BIO
Lori Petchers is a multi-disciplinary artist working with film, video, photography, text and collage. Her documentary A SELF-MADE MAN (2013) premiered on America ReFramed on PBS in 2015. She received an Artist Fellowship Grant in Film/Video from the State of Connecticut and a regional Emmy nomination for her work. Lori is also a co-creator of OLD BAGS, a multi-media art project exploring female identity and aging. OLD BAGS was exhibited widely, including RISD Museum and the Housatonic Museum of Art (part of the permanent collection) and was released as a book OLD BAGS TAKING A STAND. Lori’s collages have been shown in numerous galleries and venues including the Albany International Airport and has been featured in Cut Me Up Magazine. Lori’s work aspires to confront social norms and stereotypes through both traditional and non-traditional media.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Stemming from my documentary filmmaking background where I often collected media from different sources to create a narrative, I now do the same with papers; repurposing old magazines, books, found film footage, and whatever else catches my eye at flea markets and junk shops. I am self-taught and have been making collages for about a decade. I see my work as upcycling discarded objects, and in my practice, I make an effort use only what I find. I am particularly drawn to sources from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. I love the feel of the aged paper and the richness of color in these old publications. Our culture lives in these found objects, and their juxtaposition allows me to illuminate what I see as relevant in our contemporary society. My style is often dictated by the materials, but similar to my other art forms, I aim to make work that is socially significant and aesthetically strong.
Contact
loripetchers [at] gmail.com
