September 24, 2024
When I saw that California artist Julia Lucy had a new exhibition, “Trying to Fit In,” at Wally Workman Gallery in Austin, I immediately made plans to go and see it. I first became impressed with her mixed-media collages during her exhibition at the gallery last year.
This time, Lucy is experimenting with printing layers of plants rather than collaging them all together, and she’s also adding human design elements like polka dots to play off the natural camouflage that animals rely on. Check out her artist talk to find out more.
Here’s Wally Workman’s description of her current show:
“Lucy’s work is at first glance playful. Her nature paintings catch the eye with vibrant colours and exquisite detail, but the underlying messages refer to the problems facing wildlife, their disappearance and the attempts by many to change its course. Animals struggle to find their place in shrinking habitats, whose ecosystems are being solidified by humans. In her work, animals wear costumes and camouflage to hide from humans, to survive as encounters increase with increasing human encroachment. Lucy wants to lighten this dark foreboding and suggest hope for a balance between the natural and man-made world. She creates traditional aquatint etchings, then cuts and collages fine paper into elaborate compositions, completing her works by painting on the collaged surfaces. The result is a visual tableau that closely resembles a 17th century European tapestry, but with a 21st century message.”
There are lots of details to discover in each piece.
Lucy features plants and animals native to her home region of California.
The atmospheric ones are my favorite.
But the fantastical portraits are also fascinating.
It features owls and bats, giving it an Austin vibe.
Which is your favorite?
If you want to see “Trying to Fit In,” get there early. The final day is Sunday, September 29th.
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Digging deeper
Learn about gardening and design with Garden Spark. I host in-person talks by designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners several times a year in Austin. These events are by capacity and sell out quickly, so join the Garden Spark email list to be notified in advance. Click this link to be added. Season 8 will begin in Fall 2024. Stay tuned for more information.
All material is copyright Digging, 2024, by Pam Penick. All rights reserved.
