C. Emerson Fine Arts :: Lee Lee :: Reap October 2

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Lee Lee Reap: The Environmental Unsustainability of the American Food Machine October 2 - November 21, 2009

Lee Lee, Rain Oil Refinery,watercolor, conte & oil on unstretched canvas - detail , 2009

Lee Lee, ICBM Silo, acryllic on canvas , 2009

Lee Lee, Ghost Slaughterhouse, watercolor, pencil & tar on shotgunned collage, 24" x 30", 2009.

What does it look like to have a tree scream out in desperation? In October, C Emerson Fine Arts in St Petersburg, FL will exhibit paintings created by Lee Lee which are driven by concerns about our nourishment, as well as a fear for the resulting degradation of the environment.

Oil makes up the foundation of the American food machine. Our reliance on fossil fuels in food production is immense. Not only are they used extensively in farming and transportation, they are also the catalyst which fixes ammonium nitrate to make chemical fertilizers. Dominating this installation are paintings depicting an oil refinery in the rain. The size emphasizes our reliance on oil, while the execution questions the effects of fossil fuels on the cleanliness of our natural resources through paint stains dripping into the water.

Flying above Midwestern plains, the crop circles and grids of industrial farms are an imposition on ancient grasslands. The only remaining natural elements are the occasional rivers whose fingers branch up into the geometric landscape. The Crop series consists of dormant fields under a light dusting of snow to reflect how our process of conventional farming is leaching nutrients from the earth while filling our waterways with poisons, which will ultimately cause infertility in our land. Pairing the Crop landscapes with interiors of an abandoned Intercontinental Ballistic Missile silo illustrates a direct link between our systematic food production and war. After WWII, the US Agriculture department encouraged farmers to spread ammonium nitrate, leftover from bomb construction, onto their fields as fertilizer. Today we are deeply entrenched in a war in an attempt to feed our oil habit, which in turn sustains the industrial food machine. It is disturbing that our "nourishment" is born out of war and continues to manifest such destruction to this day.

Continuing down the path of food production, a series of watercolors manifests the haunted spaces of an abandoned slaughterhouse. The energy it takes to raise meat takes up the bulk of grain that we produce. In his book, Anger, Thich Nhat Hanh describes how traces of energy are absorbed through consumption. For example, if an animal leads a miserable life, then we absorb that misery when we take their meat into our bodies. This series is complimented by a set of roadkill drawings which serve as a poignant reflection of our attitude towards animal life; these wild animals lay as part of our refuse, disregarded as we speed along the highways of our own lives.

Both nitrate and carbon emissions from America's conventional food machine make a huge contribution to climate change. One of the most visually striking symptoms is emerging as a new virus found in aspen trees. The red gashes in the thin skin-like bark of the trees appear as flesh wounds. More than a literal illustration of a shifting environment, the corporeal appearance of the trees make a connection to our own bodies. As our health is intricately connected to the health of the environment, the violence conveyed through the process of using a shotgun in this series reflects the violence we are wreaking on ourselves.

The built structures portrayed here are in various states of decay; a return to nature. This represents the beginning of a shift in attitude of many Americans who are concerned about the adverse effects of the way we produce and consume food. Despite the prevailing theme of environmental demise in this body of work, we can hardly destroy the environment. Ultimately the world will survive; the question is whether or not humans will be around to enjoy it. The survival of humanity will be determined by the attitudes and approaches we take towards interacting with the environment now.

Lee Lee, Rabbit Roadkill, pencil & tar on paper - detail , 2009

Bio

From the intensity of the effects of war, to the calm of a gentle embrace, Lee Lee explores the diverse conditions of our world. Time spent in over 40 countries has led her to develop a wide range of painting styles by constantly experimenting with new techniques, materials and aesthetics which she appropriates to particular subjects. She attained a BFA in Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design and has exhibited internationally. Recent projects include curating an exhibit on genocide for the Mizel Museum which grew into the opportunity to create an installation for the International Conference of Genocide Scholars in Sarajevo, receiving residency awards to the Vermont Studio Center and the Ragdale Foundation, and the inclusion in a poignant environmental themed exhibit, Extinction, at the Denver Botanic Gardens. C Emerson Fine Arts has exhibited Lee Lee in several group shows including Spirituality & Materialism, React and The Human Condition. This new work was inspired by her first year of motherhood.

Resume

Select Media

9.09: Publication of Preservatives in The Tampa Review

1.09: Publication of works about war in CALYX - A Journal of Art & Literature by Women.

4.8.08: Eight artists offer 'React,' an eclectic show at C. Emerson Fine Arts, by Lennie Bennett, St Petersburg Times
11.22.07: Art Questions if Spirit Matters, by Susan KingSt. Petersburg Times
10.31.07: Living & Worshipping in a Material World, by Megan Voeller, Creative Loafing

10.07: Myanmar - Five Magazine

4.07: On the Subject of Genocide, by Bonnie Ganglehoff - SouthwestArt Magazine
4.07: Reflections of Reality, by Julie Dugdale - 5280 Magazine

5.4.07: Sudan 's faces of suffering, by Erika Gonzalez - The Rocky Mountain News Spotlight
2.07: The Human Element - An Interview with Lee Lee, by Ian MacKenzie - Brave New Traveler

28.1.07: Art exhibit a testament to triumphs of survivors, by Cindy Rodriguez - The Denver Post
1.07 : Eyewitness Reports, by Susan Froyd - Westword

5.06: Poetry and art speak to each other, by Kyle MacMillan - The Denver Post
4.06 The Making of Dust, by Michael Paglia - Westword

5.06: The Dead Weight of Complacency; book & exhibition panels published by the Mizel Musem, Denver

1.06: Publication of Cambodian works in CALYX - A Journal of Art & Literature by Women.

12.05: 5280 Magazine - paintings featured in the environments created by Denver designer, Laurel Quint.

6.05: The Art of Recycled Trash: Appealing pieces with a political point, by Tequila Minsky - Downtown Express, NY

10.10.04: Garden Fete sends summer on its way, by Suzanne Brown - The Denver Post

1.04: Featured on ABC and CBS newscasts regarding my collaboration with the National Breast Cancer Coalition.

11.03: Showcase: American ingenuity ties pieces of history, by Betsy Lehndorff - Rocky Mountain News Spotlight

11.02: From Denver to Africa and Back...A Plea for Understanding, by Patterson Benero - In the Black Magazine

10.01: Interpretations of a War-Torn Country, by Jennie Shortridge, FiberArts - The Magazine of Textiles

12.99: American Artist Lee Lee celebrates Viet Nam's circle of life, VNS, Viet Nam News - The National English Daily.

10.99: Kitchen Duty, by David Wallace - Colorado Home & Lifestyles Magazine

7.95: Making the Art of the Real by Gina Macris - Providence Journal Bulletin

6-8.90: Saigon, a Guidebook, writing and photographing for the first publication of the guide, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Select Solo

10.09: Reap: The Environmental Unsustainability of the American Food Machine – C Emerson Fine Art, St Petersberg FL

12.08: Sacred – DAC, Denver CO
6.07: Weave - Weilworks, Denver CO

8.06: Flow - Kitchens'Ink, 757 Santa Fe, Denver CO.

6.06: Ritual- India, Myanmar & Vietnam. HMK Designs, Denver CO

9.05: Ta Prohm - Weilworks: 2 woman show, Denver CO

8.05: Brand - supporting the Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, Denver CO

8.05: Red - Kitchens'Ink, 757 Santa Fe, Denver CO.

7-8.05: Retrospect - Bas Bleu, Fort Collins CO.

1-2.03: Hawai'i - St Marks, Denver CO

1-2.02: Umbered - supporting the Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, Denver CO

7-8.01: Pieta - Angels with Fire from Havana's Graveyard. St Mark's, Denver CO

6.00: A Humanitarian Journey - Installation to raise awareness of landmines, Bell Harbor Conference Center, Seattle.

1-2.00: Lazy Shamrock Ranch - supporting the Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, Denver CO

12.99: 9 - Site specific installation at the Metropolitan Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

7.98: Women of Ancient Greece - Elizabeth Schlosser Fine Art, Denver CO

Select Group

6-8.09: Looking for Loci – Denver Community Museum, CO & San Francisco Mobile Museum, CA

5-7.09: Extinction: Artists Respond – Denver Botanic Gardens, CO

9.08: The Human Condition - C Emerson Fine Art, St Petersberg, FL

6-7.08: Self Defined: Art of the Self Portrait – Flash Gallery, Belmar CO
6.08: The Cradle Project - Albequerque, NM
4.08: React - C Emerson Fine Art, St Petersberg, FL
11.07: Spirituality & Materialism - C. Emerson Fine Arts, St Petersburg FL
7.07: Cultivating Compassion, site specific installation - International Conference of Genocide Scholars, Sarajevo, Bosnia

1-4.07: 10 “Glocal” Artists Interpret Genocide, the Mizel Museum, Denver, CO

8.06-1.07:Best of Colorado Artists, Denver International Airport

1.07: Colleagues, Weilworks, Denver.

12.06: Wee!, Flash Gallery, Belmar CO

10.06: Arts at Altitude - coinciding with the opening of the Denver Art Museum expansion - Kitchens’Ink, Denver CO

4.06: The Making of Dust - Invitational at Weilworks, Denver, CO

5.06: dog - Saks Galleries, Cherry Creek - Denver, CO

3.06: Tack - Western art at the Grand National Rodeo, San Francisco, CA

8-10.05: "strange", "confrontational", "offensive"...Found Objects Colorado, Denver CO

4-5.05: Art from Detritus - Synagogue for the Arts, New York NY.

2.05: HeartArt - Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver CO

12.04: Support for UNICEF ground work in Rwanda, Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities, CO

11.04: Denver and Africa Working Against AIDS, Museum of Natural History, Denver CO

2.03: Spark Selects - Invitational at Spark Gallery, Denver CO

1-3.02: Corporate Collections 2002 - Republic Plaza, Denver CO

6-8.00 & 01: Nautilus Presents - Crescent Pond Gallery, Block Island, RI

4.98: Women in the Visual Arts - Erector Square Gallery, New Haven, CT

4.98: Works on Paper '98 - San Jacinto College South, Houston TX

3.98: The Faces of Woman - National exhibition sponsored by the Las Vegas Arts Council, NM

2.98: National exhibition at St John's University, Jamaica NY

9.97: 32nd Annual Open Exhibition at the San Bernandino County Museum, CA

3.96: Thesis show at the Woods Gerry Gallery, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI

2.95: Painterly Prints of Mexico - Instituto Allende, Guanajuato Mexico.

Curatorial

3.08: Nomad, International photography, Gallery 420, Denver CO
2-4.07: 10 “Glocal” Artists Interpret Genocide, the Mizel Museum, Denver, CO

1.04: NBCC card release, 5 women supporting the fight against Breast Cancer, Gallery 420, Denver CO

11.03: Hidden in Plain View, Stiles African American Heritage Center, Denver CO.

11.02: Final Breath: A Love Poem, supporting Kenyan families infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Gallery 420, Denver

8.95: These Members of my Family, collaboration with the homeless population of Providence. Exhibited at Brown Universityin the Sarah Doyle Women's Center & in the Central Congregational Church.

Education Received

8.93 - 5.96: Awarded a BFA in painting from the Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI

2-8.02: Study of Lithography and Japanese woodblock printing - Honolulu Academy of the Arts, HI.

1-2.95: Studied monoprint and etching processes at the Instituto Allende, Mexico.

Education Given

7.07: International Conference of Genocide Scholars in Sarajevo – presentation on Genocide & Visual Representation

4.06/6.07: Lectures at the University of Colorado,regarding how my work addresses racial issues & multiculturalism.

2.06-4.07: Rocky Mountain Survivors Center - encouraging visual art expression by survivors of torture, Denver CO

9.05-present: On the board of Working With Artists, photography school in Denver

6-8.01: Visiting Artist in the metal shop at the Spot, an organization to keep kids off the streets, Denver CO

1.94 - 7.95: Organized and maintained drawing program with the homeless population of the Traveler's Aid Society, RI

Awards

2.08: Awarded a residency at the Ragdale Foundation, Il

1.08: Fellowship received for a month long residency at the Vermont Studio Center, VT

5-6.06 & 07: Residency at the Lazy Shamrock Ranch to develop work regarding the effects of global warming in CO.

5.02: Denver Business Journal Family Business Award for Community Service

8.98: Residency at Peche Farguet in the Lot Valley, France.

10.97: Exhibited and received merit award at the Hoyt National Art Show, PA

10.92- 4.93: Received scholarship to train volunteers for community development work in Central and South America.

Visits
Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia, Botswana, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, China, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Peru, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tibet, Trinidad, US, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe...