Lanecia Rouse Tinsley: With In/Out
In this blog post, I’m writing from the position of a curator for the first time. I am so pleased to present the work of Lanecia Rouse Tinsley as the first art show at Forth and Nomad Gallery. With In/Out is on view until June 30, 2019. Her artist talk is this Thursday, June 6, 2019, at Forth and Nomad.
I first met Lanecia in the dark days following Hurricane Harvey in Houston. My home and my family were spared from the water and in the week following the flood, while Houston started to address the damage, my husband and I looked for ways to contribute. A friend told me that the studios at Hardy and Nance had flooded and they were asking for volunteers to help clean out the artists’ spaces.
We found ourselves working alongside Lanecia in her studio, sifting through piles of supplies and artwork, saving what we could, but mostly sending her hard work to the trash. I was impressed at the time, by her resolve. She stood steadfast, directing strangers to discard the contents of her studio and diligently documenting the items as we marched them out the door.
Lanecia’s quiet and steady demeanor made an impression on me. As our friendship has strengthened over the last two years, I’ve continued to observe a groundedness in her. While she smiles warmly and chooses to listen more than speak, her art tells her story.
Lanecia’s artwork is known for subtle manipulations of color and texture applied through a variety of material. Heavily influenced by abstract expressionism, she paints emotions into her art, building up layers that represent the landscape of the human condition.
In this body of work, Lanecia uses the raw materials of the earth: dirt, clay, fiber, wax, and sunlight, to bring visual expression to her journey through grief. She introduces cyanotype printmaking to combine her photography, words, and nostalgia.
Her art deftly unifies soft and hard; balancing the contrast between the ethereal memories in her cyanotype prints and the raw moments in her textured paintings. Her process is deeply personal, and yet, as you spend time with the marks, textures, and visual components in the art, you are reminded of your wanderings through life.
With In/Out artist talk is Thursday, June 6, at 6:00PM at Forth and Nomad in the Houston Heights. You can find more information about Lanecia and her artwork on her website here.
