Solastalgia
Michel Varisco
December 11-January 2, 2022
Opening: Saturday, Dec 11, 4-9 pm
Artist Talk: Sunday, Dec 12, 1 pm
4037 St. Claude Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70117
Hours: Saturday & Sunday, 12-5pm and by appointment
In this solo exhibition, entitled “Solastalgia,” Michel Varisco explores stages of grief with Jennifer Sargent and Cynthia Scott through the underwater lens of natural springs and rivers. To study springs is like listening literally to the heartbeat and basal metabolic rate of a living organism. Springs convert energy from the sun and have constant temperature, flow, depth and chemical properties for their complex systems to thrive. But the springs are dying. The heartbeat is slowing, the basal metabolic rate askew. It is from this existential space, moving away from the disavowal that has plagued our species, a kind of awakening occurs.
BIO
Michel Varisco is an American artist, born in New Orleans, who creates artwork in response to ecological and social struggles through photography, video, sculpture, and site-specific installations. She was a featured artist in the Prospect.4 Triennial and an invited resident of the Rauschenberg AIR. Her photography work is included in the public collections of the National Library of Paris, The Ogden Museum, The United States Embassy in Moscow, Russia, The SURDNA Foundation, Newcomb Museum,The State of Louisiana and the City of New Orleans. Varisco’s work has been featured in publications in the US and abroad such as Orion Magazine, Adbusters, Forecast Public Art, Believer Magazine, The Oxford American, USA today, Mister Motley Arts Magazine, (Netherlands), Louisiana Life, Work Style Magazine (Italy and Switzerland), Metropolis M, (The Netherlands), Metro (New Zealand) and The Audubon Magazine. She has received awards through the Louisiana Division of the Arts and The SURDNA Foundation, and a commission for the City of New Orleans on behalf of The Joan Mitchell Foundation.
Michel Varisco is an American artist, born in New Orleans, who creates artwork in response to ecological and social struggles through photography, video, sculpture, and site-specific installations. She was a featured artist in the Prospect.4 Triennial and an invited resident of the Rauschenberg AIR. Her photography work is included in the public collections of the National Library of Paris, The Ogden Museum, The United States Embassy in Moscow, Russia, The SURDNA Foundation, Newcomb Museum,The State of Louisiana and the City of New Orleans. Varisco’s work has been featured in publications in the US and abroad such as Orion Magazine, Adbusters, Forecast Public Art, Believer Magazine, The Oxford American, USA today, Mister Motley Arts Magazine, (Netherlands), Louisiana Life, Work Style Magazine (Italy and Switzerland), Metropolis M, (The Netherlands), Metro (New Zealand) and The Audubon Magazine. She has received awards through the Louisiana Division of the Arts and The SURDNA Foundation, and a commission for the City of New Orleans on behalf of The Joan Mitchell Foundation.
Image: Michel Varisco – Fierce
