Q&A with Joy Liberman who reflects on decade of art creation

Jack Benson, The Rubicon Editor|February 17, 2017

Joy Liberman

Artistic design. A lot of work goes in to the design of an are exhibit. “I hope that the audience will see some connections in my thought processes and idea development.” Lower School Art Teacher Joy Liberman said

Lower School Art Teacher Joy Liberman’s newest collection in Drake Gallery curates a wide array of material and her body of work. JOY LIBERMAN: Decade – A Painter’s Path will run through Mar. 10.
What was the experience of putting together this show like?
Putting together an exhibition is a process that begins with the body of work and varies from show to show. For example, My last exhibition at SPA was a chronicle of 365 days of painting the same thing. For the current exhibition, I decided that I’d like to show examples that span 10 years, allowing guests to see an artist’s path through time. It may seem like a very simple task to choose work and hang it; however, a lot of thought was given to my choice of paintings and their placement. I hope that the audience will see some connections in my thought processes and idea development. One thing that helped me was to make a small three-dimensional model of the gallery and arrange ‘mini’ paintings in different spaces before the actual installation.
What inspired you to become an artist?
My family was supportive of my interest in the visual arts. In addition, I am certain that growing up in Ax Man, my father’s surplus store had something to do with it. I like to say that I learned early on to look at things, not for what they were, but for what they could be.
What do these paintings mean to you?
It is hard to answer this question. My paintings are a means of expressing an idea in visual form, of solving a puzzle, of answering or posting questions. Sometimes my paintings simply help me to make an indelible mark of a place or time in my memory. Painting to me is not a want, like a past time, it’s a need, like food. I make sacrifices in order to paint but without painting, an important part of who I am would not be fulfilled.
What is your favorite part about creating art?
Ideas are always forming in my mind but it could be months or years before I actually have the time to bring them to life. I think my favorite part of creating a painting is the beginning stage. My first day’s work is very loose and quick. Sometimes I wish I could just leave my paintings like that but I’m a nitpicker and I inevitably keep going. I’m always striving to improve and this process is not always fun. It’s hard work, but I love it.