Peace by Piece
By Greta Elbogen
Nick Lapole
Built structure and pieces
Oil on MDF
7”x7”x7”
About Nick Lapole
I’m from Des Moines. My heritage, though, remains inconclusive. A distant uncle has searched far and wide, but his research and evidence remain... distant.
I am getting my MFA from the Pratt Institute.
I was interested in working with Greta because she composes herself in a forever earnest way. Her work speaks to her experience, and her energy is contagious.
Piece by Piece gave way to several complicated questions: What are these pieces? What becomes of them when taken into the whole of human experience?
Essentially, I loved the way that parts and wholes are forever in flux. The pieces are prominent amid melting into the broader strokes of a singular life. My work responds to containers, frames, and the like.
To work with this subject matter in Greta’s context was an excellent opportunity. The parts (as with the events in our life) may be awkward and irresolvable, but the striving for some sort of sensible construct was intriguing.
How Nick and Greta Met:
Nick was working as a receptionist at the Jewish Museum. One day, Greta started up a conversation with him, asking about his life. Nick explained that he was an art teacher. Greta gave Nick her book God Plays Hide And Seek, and asked if he would like to illustrate one of her poems. Nick happily agreed, creating Peace by Piece above. Recently, upon Nick’s request, they became penpals.