Interpreting the Natural: Contemporary Visions of Scholars' Rocks: Elisa Pritzker

STATEMENT

My current art has deep roots in the Selknam, a past extinct civilization. Bringing the past into current view makes it relevant today.

Considering that the Selknam had the most ancient way of living, -hunter-gatherers- they were rich in rituals, had a remarkable set of principles, a profound sense of community, respect for the family and they revered nature, women power and re-using everything on earth. Inspired by their use of ALL resources, I am driven to utilizing what nature provides [stones, sticks, bones, etc.] and what is already available in my own studio. My hand-painted stones are collected regionally and in every trip to other areas of the US and abroad.

I find the Scholars’ Stones fascinating and related to my art. Since I paint the stones as I find them, my own hand-painted magic stone installations have analogous virtues with the Scholars Stones. They also have a vibrantluster and suggest numerous shapes, landscapes, animals, vegetation or simply abstractions like the Scholars ones.

BIOGRAPHY

Artist and independent curator Elisa Pritzker --based in Ulster County, New York-- has exhibited at MoMA, Queens and Dorsky Museums among an innumerable group and solo exhibits. Her art is in permanent collections from the Dorsky Museum, Jean Cherqui Art Collection, and Paris. France & New York, the Argentine Consulate in NYC, the Wiseman Gallery/Rogue Community College and the Luz & Alfonso Castillo Foundation.

Elisa Pritzker was featured in many publications. Some highpoints are Hyperallergic, CNN-in Spanish, Chronogram Magazine, HuffPost [The Huffington Post], PBS Channel. Her "Eclectica Store" was showcased in the New York Times. Her life/art story was recorded by Lisia Leon for Story Corps-Library of Congress, New York NY on Nov. 7, 2010. The “Spirit of the Selknams” short film by Stephen Blauweiss aired on PBS on Oct. 14, 2015 and is shown ongoing on PBS online and YouTube.

Regionally and amid countless community activities, she co-founded the Highland Cultural Center/HCC-Arts with her husband Enrique Rob Lunski, run her own studio & gallery since 2000 and through her monthly column “The Corner of the Arts’” she features other Latino artists, museums and galleries. Her column is currently published at La Voz-Bard College Magazine and ABClatino Bilingual Media Network.

Some highlights during 2017 were her Selknam Project, a solo exhibition-installation, presented at the HVCCA Museum [May 13-Sept. 30], a solo exhibit at the Argentine Consulate Gallery in New York City and for the second time, she was part of the 2017 Jerusalem Biennale in Jerusalem, Israel. In 2017, she also received the Ulster County Executive Hispanic Heritage Award from County Executive Mike Hein from the Ulster County Executive's Office, New York State.

Triad with Tiny Magic Stones Installation [2020]
wood, acrylic paints, stones from Oaxaca-Pacific Ocean. Total: 75" length x 30" high x 3" deep / 3" x 3" individual stones approximately