#IRL Paintings by Lori Slotkin at the Harrison Public Library

Harrison Council for the Arts presents #IRL paintings by Lori Slotklin at the Harrison Public Library, 2 Bruce Avenue, Harrison, NY August 27 to September 29; meet the artist August 29 from 7:00 to 8:45pm.

ARTIST STATEMENT:

I view art making as a form of communication.  I use it to express my ideas and pose questions about the changing world.  The focus in my work is on adolescence and the heavy burden they currently have to survive in the age of technology.  Self identity for these young adults must be achieved in a much less private and careful way than in past decades.  Their lives are lived in the public domain of the internet and for many, that world and the ‘real world’ have blurred lines.

My current body of work revolves around the #irl, which signifies “in real life”.  I was fascinated with this instagram post because what I was seeing was not real life at all.  These young people were tagging themselves with #irl and snap chat filters over their faces or highly distorted images of themselves.  Is that what they consider real life?  Has the internet replaced social interaction to the point where people are not aware of their actual physical bodies verses their image online?  In researching the post internet movement, I’ve come to accept that the world is forever changed by it.

Growing up in an artistic family in California, Lori received her BA in textile design at the University of California, Davis, during which time she spent a year at the University of Leeds, England.  Lori moved to New York City in 1993 to work as a fashion designer.  Always curious and looking for new avenues to create art, Lori studied oil painting and life drawing classes at Spring St. Studios, Pratt University and the School of Visual Arts while working.  She also studied at the SACI institute in Florence Italy for painting and drawing.

The exhibit may be viewed Mondays and Wednesdays 9:30am to 9:00pm; Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays 9:30am to 5:30pm and Sundays 1:00pm to 5:00pm.  For info call the Library 914-835-0324 or see harrisonpl.org.