Delve into the world of art and emotions with emerging artist Leigh Witherell (leighs.art). In this episode of Art in Orbit, hosted by José Erre, Leigh shares her journey as an artist specializing in Melancholic and abstract art, influenced by personal experiences and powered by her daughter's memory. Discover how Leigh incorporates AI into her creative process and explores the profound implications of emotional attachment to sentient AI beings. Explore the ethical, social, and psychological dimensions of this unique fusion of art and technology.
Leigh Witherell on Instagram @leighsartfl
The Invisibility Project (theinvisibilityproject.org), now an official nonprofit organization in the United States, was born as an inevitable byproduct of Leigh Witherell's journey as an artist and a bereaved mother. After her daughter Amanda Jane tragically passed away in a car accident in 2021, Leigh turned to art as a companion and outlet to cope with her grief. Her art became a vehicle for expressing her inner self and sharing the depth of her heartache with openness and extreme vulnerability. Through her artistic journey, Leigh also rekindled her role as an educator, empathizing deeply with her audience, and realizing the need to bring visibility to the grief experienced by bereaved parents. She embarked on a mission to collect and share their stories, conducting interviews with grieving parents from around the world. These interviews inspired her to create powerful artworks, including "We Are the Story," during a month-long art residency in Portugal. Leigh's art serves as a testament to the pain and resilience of bereaved parents and will be showcased in the exhibition "Grief Flows," opening in Madrid on September 23, as a tribute to Amanda, the participating parents, and their children. The exhibition aims to shed light on the profound and often overlooked aspects of the human experience, demanding acknowledgment of the existence and importance of these children and the validity of their parents' pain.
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José Erre on Instagram @jose.erre
Artinorbit podcast is produced by Artistcloseup http://www.artistcloseup.com
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