Lee Leonard
Artist Statement:
The initial inspiration I drew upon for this series of monoprints came from some street prints I bought in Mexico City, Mexico many years ago. The flattened out method of showing the village or yard or home appealed to me. I enjoyed looking at one picture and having the artist tell me a lot about what I was looking at.
Because I live for 4-5 months of the year in the Maritimes and the rest of my time in New England, I knew if I were to use the same method for telling people of my life here, it would have to change color and shape. The entire series was developed over 6 months of printing, overlaying and applying texture. Some pictures tell more than others.
I took part in an exhibition this year where the subject matter we were given came from a quote by one of the folks at the L’Arche community where Henri Nouwen volunteered. He was getting ready to leave one day when he was asked, Are you coming home tonight? Thus, the thought was put into Nouwen’s head, what is home, where is it, why return, what does it mean to me? I’ve folded these thoughts and questions into this series which, much to my delight has continued to grow.
