Winter
"zzzI wonder
if the snow loves the trees and
fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then
it covers them up snug, you know, with a white
quilt; and perhaps it says, "Go to sleep, darlings,
till the summer comes again.” - Lewis Carroll
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Artist of the Month - Ralph Levesque
Ralph Levesque is an artist that cannot be categorized. Immersed in the art world from a very young age, he has created a spacious narrative in his works, including paintings, drawings, sculpture, found objects and even futuristic car design. The newest board member of the Essex Art Association, Levesque never ceases to amaze with his spiritual visions of the natural world. Ralph indicates that his work should be viewed with more than a glance, so as not to miss “surprises.” It is never Ralph’s intention to copy images from nature, rather he looks beyond the figurative and material representations to the essence of the object, or its “inner truth,” according to the artist. Ralph’s vision is made up of imagination and invention, and his original thinking allows the perspective of the viewer to evolve organically. Levesque attributes “a childlike mind” to his ability to create spacious narratives in his work, where images and objects can range from the ancient to the yet unknown. His interest in Surrealism and using materials in unique and unusual ways is reflected throughout his body of work.
Not only has Levesque had a long career of creating and showing visual art, he worked as an art teacher and mentor for the State of Connecticut for over 45 years, utilizing art as therapy for abused and abandoned children.
Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Ralph began to have more of a consciousness of death and spirituality and their relation to people in the world and represented these visions by incorporating humanoid figures into his work.
Some of Levesque’s favorite artists are Eva Hesse, Robert Rauschenberg, and Jasper Johns. His partner, Lorraine Riess is the Poet Laureate of Haddam, CT
For more information about the artist's life and work, as well as a wealth of visual images, please visit his website, www.ralphlevesqueart.com.
