Editor's Pick: Something rich and strange

In artist John Lawson’s hands, Katrina’s devastation suffers a sea change

WHEN: Saturday, June 28 through, Sunday, August 3. Artist talk on June 28 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.; opening reception from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Gallery hours Wednesday through Saturday from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m., Sunday 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. or by appointment.

WHERE: Catskill Art Society Arts Center, Livingston Manor, NY.

COST: Free.

CONTACT: catskillartsociety.org or 845/436-4227.

LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY — The theme of the upcoming exhibit at the CAS Arts Center has a special resonance for our own area. Titled “After the Flood,” the solo exhibition of work by artist John K. Lawson will feature selected works from four different mixed media series: Flood Line, Tempest, Fragile and Constellations. The first two series incorporate the remains of Lawson’s studio in New Orleans that was underwater for over six weeks, due to Hurricane Katrina.

Flood Line comprises personal photographs that were submerged in the flood and then salvaged by carefully peeling them apart and air-drying them. Lawson then mounted them on panels, encased them in hot wax, and laid a curtain of recycled Mardi Gras beads over top to resemble the water level. Tempest consists of nine three-foot by three-foot panels covered with salvaged, flood-damaged sketches traced over with ink before preserving them with a skin of hot wax.

The two other series are Fragile, which depicts Lawsons explorations with photography, and Constellations, in which Lawson uses his recycled Mardi Gras beads to celebrate the heritage and joie de vivre of New Orleans.

Lawson will give a talk on the exhibition from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., followed by an opening reception to 7:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

Lawson was born in Birmingham, England in 1962. He first came to America on a student exchange program in engineering at Louisiana State University. There his artistic abilities were encouraged and eventually, Lawson was drawn back to the Deep South where he soon became part of an underground art culture in New Orleans that included working in tattoo, T-shirt and mural designs long before these mediums became mainstream. Lawson also became known for his unique drawing style and creations using discarded Mardi Gras beads. Since Hurricane Katrina, Lawson divides his time between studios in New York City and Great Barrington, MA. For more information visit lawsonworks.com.