Electra Gallery is thrilled to present Alchemy of Thread, 9 esoteric textile works by Oakland, Ca based artist Leora Lutz. In this new series, Lutz philosophically probes the creation of the universe, chaos theory and the history of alchemy, using a sophisticated vocabulary of material symbolism. Bleach-dyed denim, a nod both to her goth/punk roots and alchemical transformation, is stretched over round and square frames and embellished with gouache, embroidery, and glass beads. For Lutz, fabric is symbolic of a bridge between materiality and spiritualism, the act of sewing is a metaphor for the esoteric phrase, “As Above, So Below”, and colored threads describe the 5 alchemical elements: air, earth, water, fire, and ether; with the addition of pink for Love, which Lutz includes as the 6th element that “we need to survive”.
Leora Lutz (Oakland, California) received her MFA in sculpture and MA in Visual Critical Studies from the California College of the Arts. Exhibitions include galleries, museums and public arts projects in California, Japan and elsewhere, including the CCA Wattis Institute of Art, MoCA Los Angeles, The Palm Springs Art Museum, and the US Embassy in Belgrade. Her writing has been published in Surface Design Journal, The ArtNewspaper, Art in America, Elephant and SF Arts Quarterly.
