January 2008 Lorie Lichtenwalter and Jean Shooter
-- Press Release --
Jean Shooter and Lorie Lichtenwalter, two Mount Vernon artists, explore the nuances and mysteries found in wood. Their artwork will be featured at Root Art Gallery for the month of Jan. with an artist reception Fri., Jan. 4th from 7-10pm. Using different forms found in sticks and lumber, Shooter and Lichtenwalter uncover imagery many might overlook. They flesh out the images they see and help the viewer see with different eyes.
Shooter's sculptures turn sticks and other found objects into enchanting creatures that are cause for questioning the labels that are attached to so many things around all of us. Mixing objects from nature with metal and plastic, the creatures are formed and form places to discover new ideas and thoughts.
Lichtenwalter sees forms within and beyond the grain of the pieces of wood she encounters. These forms are then fleshed out by utilizing the transparency of watercolor, allowing the grain of the wood to show through and create a wonderful sense of depth. Each piece is created to explore some new way of seeing, some new way of discovering.
Shooter and Lichtenwalter both currently live in Mount Vernon, but came to Mount Vernon in two very different ways. Shooter studied Commercial Art for two years at Wright Jr. College in Chicago, received her BA in Art Education from Southern Illinois University, and Masters Degree from OU in Guidance and Counseling. Shooter grew up in Chicago and moved to Ohio with her husband to be close to family. She has worked in Social Services, in the fields of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency, and has used an Art Therapy internship to continue to help others express themselves through Art. In 1994, her husband was offered a good job in Mt. Vernon and they moved from Columbus with their two daughters. They have been here ever since.
Lichtenwalter was born in Northeast Ohio and attended Kent State University. She is the owner and creator of Mind's Eye Designs, a graphic design firm. Lichtenwalter has created many logos, marketing/sales pieces and web design for companies of all sizes, locally and nationally. Some of her clientele includes Wendy's International, the State of Ohio -Department of Aging/Golden Buckeye Card and Victoria's Secret. Wanting peace and space for creating art, her and her husband relocated from Dublin to Mount Vernon to get out of the big city chaos and establish a life in a supportive community.