From magazines to masterpieces: Lucchese in Macon

There’s more to Maura Lucchese’s art than seen at first glance, and even more in the “why” behind it.

Lucchese is a collage artist — a pure collage artist. There’s no paint or other art medium involved, only pieces of paper taken from magazines bearing the colors, images and words used to create intricate portraits and images.

There’s also the time, effort and remarkable artistry she puts into each piece.

“I did one collage in 24 hours, but others have taken six months,” Lucchese told me. “On average, one piece usually takes 300 to 400 hours.”

For perspective, that’s roughly more than a month of eight-hour workdays to just under two months of them on average.

No weekends off. It shows in her detailed quality of work.

And, of course, it takes a lot of magazines.

“I have a storage room full of magazines but I always need more,” Lucchese said. “I use all kinds and I’m always begging people for their old ones. It breaks my heart to hear someone has thrown a pile out. To me, going through magazines is like a treasure hunt. When I’m working on a collage, I’m always looking for just the right piece, just the right color, just the right image.”

But it’s not only that.

“I’m looking for the right words in the right fonts — all to reflect what I’m feeling and looking for at the moment,” she added. “I spend a lot of time looking through magazines and it’s not just when I’m working on something.”

Lucchese has help from her assistant who she can tell, “I need pink, a Hello Kitty pink.”

Her assistant searches, rips out pages and comes asking, “Is this what you’re looking for?” to which Lucchese often responds, “Yeah, that’s it, that’s it!”

At a distance, you might argue that her work looks like a boldly colorful, interestingly done painting.

Get closer, and it’s clearly all collage.

Get even closer, and hundreds, maybe thousands, of colored bits of paper with images and words appear.

Her technique is striking, impressive.

“But nothing is there without purpose,” Lucchese said. “I seek the right piece, the appropriate color and the right words to reflect or add meaning.”

A selection of about half a dozen original works, plus prints of previous works, will open in an exhibit this Friday at Gallery West as part of First Friday art openings, exhibits and activities. A reception from 5-8 p.m., with the artist in attendance, will include complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages.

Lucchese was selected to do this year’s poster for the Jazz Association of Macon’s 22nd annual Jazz & Arts on Riverdale event coming Oct. 25.

The association promotes and presents jazz in schools and around the community. It also provides scholarships each year for a selection of students seeking higher music education.

The event is full of artists and their wares and lots of live jazz. Among talented local players, this year’s headliner is the Louis Heriveaux Quartet. The neighborhood celebration with food trucks, beverages and more is free from noon to 6 p.m. on Riverdale Drive.

On First Friday, association players will be at Gallery West to provide a foretaste of Riverdale.

Discovering home in Macon

A Florida native, Lucchese arrived in Macon in June, taking a friend up on their invitation to show her around. One place they visited was Gallery West, where she met Kirsten and Kirk West. She got to see Kirk’s photography and hit it off with Kirsten, who owns the gallery. The Wests invited Lucchese to a Wednesday session at Grant’s Lounge to hear the Macon Music Revue.

At Grant’s, they sat next to Kathy Nolan, area public relations professional and travel writer, who is also a member of the Jazz Association. Naturally, they showed her Lucchese’s work and she immediately asked, “Can you do a poster for us?” Lucchese said the banter went something like this in the loud, music-filled room:

— Lucchese: “When do you need it?”

— Nolan: “Two months.” 

— Lucchese: “What are you looking for?” 

— Nolan: “Roaring ‘20s, a Great Gatsby theme.” 

— Lucchese: “I can do a ‘20s flapper.” 

— Nolan: “Sounds great.”

All this happened within a few days of coming to town, seeing sights and meeting people. Lucchese said she was really starting to like Macon.

Instead of leaving town, she stayed to work on the project. She took in more of Macon, walked her dog at a dog park, taught him to swim in the Ocmulgee and discovered things many residents take for granted.

“It’s home now,” she said. “The friendliest place I’ve lived.”

The Wests arranged the exhibit and Lucchese began new work, including new commissions. One piece is of Gregg Allman. Turns out, Kirk West had a lot of magazines she could have, and Kirsten West gave her a bunch of “Hitting the Note” magazines she produced back in the day.

A why behind the work

Despite the grim abuses, betrayals and the losses she’s suffered, Lucchese said she also brings the hope and optimism she relies on to her work. She said she knows there’s a purpose in putting out what she creates, just as there’s a purpose in each cut or torn bit of paper and the colors and expressive words that go into them.

See only a beautiful or exhilarating piece of art? Lucchese said that’s an aspect of its purpose: to bring beauty and joy to others. Touched by the craftsmanship or the words? Then that’s the part of herself she said she pours into each work, touching the humanity in you.

“At a very low point, I found myself on the floor, crying out to God, screaming I was going to die of a broken heart,” Lucchese said. “No spooky voices, but I felt in my heart God was telling me he gave me art and I was to make art until I died. I thought it would be days later and I’d complete one more piece, but 15 years later and I’m still doing what I was told: making art. Not religious art, human art. Sometimes this, sometimes that, sometimes sexy, but always human.

“Every artist’s issue is, ‘What am I going to make?’ I felt God wanted me to make whatever was on my heart: disappointment, joy, sorrow, delight in life and relationships — I just try to move people with the same things that move me.

“We need to acknowledge it’s OK to be human, struggles and all. I don’t want anyone to go through life thinking they’re some random, unimportant thing, because each of us is more than that. There’s always an ugly period creating art when you feel it’s not worth it. But you push through — hopefully with others — and then one day, there it is, it’s amazing. Let’s lift one another up through the hard times and celebrate that we’re all here.”

Lucchese goes by Brain Candy Art on Instagram, and Gallery West is @gallerywestmacon. For more information on the Jazz Association, visit maconjazz.org.

Contact Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com. Find him on Instagram: michael_w_pannell.