Two Years Later

Street Diamonds and Dirt

2 YEARS LATER To my surprise I have not sent an email in over 2 years. So I thought I would take the opportunity to catch you up on everything that has been going on. But let's throw it in reverse. Starting with… The Philosophical Research Society is pleased to present STREET DIAMONDS & DIRT  An immersive art installation by Lucien Shapiro  Co-curated by Jessica Hundley Presented by The Library of Esoterica On view July 6 – 13 in Los Angeles   Creating potent alchemical transformations through found objects, textures, cast forms, manipulations, and raw substances, artist Lucien Shapiro brings a cathartic body of work to The Philosophical Research Society July 6 – 13, 2024. Taking over the gallery and as well as creating installations throughout the historic campus (from library to lecture room, courtyard to theater) Shapiro will explore themes of life and death through a weeklong run of art, altars, sound, film and performance. "Treating forgotten objects and memories as treasure," Shapiro explains, "I create a kingdom under which new life is born." Co-curated by Jessica Hundley of TASCHEN's multivolume art book series The Library of Esoterica (where Shapiro's work has been prominently featured), the show will feature an artist talk and screening of Shapiro's experimental film work on Wednesday, July 10, and a final closing ceremony on July 13, with sonic meditations by Gaslamp Killer, Liberate Elemental Forces and Daniel Paul Schubert. The evening will culminate in the PRS library with "Ring My Bell", an audience participatory performance by Shapiro in collaboration with ambient composer Deadly Currents.   Lucien Shapiro Artist Statement "The most important themes I draw upon in my art practice are transformation, repetition, meditation, and growth. In a world of rapid climate change, by utilizing materials most would discard, I create a raw conversation between treasure and trash. I typically use materials like bottle caps and 'street diamonds' (glass from vandalized cars I sweep off the street), thereby transforming them into something new and hopeful. Through laborious and meditative repetition, I examine how small individual elements, though often overlooked, can come together to create a powerful and transformative whole. By using found and collected materials, I explore ways to reshape and relearn what we are originally taught. There is an inherent duality in my work, namely the contrast of urban materials (which are ephemeral, prescribed, industrial) and an aesthetic of something deeply rooted (poetic, hand-crafted, and eternal). I am interested in dissecting every element that creates the human I am today. This goes back through generations of family trauma, education, parenting, and guidance. Through creation I have the opportunity to tear all of this down and rebuild it over and over again. This is why my work concentrates on objects of intention, like self portraits, portals, protection walls, and earth spells. These forms echo a language that lives in my experiences of deep self work, experimentation and travel. This fluidity of thought and purpose informs all of my work and currently I'm primarily focusing on the evolution of my inner Self. I am laying bare and opening up to whatever the future may bring. In this way, my work is now more transparent and a symbol of my growth as an artist and as a human." //lucienshapiro.com RSVP to all 3 events here 6 months in Asia After living in Indonesia, we visited my wife's motherland, China. We explored some of the most interesting routes in the mountains of southwestern China, before ending at the silk farm where Ziran (my wife's clothing brand) works closely with the farmers and makers of this amazing silk she uses to make her clothing. I collected discarded objects from the farm to make a mask and we had some fun shooting in the nearby city. Images and videos of this project coming soon. While You Praise the Butterfly Don't Disrespect the Caterpillar Solo show at the Roswell Museum. RAIR Foundation Residency Recipient Me and my family were fortunate enough to receive a year long residency in Roswell, New Mexico. A home, a studio, and time. It was a great experience and we met some life long friends. We created and learned how to become parents here. We can't thank RAiR enough. The Rest Of It Well we had a lot of events and a lot of experiences. But mostly we made a family. Since my daughter's birth I have been putting as much time in as possible to be a present father and husband. The work is still flowing but don't expect too many emails to come shooting out of these wrists and finger tips. This one took me damn near 3 hrs to make. Signing off, your Tech Lord Extraordinaire! Please let me know if you would like to preview any of the works made recently. Thank You, for without you I would not still be able to create for a living. Copyright (C) 2024 Lucien Shapiro. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Lucien Shapiro 701 S Mount Shasta Blvd Mount Shasta, CA 96067-2568 USA Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe