The Wonder of What We Stand to Lose

I’m so excited to share with you my cover story, The Wonder of What We Stand to Lose, for the winter issue of Venü Magazine 2017/18.

In this issue, I cover the work of pastel artist Zaria Forman.  Zaria creates large-scale drawings inspired by her trips to the Arctic and Antarctic aboard the National Geographic Explorer and NASA’s Operation IceBridge. Zaria’s story is not only about creating beautiful work, but it also shares her personal story and her mission to spread awareness on the very real concerns of global warming.

Venü Magazine Cover Story by Lisa Mikulski

Here is an excerpt from the story:

Changing and shifting, the exact subject matter of Zaria Forman’s art can never be captured again. Unlike paintings or photos of landscapes or landmarks – those places where an artist can return again and again – the icebergs of the Arctic and Antarctic are melting and the waters of the Maldives are raising. By the time Forman has completed a drawing, the natural landscape that once existed has diminished and transformed.

Forman has made it her life’s mission to provide us with stunning large-scale artworks of icebergs, glaciers, and the sapphire blues of thousand-year-old ancient ice. In addition to providing us with these highly detailed and majestic views – she creates her work using only her fingers – the work serves to call attention to the urgency that climate change is having upon some of the world’s most vulnerable regions.

Traveling with NASA and National Geographic Explorer, she has passionately sought to capture the story of what we stand to lose. However, rather than bringing to us the tragedy of what is unfolding in these areas, Forman brings the beauty of what she has seen.

“There is, of course, all kinds of bad news out there about climate change. There’s the fact that the past three years have been the hottest on record, extreme weather is wreaking havoc all over the world, the polar bear population in the Arctic is in rapid decline, and now we’re faced with an administration that ignores these problems – contributing to environmental decline with their denial of it,” says Forman.

“My drawings explore moments of transition, turbulence, and tranquility in the landscape, allowing viewers to connect emotionally with places they may never have the chance to visit. I choose to convey the beauty of these vulnerable regions – as opposed to their devastation – with the hope of inspiring viewers to help preserve them.”

Please read Zaria’s entire story here at Issuu, and let me know your thoughts. The feature, The Wonder of What We Stand to Lose, starts on page 50. You can read it in its entirety or download the complete winter issue. Of course, Venü is also available on newsstands in New England, Long Island, and at this year’s Art Basel Miami. I’m also happy to share that Venü Magazine will soon be making its way into the Boston area.

Lisa Mikulski is an international writer/photographer based in Boston, MA with a focus on art, culture and lifestyle. Available for print or online publications. Editorial, features, content development, and creative. Contact me to discuss your story.