It has been said that, “Without risk, there is no art.” We had a Springtime visitor this year who flew in from afar, to help LFNY students stretch their risk-taking muscles. Despite the fact that days earlier, the renowned French Sculptor Brigitte Nahon, had hyperextended a torso muscle of her own, she got on board her long flight from Tel Aviv to New York City, took a deep breath, donned a smile and conducted our very successful LFNY Spring 2013 Artist In Residence Week. Pascale Richard organized this special program and our honored guest Brigitte, worked very hard with all of our 6eme art students during this very unique and productive week of risk-taking.
Brigitte Nahon and Pascale Richard.
The results were impressive. At the closing exhibit, I walked around in awe, viewing the 6eme sculptures that featured the fruits of our young Artists’ labor. Ms. Nahon had guided these eleven year olds in creating 3-D sculptures from random “Found Objects”, including paper, string, cups, bottles, cloth, wood, plates, chord etc. It quickly became evident to me and my fellow exhibit-goers, that with her expert guidance, Brigitte had helped these artists find not only their objects, but their ‘Inner Risk Takers’, as they crafter these compelling art works.
The common themes for all 8 art pieces were “Links and Balance”. Parents, students and staff attended the exhibit and circulated from sculpture to sculpture that Friday afternoon. Everyone agreed that viewing the terrific variety of project results was like experiencing a “Visual Buffet” in our cafeteria! Each composition was unique in flavor, size, spirit, form and materials. The contrast was striking. The only common ingredients in each item were the two themes and the one element holding them all together: Gravity!
Not a trace of tape, nails or any type of artificial adhesive could be found in the intricately balanced and linked art pieces. This natural gravity was the only ‘adhesive’ in evidence. Judging from the participants’ enthusiasm at that closing exhibit, these artists had been as stimulated by Brigitte’s design challenge as they were artistically empowered by the results of their artistic risk-taking. In my opinion, that’s what art is all about!
The LFNY extends its sincere thanks to our Spring 2013 Artist in Residence, Brigitte Nahon, who despite her own aching muscles, lovingly guided our 6eme students on this artistic risk-taking adventure! Brava Brigitte!
About the Author :
Tim is a native New Englander who received his Bachelors Degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He has attended the British Institute of Paris and Parsons School of Design (The New School) in Manhattan. His teaching experience includes The Lab School, P.S. 123, The High School of Art and Design and The United Nations International School, all in New York City. He joined the LFNY staff in 2003.