Artist Spotlight - Lauren Fensterstock

At my internship, I get a unique (and totally awesome) opportunity assisting artists with their installations. Lauren Fensterstock is one of those artists! I was even able to ask her a couple questions while we were working. Before I get to those, I'll give you a little peek at what she's done in other institutions.

Yes, that's paper.

Yes, it's hand-curled and formed.

Yes, it's amazing.

For the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Lauren Fensterstock did her largest installation ever! It's called "Celebration of Formal Effects, Whether Natural or Artificial" and in it, she's created three separate gardens using ornately quilled, cut, and sculpted black paper. As beautiful as those pictures above are, it's nothing like being there in person, especially when I feel like I've been stuck inside for ages because of the Wisconsin winter. 

Fensterstock has been inspired by victorian art practices (like quilling) and more importantly, nature. She gardens at her home in Maine, and through her garden discovered a connections between natural and fabricated in her garden. She set out to create a "wild, overgrown" garden. When done, her garden looked "natural" yet did not have any plants that were native to Maine. 

In her art, this natural-yet-not look is also employed. The ribbons of paper look like they fit right in with the curling petals and quilled leaves. 

I was only able to get a couple pictures of the one at JMKAC, so here's one of those...

Here's a picture from the arts center for a less instagrammy view of the exhibition currently on view.

jmkac.org

It's on view through August 18th at JMKAC, so check it out!