Lara Hanson

When a choreographer invited me to show some artwork in the space where she was performing, I discovered the challenge, and love, of drawing the human body in motion. I attended a rehearsal with the dancers and began drawing them in my sketchbook, using simple, gestural lines. It was so fun and exciting! It was like I was dancing, too!

In particular, I am in love with line and how it can express so many aspects of movement–like the pathway, speed, weight, emotion, spirituality, truth, and soul of the dance. And I realized that not only was I recording the dancer’s actions, but also my own physical/mental/emotional response. This has led me to create works that focus on my own movement. Instead of watching and drawing someone else moving, I’m feeling the movement in my own body.

Doing this kind of work has naturally led to improvising and performance. I often take my sketchbook to dance and music performances. Sometimes someone next to me will be curious about what I’m doing. People are fascinated with the drawing process, so I decided to bring it to an audience in the form of collaboration with dancers and musicians on stage. The ‘stage’ can take many forms–an actual stage with proscenium, a museum, a storefront, outdoors in the woods or on city streets. I learn so much from the other artists I work with. This part of my practice provides me with a wonderful sense of community and connection.

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Lara Hanson is open on Friday, Saturday & Sunday of Art-A-Whirl weekend.