For many artists, the process of creating art consists of drawing, painting or sculpting. But local artists Shawne Major, Troy Dugas and Jonathan Pellitteri aren’t like most artists.
All three artists’ work is currently on display in the exhibit “Old Methods, New Visions: Three Louisiana Artists” at the Louisiana Art & Science Museum downtown. The artists will take part in a discussion about their work tonight at LASM.
Pellitteri specializes in constructing intricate machines, while Dugas and Major create collage-style pieces.
Major calls her method “post-production abstraction,” because she uses objects like toys, buttons and Mardi Gras beads to create individual collage-style pieces. She said the process is often an extensive one.
“It is not unusual for the larger works to take a year or more to complete,” Major said in an e-mail to The Daily Reveille.
She added that the process consists of months of pinning and sewing objects onto a structure-providing material like chicken wire.
Major finds her materials from a variety of sources such as garage sales, flea markets and even eBay.
“I am very interested in value, so a large part of my work contains consumerist waste,” she explained. “I love to create something of value from garbage or image.”
Elizabeth Weinstein, LASM curator who is leading tonight’s panel discussion, said guests appreciate the opportunity to meet the artists and talk about their work.
“The program is designed to encourage young professionals and the downtown working crowd to visit the museum, in addition to anyone who wants to learn about art while having a good time,” Weinstein said. “Guests will be able to talk with the artists personally, as well as hear them discuss specific pieces and their work in general such as what compels them to make this type of art, what influenced their choices, how they make their