Small Towns, Big Artists

After reading this article in Roll magazine, I now have two new wishes: 1) to be Lilian Porter, or 2) to at least play with all of her toys.

Written by Roll's editor, Ross Rice, "The Secret Life of Figurines" is two profiles in one; part of the article describes Lilian Porter, the artist, and the rest of the article profiles her work (which really doesn't need much of a profile because photographs of her collection speak volumes). Porter is an artist who collects art, repositions it, and creates new art in the process. (NO! This has never been done before!!!....) She does so by arranging small figures she has found in antique sheds and shops around the world, but the messages her creations send are new takes on old pieces. What's more, the messages are spontaneously and unexpectedly funny, cute, warm, human, clever, and everything else that delineates such handiwork from the cornier messages of oh, say, a Hallmark card.

What did I like most about this article: Rice's writing or Porter's art? I have no answer to that question. The giddiness from both factors was overwhelming (hey, good expressive craftmanship from this area is something to be celebrated). Heading Roll magazine in Rosendale (right next to New Paltz), Rice profiles quite a few local creators, and his writing is always cozy, familiar, but grateful to its subjects. And Porter, well...look at the whimsy in her portfolio, and you'll understand why Rice wasted no time covering her.

Check out more of Roll's articles on their website, which shares a generous portion of the magazine online. The staff has also instituted a "virtual e-magazine" segment to the site, where you can flip through every physical page of the past two issues. Enjoy!