NYAB Event - Mira Lehr “Arc of Nature”

Mira Lehr “Arc of Nature”

Flomenhaft

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The Flomenhaft Gallery presents Mira Lehr’s newest body of work entitled Arc of Nature. How appropriate is that title? Lehr has always been inspired by nature, its living rather than inanimate presence. She responds to its rhythm and energy as well as to its unspoken mystery. Although certain principles, such as the organization of pictorial space, have at all times been important for Lehr, she seeks a deeper reality by dematerializing nature in search of its essence.

Lehr’s artistic vocabulary is unique. One is drawn to her powerfully organized space that includes the delicate. Inspired by Japanese art she combines subtle tracery of leaves with strong black rhythmical lines of branches and diaphanous veils of color. As a superb colorist her reputation is well deserved.

She had great teachers and mentors, Robert Motherwell, James Brooks, and Hans Hofmann. Of course, she is justly proud to have been one of the 23 chosen by Buckminster Fuller to participate in his “World Game Scenario.” From Fuller, Lehr learned how valuable mankind is and how to try to make the world work for everyone by doing more with less.

If this were all there was to Lehr’s art it would be enough to have justified the important public and private collections that own her artwork. But more exciting is that she has always been a problem solver and works with materials that would baffle others. When certain materials become too easy for her or her work becomes too automatic, she goes on to a new challenge. Early in her career she painted and drew with traditional media such as acrylics, gouache, watercolors, charcoal, etc. She now also creates sculptural installations made with welded steel, marine ropes, wood, cast resins, Halide bulbs, and adds video projections. For both her 2D and 3D works, she often burns and dyes Japanese paper creating layers of color that are unique to her oeuvre. Additionally, she uses ignited gunpowders and fuses for definition, has developed a technique for utilizing incised luan sheets to create large scale woodblocks, and uses copper mesh and netting for monumental wall hangings. She also created the designs for handmade rugs woven in Nepal for Stephanie Odegard. It is very exciting to encounter the way in which Mira Lehr blends her discoveries, and each time she conquers a new process she revels in discovering new worlds.