L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 30 L'Italo-Americano T o say that Iole A l e s s a n d r i n i would travel to the ends of the Earth to capture images of light, time and space is no exaggeration. In fact, the Seattle artist spent two weeks this past October in the Arctic Cir- cle, traveling with an inter- national group of 30 artists aboard a sailing ship in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, just 10 degrees of l a t i t u d e b e l o w t h e N o r t h Pole. Although it is one of the world's northernmost inhabited areas, the region h a s m o r e p o l a r b e a r s ( 3 , 0 0 0 ) t h a n r e s i d e n t s (2,700). Alessandrini specializes in a photographic technique she invented called laser plane photography. This technique captures a phe- nomenon produced by light t h a t r e t a i n s i m a g e s o f objects or people long after they have moved through the laser plane. "My work suggests that humans leave an intangible mark on the environment, evoking mem- ories, emotions, and ener- gies that linger even after they have physically left the space," she explained. Alessandrini's Arctic jour- ney was part of a two-week residency and expedition made possible by the non- p r o f i t o r g a n i z a t i o n , T h e Arctic Circle, with support from optical engineer and c o l l e a g u e E d M a n n e r y . Navigating extreme temper- atures to experience the Arc- tic's pristine environment first-hand, Alessandrini was driven by her lifelong inter- est in sustainable environ- ments coupled with her cut- t i n g - e d g e w o r k i n l a s e r photography. It would be the first time she would cre- ate her laser art in a natural s e t t i n g , r a t h e r t h a n a n urban one. The logistics were daunt- ing. "Going to the Arctic is like going to the moon," said Alessandrini. "I had special clothing, boots, and gloves. I was pretty well-equipped for temperatures that were 7 or 9 degrees below zero Celsius until I had to remove my gloves to set up the camera or tripod, adjust the lasers, o r r e p l a c e t h e b a t t e r i e s . That was not fun." The expedition traveled aboard a traditionally rigged barquentine, a specially out- fitted sailboat equipped with workspace, common areas, and ample room for privacy and creativity. "The cabins were comfortable, and we had everything we needed on board," said Alessandri- ni. "There was ample water for showers and baths, and we had a chef who prepared our meals." Twice a day, the artists went ashore in smaller Zodi- ac vessels, accompanied by four armed guides who kept a sharp lookout for polar bears. The group saw many polar bear footprints in the snow but never actually saw one during the expedition. A l t h o u g h A l e s s a n d r i n i e x p e c t e d t o s e e b e a u t i f u l scenery, she was unprepared for what she found. "It was probably the most beautiful place I've ever been in terms of its natural environment," she said. "It made me realize that nature can create amaz- ing ice sculptures that are abstract and expressive all on its own, without the need f o r h u m a n s . B u t e v e n t h o u g h t h e r e g i o n l o o k s pristine and uncontaminat- ed, when you factor in cli- mate change and human- caused pollution – for exam- p l e , h i g h l e v e l s o f P C B s (polychlorinated biphenyls) in the water that affect not only fish and animals but c a n m a k e t h e i r w a y i n t o humans through the food chain – you realize there is a stark contrast between what appears to be pristine and what actually is." Alessandrini is grateful for the opportunity to expe- rience the Arctic first-hand – an experience that could never be duplicated through books or videos. "The reality of that environment takes you by surprise," she said. "It resets your expectations. For example, the color blue i n t h e N o r t h P o l e i s s o intense, it's palpable. I felt as though I could cut it with a knife. I've never seen such a pure vibrant blue. I kept checking my camera settings t o m a k e s u r e t h e y w e r e accurate." For years, Alessandrini has explored the intersec- tion of art and science. She began experimenting with light as an artistic medium in the late 1990s, creating large installations that com- b i n e c u s t o m - b u i l t l a s e r s , l i g h t - s e n s i t i v e s e n s o r s , sound, and other equipment to expand our perception of the world. With the Arctic project, she has moved from urban settings to natural ones. "During the expedi- tion, my goal was to capture t h e p r o f o u n d c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n i n d i v i d u a l s a n d t h e i r s u r r o u n d i n g s , " A l e s s a n d r i n i e x p l a i n e d . "The laser photographs help s h o w t h a t o u r i m p a c t o n something as fragile as the Arctic has a lasting effect b e y o n d t h e i m m e d i a t e moment and space. I hope my work sparks conversa- tions that transcend political differences and helps foster shared responsibility toward our environment." Born in Abruzzo, Alessan- drini moved to Rome when she was young. In 1994, she relocated to Seattle to attend the University of Washing- ton, where she earned a sec- o n d m a s t e r ' s d e g r e e i n architecture (the first was from Sapienza University in Rome). She's been a Seattle resident ever since. She has had solo and group exhibi- tions coast-to-coast from Seattle to New York, Taco- ma to Miami, and her work has been exhibited in gal- leries and museums in many c i t i e s i n I t a l y . S h e a l s o teaches at the University of Washington and at Bellevue College. A l e s s a n d r i n i h a s f u l l y e m b r a c e d t h e s h i f t t o exploring light in a natural environment. "My work in the Arctic is in response to climate change and aligns with my interest in sustain- a b l e e n v i r o n m e n t s , " s h e said. "I want to use my art to call attention to a place that seems so far away yet plays a critical role in the overall well-being of our planet." Journey through light, time and space RITA CIPALLA Above: a ghostly image remains after a fellow artist passes through a laser plane, suggesting that human actions can leave a mark on the environment long after the space is vacated (Photo: Iole Alessandrini). Bottom: Seattle artist Iole Alessandrini checks her camera settings during a two-week photographic and scientific journey to the North Pole (Photo: Rich Pell) SEATTLE ITALIAN COMMUNITY

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