Influenced by Piet Mondrian, Dale Chihuly, and other abstract artists, Patricia Lipscomb strives to create art that captures life without representing any particular living subject, whether it’s a plant or an animal.
“I especially admire [Chihuly’s] ability to evoke life forms without depicting them,” Lipscomb told the Sun. “My pieces generally elevate matters of form, texture, and color above all else—though at times, there are recognizable themes.”
For her latest exhibition, which is currently on display at Shepard Hall Gallery in Santa Maria, Lipscomb is showcasing a collection of her fiber art—constructed from cotton, acrylic, silk, polyester, and metallic thread. The textured surfaces are mounted onto stretched canvases, she explained. And many of the materials she used were repurposed leftovers.
“All my pieces include some ‘junk’ materials—something literally found by accident or something that would ordinarily have been discarded,” Lipscomb said, “such as leftover bits of fabric, paper or foil wrappers, dryer lint, etc.”
Lipscomb emphasized the deliberate nature of her choice to employ reused materials, describing her intent to explore themes of creation in the exhibition, which runs through Thursday, Jan. 30, at the gallery, located inside the Santa Maria Public Library.
“I want every finished piece to be not merely the result of a creative process but to actually embody creation in a tangible way,” Lipscomb said. “When what would otherwise have been thrown away becomes part of an artwork, then nothing has become something, and that is the essence of creation.”
Although this marks Lipscomb’s first exhibit at Shepard Hall Gallery, the artist’s works have been previously featured at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, Cambria Center for the Arts, and other Central Coast galleries. Outside of California, Lipscomb’s art has also been showcased at the Many Hands Fiber Art Festival in Telluride, Colorado.
Early in childhood, Lipscomb dreamed of becoming an artist someday, she said. But even at a young age, it wasn’t too long before she decided to put her ambition on the back burner, at least temporarily.
“I drew and I painted constantly. I imagined growing up to be an artist,” Lipscomb said. “However, before I was even out of elementary school, I realized that might not be practical. So I ended up studying mathematics.”
Before she knew it, Lipscomb was on her way to a Ph.D. But after teaching university-level math courses for a few years, a feeling of unfulfillment arose, just not in the arts arena quite yet. On a brand new track, Lipscomb decided to enroll in medical school. What followed was a long, satisfying career in psychiatry while also raising her four children, she said.
“With all that, I had little time for artistic pursuits. But I never lost the desire to make art,” Lipscomb said. “When I retired a few years ago, I finally had the time and freedom to pursue those interests.”
It’s easy to see how the artistic freedom Lipscomb was granted might have inspired her to explore themes of creation. The subject—or should I say, thread—also ties in to her position that everyone has the ability to express themselves artistically, even if they’re unaware of it, or within everyday regularities they might not realize.
“I am troubled when I hear people say that they have no artistic ability whatsoever. I think that what they really mean is they can’t draw or paint, but then they generalize and discount all the other ways that they may be expressing themselves creatively,” she said. “By clever turns of phrase when they converse, or by improving recipes when they cook for their families, or by developing a way of putting clothing and accessories together that is unique.”
Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood always appreciates a clever turn of phrase. Reach him at cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Dec 26, 2019 – Jan 2, 2020.
