Francene Levinson

Francene J. Levinson was born in Brooklyn, N. Y. and currently resides in Portland, Oregon. She received her BA 1966 and MA Art Ed 1969 at Brooklyn College, NY. There she created abstract paintings which were influenced by her professor Ad Reinhardt and eventually, his contemporary, Mark Rothko. After moving to Florida her computer drawing skills were acquired at the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Francene enjoyed 15 years as an award-winning art teacher in New York and then in Florida. She studied Stone sculpturing at The Montoya Art Studio, West Palm Beach, Fl.
Alabaster sculptures were the foundation which enabled her to create multi modular paper sculptures inspired by the Golden Venture immigrants. The modular paper sculptures she created have been juried into many gallery and museum exhibitions. Francene’s sculptures have earned many first place and best in show awards. Her sculptures were part of the collection at Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, from 2009 through 2012. In addition, she was honored with “The Mastermind Art Grant” for South Florida 2010. Significantly, she was also awarded First Place – Boca Raton Museum of Art, 2010 - Biennial, in Boca Raton, FL
Now, coming full circle back to her painting and computer skills, Francene creates original abstract digital paintings. Her digital paintings have been published in Woventale Press Literary Arts Magazine, Salann Magazine, and Light Space and Time On Line gallery.. In 2019, her digital painting was selected to represent the USA, when the Art Dex International Competition awarded her digital painting 4th place among 88 countries. She exhibits her digital art at several galleries in Portland, Oregon and is represented by the Portland Art Museum’s Rental Sales Gallery. Francene enjoys pushing the digital art medium to its full potential.

Contact info:
francene.levinson@gmail.com
www.francenelevinson.com.
www.facebook.com/francene.levinson.1
www.twitter.com/franlevinson


Portfolio:

Francene Levinson Paper Sculpture-Ocean Life

I expand on the time-honored medium of paper to find new forms of expression through complex paper folding. The discovery of Chinese 'Zhe Zhi' modular paper folding was a shared cultural experience taught to me by one of my students. Working in this modular paper medium allows me to create abstract direct sculpture. My style reveals the dynamic lines of various organic forms. Natural forms reflect my Florida environment and allow me to explore their architecture, as well as their hidden mathematical beauty. My direct sculptures may have as many as 6500 pieces of folded color paper, bonded with glue. Creating abstract direct sculpture from flat paper is a revealing challenge and fulfills my need to share the wonder of my world.

Anemone “Anemone”

This modular direct paper sculpture is part of an ocean-life series."Anemone" is inspired by flower-like marine-life. It is constructed only of hand cut, hand folded, archival color, inkjet paper modules and Ph neutral glue. There are approximately 3500 triangular double-pocket, double point modules of paper linked together. This is an ancient Chinese paper folding technique called "Zhe Zhi." The architecture of folded, linked and glued paper units creates a very strong and durable sculpture medium which permits direct paper sculpting. The science of topology dictates the slope and curve of the surface by the number of points linked in a circumference. Archival paper is acid free,color stable, and generally used as legal substrate for documentation and suitable to last a minimum of 100 years.

Sea Flower “Sea Flower”

This modular direct paper sculpture is part of an ocean-life series."Sea Flower" is inspired by flower-like marine-life. It is constructed only of hand cut, hand folded, archival color, inkjet paper modules and Ph neutral glue. There are approximately 3500 triangular double-pocket, double point modules of paper linked together. This is an ancient Chinese paper folding technique called "Zhe Zhi." The architecture of folded, linked and glued paper units creates a very strong and durable sculpture medium which permits direct paper sculpting. The science of topology dictates the slope and curve of the surface by the number of points linked in a circumference. Archival paper is acid free,color stable, and generally used as legal substrate for documentation and suitable to last a minimum of 100 years.

Reveal “Reveal”

This modular direct paper sculpture is part of an ocean-life series."Reveal" is inspired by the spiny backed oyster. It is constructed only of hand cut, hand folded, archival color, inkjet paper modules and Ph neutral glue. There are approximately 3500 triangular double-pocket, double point modules of paper linked together. This is an ancient Chinese paper folding technique called "Zhe Zhi." The architecture of folded, linked and glued paper units creates a very strong and durable sculpture medium which permits direct paper sculpting. The science of topology dictates the slope and curve of the surface by the number of points linked in a circumference. Archival paper is acid free,color stable, and generally used as legal substrate for documentation and suitable to last a minimum of 100 years.

Urchin “Urchin”

This modular direct paper sculpture is part of an ocean-life series."Urchin" is inspired by deep sea marine-life. It is constructed only of hand cut, hand folded, archival color, inkjet paper modules and Ph neutral glue. There are approximately 3500 triangular double-pocket, double point modules of paper linked together. This is an ancient Chinese paper folding technique called "Zhe Zhi." The architecture of folded, linked and glued paper units creates a very strong and durable sculpture medium which permits direct paper sculpting. The science of topology dictates the slope and curve of the surface by the number of points linked in a circumference. Archival paper is acid free,color stable, and generally used as legal substrate for documentation and suitable to last a minimum of 100 years.

Caracol “Caracol”

This modular direct paper sculpture is part of an ocean-life series."Caracol" is inspired by worn down sea shells found along the sandy beaches of Florida where I reside. It is constructed only of hand cut, hand folded, archival color, inkjet paper modules and Ph neutral glue. There are approximately 3500 triangular double-pocket, double point modules of paper linked together. This is an ancient Chinese paper folding technique called "Zhe Zhi." The architecture of folded, linked and glued paper units creates a very strong and durable sculpture medium which permits direct paper sculpting. The science of topology dictates the slope and curve of the surface by the number of points linked in a circumference. Archival paper is acid free,color stable, and generally used as legal substrate for documentation and suitable to last a minimum of 100 years.

Francene Levinson Paper Sculptures- Bird Life

I expand on the time-honored medium of paper to find new forms of expression through complex paper folding. The discovery of Chinese 'Zhe Zhi' modular paper folding was a shared cultural experience taught to me by one of my students. Working in this modular paper medium allows me to create abstract direct sculpture. My style reveals the dynamic lines of various organic forms. Natural forms reflect my Florida environment and allow me to explore their architecture, as well as their hidden mathematical beauty. My direct sculptures may have as many as 6500 pieces of folded color paper, bonded with glue. Creating abstract direct sculpture from flat paper is a revealing challenge and fulfills my need to share the wonder of my world.

Phoenix “Phoenix”

This modular direct paper sculpture is part of the bird-life series."Phoenix" is inspired by the mythology of a remarkable bird that renews its life, produces an egg, even as it dies in flames. It is constructed only of hand cut, hand folded, archival color, inkjet paper modules and Ph neutral glue. There are approximately 3500 triangular double-pocket, double point modules of paper linked together. This is an ancient Chinese paper folding technique called "Zhe Zhi." The architecture of folded, linked and glued paper units creates a very strong and durable sculpture medium which permits direct paper sculpting. The science of topology dictates the slope and curve of the surface by the number of points linked in a circumference. Archival paper is acid free,color stable, and generally used as legal substrate for documentation and suitable to last a minimum of 100 years.

Caress “Caress”

This modular direct paper sculpture is part of an bird-life series."Caress" is inspired by the sweep and gentle, loving caress of bird wings around their young. It is constructed only of hand cut, hand folded, archival color, inkjet paper modules and Ph neutral glue. There are approximately 3500 triangular double-pocket, double point modules of paper linked together. This is an ancient Chinese paper folding technique called "Zhe Zhi." The architecture of folded, linked and glued paper units creates a very strong and durable sculpture medium which permits direct paper sculpting. The science of topology dictates the slope and curve of the surface by the number of points linked in a circumference. Archival paper is acid free,color stable, and generally used as legal substrate for documentation and suitable to last a minimum of 100 years.

Temptation “Temptation”

This modular direct paper sculpture is part of the bird-life series."Temptation" is inspired by the ability of birds to catch the worm. It is constructed only of hand cut, hand folded, archival color, inkjet paper modules and Ph neutral glue. There are approximately 3500 triangular double-pocket, double point modules of paper linked together. This is an ancient Chinese paper folding technique called "Zhe Zhi." The architecture of folded, linked and glued paper units creates a very strong and durable sculpture medium which permits direct paper sculpting. The science of topology dictates the slope and curve of the surface by the number of points linked in a circumference. Archival paper is acid free,color stable, and generally used as legal substrate for documentation and suitable to last a minimum of 100 years.

Wings “Wings”

This modular direct paper sculpture is part of the bird-life series."Wings" is inspired by the elegant ability of birds in flight. It is constructed only of hand cut, hand folded, archival color, inkjet paper modules and Ph neutral glue. There are approximately 3500 triangular double-pocket, double point modules of paper linked together. This is an ancient Chinese paper folding technique called "Zhe Zhi." The architecture of folded, linked and glued paper units creates a very strong and durable sculpture medium which permits direct paper sculpting. The science of topology dictates the slope and curve of the surface by the number of points linked in a circumference. Archival paper is acid free,color stable, and generally used as legal substrate for documentation and suitable to last a minimum of 100 years.

Modular Paper Wall Sculptures

Contemporary modular paper wall sculpture. Inspired by multi-cultural explorations of the geometry of the face and power,