Artist Lia Rothstein will demonstrate non-toxic art

Eagle Times Staff
BRATTLEBORO, VT — On Thursday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m., artist Lia Rothstein, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center’s 2023 Climate Change Artist in Residence, will give a free online talk about her experiments using bioplastics as art materials.

On Dec. 9, from 2 to 4 p.m. and Dec. 10, from 1 to 4 p.m., Rothstein will lead a two-part printmaking workshop with a focus on natural materials and non-toxic processes. Workshop participants will design their own Gelli printing plate and make prints that can be used as holiday cards or all-purpose works of art.

Rothstein’s Nov. 30 talk will take place on Zoom and will be simultaneously streamed on Facebook Live. Links to both are available at brattleboromuseum.org.

The Dec. 9-10 workshop will take place at River Gallery School (32 Main St. Unit 201, Brattleboro). Advance registration is required. A fee of $90 ($75 for BMAC members) includes all materials. To register, visit brattleboromuseum.org or call 802-257-0124 x101.

Rothstein’s talk and workshop provide an opportunity to learn how all artists can contribute to a more sustainable future.

A photographer, sculptor and educator who lives in Hanover, NH, Rothstein creates mixed-media work with bioplastics, reflecting her commitment to using materials that contribute to environmental preservation. Unlike traditional plastics, bioplastics are made from renewable plant- and animal-based resources, many of which are biodegradable.

Rothstein’s current work focuses on issues surrounding fragility and transience. A decade ago, during in Hofsos, Iceland, she witnessed the impact of climate change on glaciers, which prompted her to seek out biodegradable materials. Recently, she has been exploring such materials as agar (seaweed), gelatin, cassava, and tapioca.

BMAC Director of Exhibitions Sarah Freeman calls Rothstein’s work “incredibly creative and hopeful.”

“I think artists have a responsibility to be thoughtful about the materials we use in our work,” said Rothstein. “We can explore materials that have less impact on our environment, that reduce unnecessary waste and pollution in our fragile ecosystems.”