Intricate ink drawings on gorgeous dyed paper… all of these pieces are from a series, titled “There Is No Road” by American artist Jeanne Heifetz. I absolutely love her statement about this work:
“… As a child, I was always afraid of making the wrong decision. Selecting from many possible options was torture unless I could find a convincing rationale for my choice, some external justification beyond my own desire. Fear made me superstitious. I enlisted numerology, mythology, arcane patterns of all sorts to confirm the “rightness” of my decisions.
This body of work confronts decision-making head on. Still craving a system, I borrow one from nature: Plateau’s laws, which govern the branching and growth of many natural forms. Within that system, I improvise, lighting out for the territory without a map. Each drawing grows by slow accretion as I allow myself (or force myself) to make hundreds of tiny sequential decisions…”
So. Good. What a beautiful challenge to give herself… as are the results.
These are just gorgeous. I’ve been drawing with cell like forms and circles for some time, but I love the “space” that Jeanne has created.
Thank you so much for the inspiration!
Wonderful artist.
I love following your blog. This art reminded me of my brotherinlaw’s work in a botany lab, and also in his own art. Here’s what he responded…
thanks for passing on the images! Good call on the “botany”. Ms Heifetz’ pictures are likely drawings of (monocot) stem cross sections such as one might find in an old plant anatomy text or research paper – or perhaps she’s been looking at some old prepared slides through a microscope. You can see many of the classic cell types and tissue arrangement. Her rationale the work is interesting, but there’s no mention of the source material.
I made many such drawings over the years… I’ve included a few that I had on file for your interest.
Dianne, I love the fact that your brother thought I was looking at slides or plant anatomy textbooks, but these drawings are made without source material. By following rules found in nature, I am drawing things that might exist in the world — but don’t, other than on the page.
Please add me to your mailing list. Thank you!
Beth
OH MY GOD YES YES YES.
thanks for introducing me to Jeanne’s work and words!