest in drawing faces and her family. Her biggest artist inspirations are Frida Kahlo, Judith Scott, Coco Chanel, Gustav Klimt, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Of Judith Scott, she says, ‘I love that her sister brought her to an art school.” Luciana has dreams of becoming a doctor, a dancer, and an artist one day. She says making art for others is her favorite thing.
Di Stefano’s work will be on display in the Youth Gallery.
Following opening night, both Lee and Di Stefano’s exhibitions will be open to the public from noon to 4:00 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays, August 6 through August 30.
