When I visited Lorrie Fredette’s studio last April up in Saugerties, NY her work was done and she was getting ready to pack, deliver and install her show at the Cape Cod Museum of Art. She was gracious enough to let me poke around to see what was still “hanging” around. I plan to revisit when her next body of work is in progress.
“My sculptures and drawings are inspired by medical and environmental news stories pulled from today’s headlines and historical sources. Upon choosing an area of focus, such as the swine, avian and Spanish flus, or the increased incidence of poison ivy with the growth of greenhouse gases, I set upon a rigorous course of research, gathering images which I then alter, vet and reject through an elaborate system designed to completely subvert and distort any likeness to the original source”
I think it so interesting that her work is done in this studio but once it is installed the essence of the work is revealed. The work refers to viruses yet the light, luminosity, shadows, and the odd beauty draws you in.
You can read a review about Lorrie’s current show at the Cape Cod Museum of Art at
Lorrie contributed to some of my captions so hers are in quotes.
Come on in!
“This image shows one of my work spaces. It is where I do most of my painting. To the left is my drawing table and right behind the chair is a stack of my favorite books. The piece on the wall above the empty work table is headed to the Cape Cod Museum of Art for their auction. It is titled “Bundled.”
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“Well, this is messy! I have some boxes for teaching in the foreground, stacks of material plus another piece in progress, “Atmospheric Causes (4)”. Looks like I need to clean up some more!”
“This is standing at my door looking straight across the studio. Against the exterior wall (where the two small windows are) there are is a large element on a box from “A Pattern of Connections” and a wooden frame wrapped with plastic suspending “Atmospheric Causes (2)” The boxes behind Atmospheric Causes have many other pieces and in the upper left corner is a piece in the making”.
Some of Lorrie’s favorite books…….Kiki, Lee and of course Eva.
This was made by artist, Barbara Ellmann. It is a birthday garland made from recycled candy wrappers, felt and beads. I looked at it as personalized prayer flags before Lorrie told me what it was. It is a festive string of color in her studio.
favorite inspiring objects
Her Japanese hole puncher
which is her favorite tool,
that helps to create these wonderful works on paper.
Peeking in her files we found a torn up drawing and a waxed fabric piece.
I laughed when I saw Lorrie’s heat gun. These guns are usually covered in wax that is if you use them. Lorrie recently told me that the heat gun was packed away now.
She dips her forms in wax baths and that is how the fusing is taking place.
“A box filled with elements that I am testing new materials like handmade paper, shellac.”
Atmospheric Causes 2 in a case
“This is the underside of a wall piece. The long, thin black lines are entomology pins that have pierced the unit. The piercing was done by artist Jill Parisi in our collaborative, Field Notes.”
“This is a box of “samples”. I keep all of my tests and attempts to remind me how I made something to show when I teach.”
“One of the “Tubes” pieces”
“Up close and personal with the surface of a tube”
“Box-o-tubes. (Not a box of tuba’s).”
“Packed pods for CCMA!”
Packed and ready to be delivered to the Cape Cod Museum
The installation of the The Great Silence is up from June 11 – September 25at the Cape Cod Museum of Art
