“Rhythms of the Land,” an exhibit by artist Susan Hoenig, is on view at the Hutchins Galleries at the Lawrenceville School from Thursday, December 5, through Saturday, January 25, 2025. A free opening reception takes place Friday, December 6, at 6:30 p.m.
The following artist’s statement accompanies the exhibit
‘The land upon which we gather is part of the traditional territory of the Lenape, called ‘Lenapehoking’. The Lenape People lived in harmony with the land for thousands of years.”
Paintings, Forest Compositions, Leaf Sculptures, Cross Sections of Trees, and Wildlife Reliefs are part of my ecological practice. I connect Earth and Art to make visible the relationship between habitat, plant and animal life. My artwork explores the impact of ecological issues. “Rhythms of the land” engages the viewer to see the relationship between humans and their environment that sustains them.
Since 2016, I have been involved in “Ecological Leaf Sculptures” where leaves are outlined with stone situated beneath the trees they are of alongside walking trails in Graeber Woods, Franklin Township, New Jersey. In 2020, I was artist-in-residence at the Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve in Princeton where I collaborated with Friends of Princeton Open Space to draw attention to the value and beauty of native trees. I created an American Chestnut Leaf Sculpture alongside newly planted American Chestnut saplings.
The “leaves of stone” create awareness of forest habitat and the impact on diversity in a complex ecosystem. Leaves are unique in their synergistic interaction. The experience of viewing and examining the intricacies that each leaf bestows is crucial in understanding the forest as a whole. In the “Forest Compositions,” I collect nuts and seeds from the forest floor to create prints of the leaves. I dip each one in Black Walnut ink and print their unique form.
In 2012, I started collecting cross sections of damaged and fallen trees after Hurricane Sandy. The cross sections were from old decayed trees blown down during storms, from trees cut down for construction of developments and from insect manifestation. I sand and polish each one, then use pyrography to burn the design of the leaf on the surface.
The “Wildlife Reliefs” are sculptural wall hangings painted on burlap. The colors and geometric design are unique in style, having evolved from naturalistic forms that are at the essence of each relief.
Life that surrounds us can teach valuable lessons in our interactions with the land, air, water, and wildlife. In my art, I create awareness of this special vibrant living biosphere we call Earth, filled with shifting movement and the rhythms of nature. The balance of these rhythms is crucial for the survival and progression of life.
For more on Hoenig, see U.S. 1, August 24, 2022, and September 27, 2023.
The Hutchins Galleries at the Lawrenceville School are open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed noon to 1 p.m.) and Saturday 9 a.m. to noon. The galleries are located within The Hutchins Center, adjacent to the Gruss Center of Art and Design (GCAD) The main entrance for the Hutchins Galleries is at the rear of the building, and can be accessed during open viewing hours. www.lawrenceville.org/life-at-lawrenceville/campus/hutchins-galleries.
