Dr. Lisa Furman, the Director of the Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling (MAATC) Program at Albertus, recently returned from an artist residency at Acadia National Park in Maine. She was one of eight creative professionals selected for the program out of 137 applicants across the U.S.
Dr. Furman focused on collagraph printmaking techniques and plein air painting during her residency. She is reflecting on her work:
Thinking about my artist residency at Acadia National Park, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Grateful that I was one of eight talented artists selected this year. Appreciative of the awe-inspiring natural beauty of Schoodic Peninsula that informed my art-making. Thankful that Albertus Magnus College supported my artistic and professional development with a semester-long faculty sabbatical.
I created three bodies of work in residence: realistic seascape paintings, abstract collagraph prints of sea life, and roll-printed seascapes. In total, I completed approximately 75 pieces over an 11-day period in what I can only describe as a total immersion in the panoramic beauty of Acadia. The seascapes served as a realistic record of light, color, and form, documenting the sweeping vistas of the sea. The collagraphs represent a closer, more intimate look at the rocks and sea creatures that inhabit the eco–rich Maine waters. Finally, the roll-printed seascapes were quick, gestural prints meant to capture the vibrant color and light of the sea in that moment. Together, the three different artistic approaches capture the essence of my experience in Acadia.
The art created by the groups involved in this program will display publicly for the first time in 2023, during which Acadia will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its first artist residency in October 1993.
In return for calling the park home for a couple of weeks, Dr. Furman will give back to the community. Later this summer, she will provide art therapy sessions to youth members of Healthy Acadia. The non-profit organization’s mission is to address critical health issues and build healthy communities across the state of Maine.
Learn more about the Albertus MAATC program at our next virtual information session. Register here.