Visual Perspectives
Art
World for the
Saving Mother Nature
By Olivia Manthe y and Jordan Stag gs Ar twork by Heather Freitas
A
rt is such an arbitrary creature; there is no definition of what it is or how it should be created. Phoenix-based mixed-media master Heather Freitas has taken her idea of art and run with it! Not only does she have a distinctive way of portraying the world as she perceives it, but she is also doing good by helping the environment at the same time. For every painting she sells, she donates ten dollars to the nonprofit One Tree Planted, which in turn plants a tree for every dollar they receive. It’s always a joy to witness people using their talents for good and not just for self-seeking endeavors. In just about every piece of Heather’s art is some aspect of found or recycled objects. It seems she can do just about anything as she uses sequins, ripped paper, tabs from soda cans, and other items to create interest and texture along with her layers of paint and ink. “When you bring in elements that can’t be reproduced or torn exactly the same ever again, a moment in time is created that can never be re-created,” she says. Also in keeping with her environmentalist efforts, many of Heather’s pieces, starting in 2016–2017, depict endangered animals or have a message of conservation attached. “In 2017, I was awarded my second solo exhibition, and I decided I wanted to focus on documenting all the species in Arizona that were currently endangered or threatened,” she explains. “That was a big turning point not only in my career but also in my life. I thought maybe if I could paint all of these species and hang 62 | SE P T E MBE R 2019
