LisaLichtenfel
By Jane Waide
“Lisa Lichtenfels wrote the book (literally) on Soft Sculpture. Like her art, her talent is multi-dimensional and
she excels in the fields of design, engineering, sculpture, photography, writing and sheer creative imagination.
Imagine my delight at falling into the opportunity to interview Lisa. Imagine my dismay at simultaneously
coming down with laryngitis. Not to worry. Even though the interview was conducted via email, I think you’ll
find that Lisa, as well as her amazing work, speak so eloquently for themselves, that I was hardly even
necessary.”
Not wishing to label the art you cre- site. Did you work on each of these emotion." Elementals are a cross be-
ate, is there a term for your soft "groups" during specific periods in tween nature and the world of hu-
sculptures? time? man beings. They have the freedom
As for a term that describes my work, My main interest as an artist is per- to live totally in the moment and
I like "Realistic Figurative Sculpting sonality, and how this mysterious completely without the restrictions
with Fabric." I have also used "Figures essence is revealed in our physical of society. Maggie is part woman,
in Fabric," which is the title of the bodies. I have wondered what the part otter, and was inspired by videos
book about my work that was origi- nature of the "self" is for as long as I of river otters swimming. I never saw
nally published in 2001. can remember. Currently I believe anything more beautiful and joyous.
I noticed a number of angels, ele-
that developing a personality is the To answer your question – I don't
mentals and goddesses on your web-
ultimate creative act of any human tend to do groups during specific
being. We invent ourselves, and we times. Everything has to do with a
are, to a great extent, works of art. specific person I am considering.
To answer your question – why do I Angels and Elementals seem to
make angels, elementals and god- come up as they wish. And occa-
desses? As every personality is a one sionally a personality is so strong she
of a kind work of art manifesting an demands to be a Goddess. Also
individual life, some personalities there are some portraits of actual
seem to represent more than one people who were metaphysical be-
person. There is a universal quality ings. The "Tlingit Shaman" was a real
to them. In exploring this I tend to man. I find myself returning to the
create beings that are outside this Shaman theme over and over.
plane of existence. For example, the I should also mention that my
"Cardinal Angel" started out as a medium is perfect for capturing real
portrait of virginia Wolf. As I sculpted people. There are other mediums
her I could feel those emotions on that can produce super realism –I
her face, like they were part of a have been in gallery shows where
sadness and poignancy that every- the sculptures were so real you won-
one has somewhere in their core dered if you were standing next to
being, or range of emotion. Giving a man or a sculpture. Duane Hanson
her the status of an angel seemed comes to mind. However, should you
to realize those universal feelings. It touch a Hanson sculpture the illusion
also helped me to handle the emo- would be immediately lost because
tions that were being generated the polymer would be cold to the
within me in the process of sculpting. touch. Fabric is warm and feels like
The Elemental you mentioned –I flesh. When I make an internal skele-
call her "Maggie," or simply "The Ele- ton I use wire and densely packed
mental," shows a different kind "meta- felt which simulate the hardness of
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