Michelle Levante
Primary Medium: Photography
n/a
Website: http://www.michellelevante.com
Artist Statement
Body of Trees is a series of paired photographic images meant to be viewed as large size prints displayed one on top of another. One photo shows the phenomena of trees healing around an intrusive object. The other image is of both male and female bodies, each interacting with a similar rusted object as the tree images. Juxtaposed they create a sensual display of pain and violence; while also retaining a sense of healing and beauty. To become and consume another even at the price of potential pain and destruction is part of the perverse relationship we have with nature. Our urban environment was created as a hostile reaction to nature, an effort to control and confine what humans saw as something that impeded our progress. A few years, or even months without our intervention, nature takes back what rightly belongs to it, namely us and all we created. In this tension, there is the possibility of a symbiotic relationship, a perverse new beauty.
n/a
Website: http://www.michellelevante.com
Artist Statement
Body of Trees is a series of paired photographic images meant to be viewed as large size prints displayed one on top of another. One photo shows the phenomena of trees healing around an intrusive object. The other image is of both male and female bodies, each interacting with a similar rusted object as the tree images. Juxtaposed they create a sensual display of pain and violence; while also retaining a sense of healing and beauty. To become and consume another even at the price of potential pain and destruction is part of the perverse relationship we have with nature. Our urban environment was created as a hostile reaction to nature, an effort to control and confine what humans saw as something that impeded our progress. A few years, or even months without our intervention, nature takes back what rightly belongs to it, namely us and all we created. In this tension, there is the possibility of a symbiotic relationship, a perverse new beauty.
Selected Works
|  Body of Trees 15 - 2008 - Paired digital photographic print - 24" x 78"  Body of Trees 14 - 2008 - Paired digital photographic print - 50" x 36"  Body of Trees 20 - 2008 - Paired digital photographic print - 50" x 36"  Body of Trees 02 - 2008 - Paired digital photographic print - 50" x 36"  Body of Trees 17 - 2008 - Paired digital photographic print - 50" x 36"  Body of Trees 03 - 2008 - Paired digital photographic print - 24" x 78"  Body of Trees 19 - 2008 - Paired digital photographic print - 50" x 36"  Body of Trees 18 - 2008 - Paired digital photographic print - 24" x 78" |
Artist Bio
Exhibitions / Shows / Residencies
2008-Future
Summer 2009- Seton Hall Gallery, Microscopic Love, Lilliput Show
May 2009 – Erpf Cultural Institute Gallery, Bodies of Dirt, Group Show
October 2008- One-week residency with The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development-Erpf Cultural Institute
July – August 2008 Exit Art, NY, NY It's Not Easy Group Show
July 2008 Screening for Storefront Films, Aferro Gallery “Garden Fate” time-lapse film, Newark NJ
March 27-May 7th 2008: Victory Hall Cultural Center Show “Only Natural” Jersey City, NJ
2007-2006
Oct 30th 2007 One night installation at Galapagos Art Space, part of a benefit show for MoveOn.org and presented by Artist Collective
Sept –December 2007: Body of Trees Series for Site Matters: a group show, presented by Brooklyn Arts Council at BAC Gallery, DUMBO
August 2007: Microscopic Love – a time-lapse film. Part of group show Lilliput at Red Saw Gallery, Newark, NJ
June-July 2007: Garden Fate installation, part of the group show Demolition: Presented by Pro Arts Jersey City
March-April 2007- Group show for Gaia at Mana Gallery in Jersey City.
January – February 2007- Gaia Artist Residency- Wonder Women www.gaiastudio.org
October 15 2006: Gaia Studio Show at Stevens Institute, Hoboken NJ
August 2006: Group Show www.group-show.com
August 2006: Ladies Lotto Silent Benefit Auction for Planned Parenthood
Education:
1991-1995: School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Bachelor of Fine Art- studied photography and art history
Work History:
1999-2004- Images.com Production Manager
1999-2002- Parsons School of Design – Head Technician for Photo Dept.
Currently freelancing in photography
Current Projects and Proposals:
A Wrecked Garden: An installation to take place in a storefront window incorporating growing vines and the body of a severely wrecked automobile
Body of Trees photographs to be edited and printed, final series to contain 15 pairs of images
Bodies of Dirt: a project involving the human body being consumed and taken back by nature
Clandestine Gardens: Series of garden installations to take place in vacant lots in Brooklyn this summer