Open at Risk

Mixed media construction
2008

Belted pouches, coverless books, and clam shells wrapped in string tantalizingly beckon us to open them and see what's inside. They are mysteries waiting to be revealed. My assemblage, Open at Risk, juxtaposes these visual metaphors with images of small children, alluding to the adults they will become and the hope we have for them—delightful possibilities amid the dark fears.

The art work also speaks about the passions within each of us that are rarely allowed to see the light of day. Their magic slips away while we wait for the certainty of no risk. I've incorporated images of monsters drawn by a four-year old—amulets for protection from the unknown—that compel us to bravely open the box.

Marianne Lettieri creates narrative constructions in quiet protest of a culture that rushes and clashes so much, the enchantment of everyday life is often missed. She transforms the detritus and castoffs of modern society into meaningful imagery as a kind of hope for reconciliation with creation and the Creator.

She grew up on Cape Canaveral, Florida during the space race between the USA and USSR where visual juxtapositions, such as egrets flying at the rumble of a rocket launch, gave her a lasting appreciation for images that are both familiar and strange.

After earning a BFA in drawing and printmaking at University of Florida, she worked as a commercial artist and modern dancer, eventually moving to the "Silicon Valley" of California to pursue a career in public relations and marketing for the high technology industry. She has a juried residency at Cubberley Artist Studios in Palo Alto, California, and is working on a MFA in spatial arts at San Jose State University. Marianne is the founder of Arts of the Covenant, a group for visual artists interested in the intersection of art and faith.

To see more of her work, visit www.mariannelettieri.com.

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