PLATTSBURGH — Sue Lezon retired in September 2022 as an associate professor of photography at SUNY Plattsburgh, and that left her more freedom to do what she’s done for 40 years, archaeological photography with a University of Chicago expedition in Egypt.
In “Shared Terrain,” Lezon reveals “pops of color” in the Egyptian terrain, a departure for her.
“I am so inspired by the work of Diane and Peter and how they used color,” she said.
“As I began to put this body of work together for this show, I recognized it would be lovely to put my color work in and them we will have a room full of different ways of color use.”
Lezon has done black-and-white photography her whole life, but about 10 years ago she recognized she had been photographing color for archaeological purposes.
“But I hadn’t done a lot of it for my own work,” she said.
“That realization was powerful for me.”
“Pink Benches” captures brightly hued traditional furniture set against a brown ground and built environments in a specific Egyptian village.
“What I’ve noticed as I watch color, that they’re very light, bright paint colors used for furniture. I do not believe it had anything to do with gender. I think it was a question of a beautiful color. Likely, they were painted in a furniture shop and were purchased by the owners of the home.”
There is a similar bench, though unpainted, that is a companion to a set of azure stairs to nowhere in “Remains Qurna Egypt.”
“A village was being torn down, and those were the remnants of a home,” she said.
“They are literally steps that were taken of a home that had been torn down and left there. I don’t know if they were then going to be taken to a new home or not. They were sitting there in the desert. Wow, you look at those and then you look at the color of the sky. That juxtaposition was pretty powerful for me. They see that color everyday. There is rarely a cloud in the sky in Luxor. I think maybe one of the reason they might use it is because it’s a color everywhere in their lives.”
Lezon said she is fortunate to be an educator, archaeological photographer, and a fine artist.
“One of the things that have been really joyful for me is sharing with me my colleagues in the art department,” she said.
“For this particular exhibit, with Diane and Peter. We saw each other every day. We worked to create a really rigorous program in the fine arts and we looked at each other’s work and we grew from that as well. We supported each other as artists and as teachers. That’s something that has been very important to me because when you’re in a studio, you’re often working by yourself. So, it’s wonderful to have that connection with other artists.”
As a teacher, she learned so much from her students and was get influenced by their work.
“I have an interest in history and how a certain object can define a certain way of thinking about history or thinking about a life. So, those things all work together because this journey that we’re all on is mysterious and inspiration comes when it comes.”
After Saturday’s reception, Lezon will return to Egypt.
“We are so happy to be sharing this gallery together,” she said.
“It is such joy.”