Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Shershow.
Leslie, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I grew up in a small coastal town in Maine. I’d spend my summer days on the beach collecting shells – using them as fake nails, or as houses for sand fleas. I’ve always been artistically inclined and been into doing repetitive, detailed tasks, so it was only natural that I was drawn to metalsmithing. I went to art school in Boston, took a metals class, and haven’t looked back since.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I make jewelry. I’m interested in the subject of the natural world and how we experience it, our expectations of it, and how it is represented in media and artificial landscapes. Most pieces are wearable “souvenirs” of both real and artificial forms of nature. They have visual effects – using colored mirrored acrylic and combinations of resins, mylar, and luminescent films, I construct pieces that reflect and distort our surroundings with flashes of light and sparkles; approximating a truly sublime experience. I want my jewelry to be a visual experience for the wearer and the viewer – a means of thoughtful connection and a fun piece to wear.
Artists face many challenges, but what do you feel is the most pressing among them?
Money! Ha! Art making is very expensive and time-consuming, and there’s little reward economically. Most artists cannot live on artwork sales alone; they need other jobs to supplement. I’ve done everything from waitressing to teaching to making fine jewelry during the day, only to burn the midnight oil in my studio at night.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
Right now I’m preparing for my Master’s thesis show. It’s April 26 – May 10 in the School of Art and Design at SDSU. Apart from that, I’m working on an exciting project with some other art and performance students, mentored by the visual artist Nick Cave, whose work I admire a lot. That performance will be held at the Studio Theater at SDSU on December 10, from 6-8pm. My work, events, updates, etc. are posted on my website (www.leslieshershow.com). I’m also posting process pictures on Instagram (@shersh_oh).
Contact Info:
- Website: www.leslieshershow.com
- Email: leslie.shershow@gmail.com
- Instagram: shersh_oh
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