Artist Statement

In reaction to the current situation of global dysfunctional politics, I have been inspired to translate historical and contemporary news photos into paintings. In the face of constant media coverage of war and disasters, both natural and man-made, we are no longer shocked by that which should shock us. Through the process of painting I hope to create an opportunity for people to really take a look at what is going on and then to be inspired to take action.

I collect photographs both from old publications and current newspapers. I choose the images I can’t stop thinking about. As I enlarge them, because of the poor photographic quality of the originals, I have to invent my own version of the details. At first I stick close to the source photo, but as I work some things are omitted and others are added. Each painting takes on a life and logic of its own. The final product is always very different from its inspiration. What it does convey is the feeling the photo evoked in me when I first encountered it. I often feel compelled to paint more than one version of each scene varying the size and composition. Only after a painting is finished, sometimes long after, can I observe it objectively.

With my work I hope to catalyze a visionary willingness to challenge the status quo. I hope to inspire action which will effect positive change. As the painter Elizabeth Peyton says in The Painting of Modern Life: “I want to slow down the reading of an image: I want to say, this is important-look at this.” I believe that by transforming photographs into paintings I offer an opportunity to stop and consider the world now – and to respond.

June, 2008
Lucy Traeger