Liz Dueck wants people to really spend some time with each of her paintings on display this month at Positive Space Tulsa, 1324 E. 3rd St.
And she’s got the setup to prove it. Instead of hanging each one, Dueck leaned them against the walls and placed small square cushions in front of them. She says it was a creative risk that paid off when her “A Year of Embodied Art” opened March 7.
“To see people actually engage with the art by sitting with the canvases, then telling me about their experience and their favorite works, was beautiful,” Dueck said.
Dueck is a nature artist, art educator and trail guide who spent a year creating one painting a month with different mediums to explore nature expressionism. They are on display through March 28.
From 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dueck is hosting an art talk with Paitton Kendrick Callery, a licensed professional counselor, registered art therapist and founder of Sparks of Light Art Therapy. It’s a free event, but registration is requested.
“This event will be an intimate conversation about themes in the exhibition exploring the intersection of art-making and embodiment as well as how creative practices can support self-regulation, self-inquiry and healing,” Dueck said. “There will also be guided mindfulness-based art activities. Communal art supplies will be available and guests are welcome to bring their own as well.”
Dueck spoke with the Flyer to give the backstory on “A Year of Embodied Art” and how much fun she has spending one day a month hosting a free art hike.
You opened “A Year of Embodied Art” last weekend. How did it go?
The opening of the exhibition was incredible. The gallery was packed just about the entire time and was full of really sweet moments. Finally getting to share this year-long creative project was so special. I loved seeing the different parts of my community come together and interact with the art and each other; there were kids I teach, my friends’ babies, a few dogs even, coworkers, childhood friends, new friends, many artists in Tulsa I really respect … It was a heartwarming accumulation of people supporting me.
I really hope viewers come back to have an in-depth experience with the work. The opening was a fun party, however, I primarily imagined people in the gallery space sitting comfortably and quietly for as long as they needed with pieces they resonated with.
I absolutely believe art becomes a container for the artist’s energy, and sitting with the work creates this held space that, I hope, is a supportive emotional reprieve for people. I have poured so much of my own emotion and energy into every piece, I hope that it is felt in a way that people do not feel alone in their own big feelings. Instead, there is empathy and love reflected back to them.
You’ve mostly focused on oil painting but have recently branched out to do more. What different mediums are you exploring and why?
In this body of work I got to experiment with many mediums and it was a blast having that kind of freedom in one project. Creating the structure of one artwork a month, all the exact same size wood panel, allowed for me to explore a lot within each piece.
I truly did not plan or think much about what I was going to do each month. I simply sat with the canvas at the beginning of the month and followed what I felt. Some months that was oil, acrylic, then sometimes glow-in-the-dark or fluorescent paints. Some months drawing with charcoal, colored pencil or woodburning felt right.
The last few years I have been experimenting more with natural materials and I enjoyed playing with those elements as well and combining mediums. I told myself there was no wrong way to create each piece as the process and trusting my intuition was the most important part.
You have two very different events happening this month with the March 14 art talk and then folks have an opportunity to learn how to paint March 21. What are the details of that class?
I love having events in addition to exhibitions to create more opportunities for interaction and unique experiences with the work.
On March 21 from 1 to 3 p.m. I am leading an embodied painting workshop. In this workshop, I will teach guests how to paint in an alternative process that focuses on the somatic experience of creating for the benefits of emotional regulation and self-expression.
They will learn acrylic painting methods while exploring how each brushstroke can reflect sensation, intuition, and release. It is open to all skill levels — just bring curiosity and presence. Materials are included. Registration is required.
I noticed on your website you do art hikes for small groups. What does that entail? Do I need to be an experienced artist to do it?
I lead a free monthly art hike as part of my volunteer time as a trail guide at the Keystone Ancient Forest. These are my favorite events and have enriched my art practice and expanded my community greatly. I take groups on an easy-moderate hike, we learn about the forest along the way, then stop somewhere to do an art project before hiking back together.
There is a topic we’ll focus on each time and optional art prompts. For the free monthly hikes people just bring their own supplies, and I always bring backup in case. These are open to all ages and skill levels of art and hiking. I also am available for booking private art hikes in which specific projects can be chosen and supplies provided. Follow my Instagram page arventuresok to learn more.
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