Stacey Alickman (In Memoriam)

1964-2017

Artist Statement (2012)

I'm currently working on a project called "Pulling The Legs Off Bugs Was a Cruel, Harmless Waste of Time." This poetic phrase came into my head almost ten years ago and its meaning is layered; that children easily pull the legs off bugs without remorse or regret. The emotion behind this phrase continues to inspire new work and new directions.

Last year, I began to integrate this persistent narrative within my art and explore why it has resonated so deeply. These paintings reflect my process of creative exploration and how this phrase has developed visually as well as conceptually. What have emerged are abstract pieces that are textured and rhythmic, densely worked and sculpted.

During this project I also became interested in the possibilities of recycling oil paintings by peeling the paint off of its canvas and using the resulting chips for other projects. These colorful, textured chips lend themselves to straightforward drawing as well as to three dimensional stacking and assemblage.

Artist Bio

Stacey Alickman has been painting and drawing for over twenty years. She graduated from Brandeis University, studied graphic design at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and then painting at The School of the Museum of Fine Arts. Her "Pulling The Legs Off Bugs Project" was successfully funded through USA Projects in Los Angeles, CA in 2012. Works on paper can also be seen at The Drawing Center, Viewing Program in New York and Carroll and Sons, Drawing Project in Boston.