Alis Olsen

Alis Olsen | NEXT ARTIST | Alis Olsen
...
Alis Olsen | NEXT ARTIST | Alis Olsen
...
Alis Olsen

Alis Olsen is a photographer and sculptor whose main concern is nature. As a sculptor she works with natural materials in order to explore issues concerning our culture and its relationship to the natural environment. She often combines these materials with manufactured objects to illustrate how we have become separated from the earth.
...
Alis Olsen

Alis Olsen651-646-5534email: alisolsen@comcast.net
...
Alis Olsen

Art as Life, Trees as Art, An interview with Alis Olsen
...
Alis Olsen is a local artist who knowingly and unknowingly is playing a role "to draw" (pun intended) on the beauty and wisdom of trees, with an added punch of "political commentary."
...
Art as Life, Trees as Art, An interview with Alis Olsen
...
Alis Olsen is a local artist who knowingly and unknowingly is playing a role "to draw" (pun intended) on the beauty and wisdom of trees, with an added punch of "political commentary."

"People are always painting trees, why not frame the tree itself?"remarked Alis Olsen with a characteristic smile on her face as we talked about her art in a recent interview.
...
Touching on many of these questions, Alis and I met recently in her St. Paul studio and journeyed through her story to find some answers.In some ways more questions were generated than answers, yet another step of understanding the role of Art and Divine was revealed through the eyes of Alis Olsen.

Alis, what is your primary art form?Alis Olsen: I am a photographer and environmental sculptor.I work outside when I can, creating installations in response to a particular site in nature.
...
Alis: I first started doing outdoor installations in 1986 when my husband and I bought land in Wisconsin.
...
Alis: I started out with photography, took a photo class in 1972.
...
Alis: "Windfall" -- One day after a windy night I found dozens of small curved twigs that had fallen from the oak tree.
...
Alis: It means finding what connects us all -- what's really deep and true.Spirituality is really about looking for the answers to those big questions: "What's it all about?What am I here for?"

Could you talk a bit about your art?It strikes me as a combination of humor, beauty, irony, wit and profound thought.Alis: I like humor a lot.
...
Alis: Because it's wonderful for the art maker to connect with the authentic part of self.
...
Alis: When I'm working, I certainly don't think about whether I'm trying to say something to viewers, but after it's completed I guess the work is saying, "Look!Look at the wonder of nature!Connect with it so that you'll feel it personally when a forest is cut down or a stream is polluted!"Aldo Leopold (an early environmentalist) said, "We can be ethical only in relation to something we can see, feel, understand, love, or otherwise have faith in."

In closing, what wisdom do you think trees have for us?Alis: I guess it's about patience and endurance and about longevity and what really matters in the long run, and that good things happen and so do bad things (like sunshine and wind storms).And life goes on.

Is there anything else you would like readers to know about you?Alis: I have taught environmental art classes in state parks in the past and hope to teach some again.
...
-- Dawn Vogel (Inspired by Alis)

Dawn Vogel is a documentary, portrait and fine art photographer, writer, educator and owner of Luminous Concepts Photography.She specializes in creating words and images that reflect and celebrate the personalities, stories, and moments of day-to-day life; increase awareness, respect and understanding of the world and its people; heal and build community; empower self and creative expression.To celebrate yourself and your family in pictures, contact her at (612) 724-3810 or DawnV@mindspring.com.

Alis Olsen

Alis Olsen NEMAA Member
...
Alis Olsen

Alis Olsen Sculptor Alis Olsen Info - Sculpture.org
...
Alis Olsen

1543 Grantham St. St. Paul, MN 55108, U.S.A.

Phone: 651-646-5534 Email: alisolsen@comcast.net