Evelyn Lu

Keep Calm and Swim On, 2022

Cyanotype, watercolor
18" x 24"
Unframed $330, Framed $400

For all sales inquiries, contact Dan Bamba, Arts Services Director: dbamba@flushingtownhall.org

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Artist Statement

My name is Evelyn. Have you heard of 'blue mind'? It is the calm and meditative state that being near water brings. Being in the water does this for me. I love open water swimming. I swim in the San Francisco bay where my heart is and the water is between 50 F degree to 65 F degree throughout the year. I swim at Brighton beach all year in New York City where I live and care for my aging mother, and winter swimming (without a wetsuit) brings me the blue mind during difficult times. Especially during the coronavirus pandemic, I crave a greater connection with nature and the ocean. The cyanotype prints I make are the artistic expression of that connection. Walking in the woods and beaches I collect leaves, flowers, plants, shells, and other things. Their shapes come to life on the paper through the cyanotype process. Each print is handmade and one of a kind due to the uncertainty of the environment, and I think the cyan-blue color evokes the 'blue mind' state.

My intention of making and sharing art for the viewer is to see beauty in imperfection just like our lives as we are experiencing now, and appreciate nature around us. I use my hands, mind, time, and simple material to create something that connects me with nature and life, all culminating in a sense of peace.

Thank you for the chance to share this magic with you.

About The Artist

I never had formal art training. I always liked drawing and collage, but my curiosity in technology kept me as a software engineer. With caring for my mom's illness, the frustration and sadness lead me to needing self-expression of my emotions when I felt isolated during hardship. I've found self healing by swimming in open water, especially in San Francisco Bay where the water ranges from 50 to 65 Fahrenheit degrees throughout the year and at Brighton beach in New York City where I recently moved to and swam throughout the winter without a wetsuit. Cold water swimming helped me conquer my fear and embrace whatever challenge comes my way. Surrounding myself with nature in the middle of the chaotic New York City, I learned to be grateful, appreciate the positive things in life, and see beauty in simple things. I want to share what nature has taught me through my art and helping others to find their inner peace.