Albert Einstein famously said that imagination is more important than knowledge. I think if he were here today, he would really enjoy seeing the artwork of Alicia Zanoni, as well as chatting with her about her current journey as an artist. Her latest show that will debut in the Harrison Gallery on March 5 is called, “A Will and Away”, and thematically it’s about having the courage and determination to engage our imaginations.

First of all, I want to start by saying that this is the third time I’ve interviewed Alicia about a show she was doing at the Harrison Center. She never fails to inspire and fascinate me with her process and point of view. It seems as if her paintings give off a magical glow. Her skill at expressing light and contrast to create a powerful impact in her compositions strikes me as the essence of her trademark style. Her latest collection of work continues in this tradition while demonstrating that Alicia is continuing on a trajectory of artistic growth and experimentation.

The landscapes featured in this collection are all the product of the artist’s imagination. She begins her process by “willing” her mind to envision a place that is beautiful, magical, and difficult to get to. By diving into the creation of the image, she essentially goes “away”, eventually, joyfully arriving in the imagined place by manifesting it with her brushes and paints. Her technique is so skillful that you might imagine she painted the scenes in pleine aire, but the places she takes us are purely intuitive and can only be traveled to by processing her beautiful paintings. In each of her pieces, this artist invites us to take a metaphoric journey from where we are to the magical places we view through her artwork. This transportation represents the experience of our own journeys to that which is meaningful in our lives.

What is Perfect in this World?, Oil on Linen.

I love the fact that none of the landscapes I viewed in Alicia’s studio featured imagery of roads, giving the feeling of places that were wild and untouched as well as being difficult to travel to for the average human being.

While you will no doubt recognize Alicia’s gently confident brush strokes, this collection is a diversion for her with regard to color. Her use of peachy hues against the darker greens, teal and indigo create a moody atmosphere in many of these pieces that in turn produces a quietly powerful emotional impact for the viewer.

For those of us who have been staying close to home during the pandemic, this show provides an opportunity to get “away” from our ordinary surroundings by exercising our imaginations and entering the magical landscapes that Alicia Zanoni has created for “A Will and Away”. The paintings will hang in the Harrison Gallery throughout March, during which time you may view them virtually or in person by appointment through the Harrison Center.