“Purview Series”

“Growing up a child of the ‘60’s, a View-Master was almost an obligatory Christmas gift for at least one family member. We would spend a great deal of time clicking through photographs on the cardboard discs, looking at and dreaming of magnificent faraway places. In 3D! We were not an especially mobile family, so the Grand Canyon seemed practically inaccessible to me. The Taj Mahal might as well have been on Mars for the likelihood I would ever see it without my View-Master.

These recollections led to the inception of my series Purview. The deep shadow box frames almost require the viewer to step up and peer into the abstract places I’ve created. You cannot visit these mercurial places, but perhaps you can look at and dream about them.”

Artist Bio:

Katherine LaMere-Fortman is a mixed media artist living in Pattersonville, New York.

Being from a family of makers, photographers, art has always been an integral part of her life. Katherine received an AS degree in Art from Adirondack Community College. She then attended The Junior College of Albany for a year before transferring to The College of Saint Rose where she received a BS degree with honors, dual majoring in Studio Art and Graphic Design with minors in Painting and Drawing. Early in her career she painted with oil on canvas, creating series and large hanging canvases. Currently she creates small mixed media pieces on paper. Her works consistently incorporate paints, papers and a variety of materials and techniques to build layers and textures. Informed by the physical beauty and discord of nature, Katherine strives to create an ephemeral environment for the viewer to explore.

Artist Statement

The energy of time, place, and nature, combined with daily experiences consistently leave an impression which informs my artwork. Drawing inspiration from nature & inherent beauty and unpredictability I strive to create a momentary impression that is both everlasting and fleeting, preserving an ephemeral moment in time. Using various paints, pens, inks, pencils and gel sticks as well as my own photographs, handmade papers, fibers, and a variety of found objects I create layers of texture and imagery, blurring the line between the tangible and ethereal. I invite the viewer into a little multifaceted world that is slightly askew and hopefully thought provoking.