Shop Maine Craft presents:
Marsh & Stone The Journey Home
A solo exhibition featuring Lee Gordon of Gordo Glass at the Center for Maine Craft in West Gardiner.
Lee Gordon is an award winning, New England-based artist who has been blowing glass since 2008. Lee’s work draws inspiration from the natural environments of his rural hometown, and landscapes visited. Working with hot molten glass, he layers earth-toned colors, patterns, and textures using an abstract painterly technique that brings life to the landscapes that inspire him. The results are unique hand-blown works of art.
In this exhibition Gordon explores two bodies of work: Marsh View and Touchstones representing a look to the past, and a nod to the future. In the first body, the goal was to engage the ethereal beauty of the woods and salt marsh landscapes that once surrounded his childhood home. Recently, this haven of seclusion and serenity was sold, leaving behind a trove of memories and inspirations that he has transformed and translated into these blown glass vessels. “Growing up amidst the lichen covered trees, on the edge of tall salt marsh grasses, I developed a profound connection to the ever-changing vistas of the marshlands. Through this series I endeavor to preserve the beauty and nostalgia of my childhood sanctuary. The intricate patterns and organic forms within each sculpture reflect the rich tapestry of life that thrived within those sacred spaces.”
This series, Gordon refers to as “Marsh View”, is more than just a series of artworks; it is a journey into the depths of memory and emotion, a testament to the enduring power of place and the profound influence it wields over our lives. “As I bid farewell to my childhood home, this series serves as a poignant reminder of the impact that these landscapes have had on my life and artistic journey. Through this series, I seek to preserve the spirit of the marshes and woods that will forever dwell in my heart, inviting my audience to embark on an introspective journey of reflection and discovery.”
The complementary body of work, “Touchstones”, tells a story of Gordon’s path forward. “As I said goodbye to my childhood home and embarked on a new chapter in Southern Maine, I have found myself drawn to the rugged beauty and raw energy of nearby beaches. It is here, among the weathered rocks and endless expanse of sea and sky, that I discover a new source of inspiration for my art.” Inspired by the rugged beauty of coastal living, “Touchstones” celebrates the timeless allure of beaches, stones, and churned treasures washed ashore. Each sculpture in this collection serves as a tactile tribute to the transformative power of nature. Drawing upon the tactile qualities of glass, Gordon’s sculpt forms echo the smooth contours of sea-worn stones and the delicate translucency of sea glass. Through a process of glass sculpting and polishing, he strives to capture the essence of these coastal gems, infusing each piece with a sense of tactile intimacy and natural enchantment.
This second series, “Touchstones” invites viewers to reconnect with the primal elements of earth and water, to trace the ancient rhythms of tide and time through the lens of contemporary craftsmanship. It is a testament to the enduring beauty of the natural world and a reminder of the boundless inspiration that awaits amidst the ever-shifting sands of our lives.
We welcome you to explore this conceptual installation as well as Lee Gordon’s current rotating selection of artwork at the Center for Maine Craft in West Gardiner from June 3 to July 22nd.
Lonie Laffely Ellis is an artist who enjoys working in multiple mediums. Her interests include ceramics, encaustic painting and fiber arts, among others. Her creative hours are spent working out of her home studio in Topsham, Maine. Lonie’s work has been shown in solo and group shows as well as galleries and local businesses. She has participated in several outdoor art festivals, and has received awards and recognition at many juried art events around the state.
Lonie’s art background includes some formal education at local universities, though she attributes most of her knowledge to curiosity, exploration and play.
As a curious artist I am often asking myself“ What if?” I truly enjoy exploring various ways to play with art by incorporating different materials or combining different mediums into my work. This show is a sharing of some of my explorations and new ways I have pushed my use of traditional materials.
Much of my clay work is inspired by the Maine coastline. My ceramic pieces are hand molded or carved giving each a unique form. Once it is completed, it is bisque fired in an electric kiln. Some pieces are then fired a second time outside in a perforated metal container filled with seaweed, leaves, hay, wood shavings and compost. This allows the work to smoke for several hours. The smoke is fused to the bisque surface creating unique and varied effects on the pieces. Other pieces are glazed or hand painted and finished with an encaustic medium.
Encaustic painting has become a favorite method of adding color to my art. Encaustic painting has been around for hundreds of years, often used for funeral portraits in ancient Egypt. The word encaustic comes from the Greek word enkaustiko, which means to “burn in”.
Encaustic paints are made from combining molten beeswax, resin and pigments. The hot wax is applied in layers using a variety of tools and methods. Each layer is fused to the underlying layers with a heat source. This layering process creates depth and a luminous quality to the finished painting. The versatility of this medium encourages exploration. It can be applied very thick to create textures, scraped to reveal underlying colors, carved, etched and embossed. Photos can be transferred to the surface or found objects can be embedded into the painting.
All of the work exhibited was created under the motivation to push myself to think differently about each medium and to challenge myself to solve unconventionally. These works are inspired by my curiosities; It is my hope that you enjoy my out of the box thinking and that it may ask you, yourself, to think “What If?”
