Photo by F. Alfredo Rego
Leslie Rego, “Beaver Wetlands, Late Summer,” 2015, 24” x 40”, silk tapestry with dye, paint and thread embroidery.
Praising ‘Natural Elegance’ Lipton Fine Arts to feature Leslie Rego
BY YANNA LANTZ
L
eslie Rego, an award-winning and internationally recognized fiber artist, will premiere a new exhibition at Lipton Fine Arts from Dec. 19 through Feb. 27. Titled “Natural Elegance,” the exhibition explores Idaho’s grandeur through texture, depth, light and color. The artist will be in attendance for Gallery Walk in Ketchum on Tuesday, Dec. 29, from 5-8:30 p.m. at Lipton Fine Arts. “The talent and creative ingenuity that Leslie presents in her fiber art is mesmerizing,” said Lipton Fine Arts owner Gary Lipton. “Leslie’s art conveys a passion for nature as much as it does for her creative process, which is a gift and talent only Leslie can do.” Growing up in Pittsburgh, Pa., Rego “was always making things.” “I liked the act of creating
something from nothing,” Rego beamed. When she moved to the Wood River Valley in 1988, the artist fell in love with nature. Rego often finds inspiration for her pieces while out hiking or exploring the environment. She takes in how the light plays on the mountain or on the plants and lets those images percolate, then will sketch what she sees. “The genesis of every piece starts in a sketch,” Rego said. Her sketches will be included in Lipton’s new exhibition, along with her textile pieces that feature hand-dyed fabrics. Once Rego’s vision is mapped out through sketches, she begins to dye her fabric. Rego likes to use a variety of different silks, because each one takes the dye differently and also reflects the light differently. Each piece of silk goes through four or five dye processes to achieve the de-
Photo by F. Alfredo Rego
Leslie Rego puts the finishing touches on “Flower Vignettes I-IX.”
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Photo by F. Alfredo Rego
Leslie Rego prepares “A Hint of Spring” for stitching.
sired depth in the fabric. The artist then uses a combination of screen-printing, drawing transfers, hand-painting or stitching to endow each piece with the precise detail. “The more I hike, the more I realize that nature is really messy – a chaotic scene where everything is blooming and crisscrossing and light is bouncing...I try to bring that into each piece,” Rego explained. “But at the same time, there has to be structure and harmony. I play the two off each other.” Unconventional color combinations find harmony, as well as severe contrasts in imagery. Many of Rego’s works
showcase flowers in full bloom and blossoms past their prime within the same frame.
The talent and creative ingenuity that Leslie presents in her fiber art is mesmerizing.” Gary Lipton Gallery owner
“The not letting go, the hanging on, the last thrust of life is so heroic and romantic to me,” she said. “I like to contrast that with new growth in the same piece, so you can also see new buds just coming out.” Rego enjoys exploring the
p u b l i s h e d b y T h e W e e k ly S u n • t h e w e e k ly s u n .c o m •
transitions between seasons and sees these times as metaphors for human life. “Here, the seasons are relatively short – the height of summer is maybe about a month, winter is longer, but we ease into and out of each season for a very long time,” Rego elaborated. “It’s the same for our life; we are not suddenly an adult; we are not suddenly old. The transitions are long and complicated.” For more information on “Natural Elegance” call Gary Lipton at 248-561-5120. Lipton Fine Arts is located at 411 N. Leadville Ave., Ste. 3, Ketchum. For more about the artist visit leslierego.com. tws
december 23, 2015
Lipton fine arts Selected Inventory
Picasso drawing, “The Circus,” Pencil on Paper, 1970
Marc Chagal, “Romeo & Juliet,” 1964
Jean Dubuffett #1 of 8, “Carrot Nose,” 1962
Alexander Calder, “Sun,” Gouache, 1968
LIPTON FINE ARTS Gary Lipton: 248.561.5120 liptonfinearts.com
Navaho Indian Blanket, 1870s
Open Fri & Sat. 11:30AM-4PM Gallery walks 5PM-9PM 411 N. Leadville, Ketchum
(next to Coffee Grinder)
p u b l i s h e d b y T h e W e e k ly S u n • t h e w e e k ly s u n .c o m •
december 23, 2015
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Lipton fine arts Selected Inventory
Saul Steinberg, “Sisters,” Mixed Media on Canvas, 1967 New Hampshire Dunlap School Highboy, Signed, 1790s
Alex Katz, “Canoe,” Oil on Panel, 1975 Fernand Leger, 1949
Arapahoe Dress, 1875
We
Sam Frances, “Bein,” Gouache, 1961
buy and sell investment qualit y art work .
A lways
ask your
L ipton provides an 80% buy back guarantee on W ood R iver art dealer for a buy back guarantee . LIPTON FINE ARTS Gary Lipton: 248.561.5120 liptonfinearts.com
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our owned inventory .
Open Fri & Sat. 11:30AM-4PM Gallery walks 5PM-9PM 411 N. Leadville, Ketchum
(next to Coffee Grinder)
p u b l i s h e d b y T h e W e e k ly S u n • t h e w e e k ly s u n .c o m •
december 23, 2015