Elisabeth Ladwig, an award-winning photographic artist whose current work has appeared on magazine covers and gallery walls from Arizona to Rome; and her digital displays in Times Square and at the Louvre.

One of those “gallery walls between AZ and Rome” is right here in Boothbay Harbor at the Black River Gallery at 16 McKown Street. Elisabeth will be at the Gallery – with some new works – from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, July 20.

Her work is the convergence of a graphic design career and a personal fondness for collage art. Elisabeth offers viewers a variety of metaphors for the miracles around us, and for humankind’s relationship with the Earth and with the Cosmos.

Elisabeth: “Age 11, I think. That’s about the age when I decided adults were wrong: magic does exist ... As I lay in the grass watching pre-tornado skies, I realized it was all around me, hidden behind the sciences of meteorology, botany, astronomy... the warmth of miracles overshadowed by experiments and equations and proofs. It became clear that the beauty of science, nature, and magic was one and the same, and it saddened me that the miraculous nature of it all had been dismissed so irresponsibly over time. Photo compositing allows me to create metaphorical reminders of the magic and miracles all around us in an attempt to bring humanity back home to its roots: kin of the Earth. So with a nod to Mother Nature and her fairy tale existence, I work to seek out equal beauty in the storm as in the sunrise.”

Once an idea is born in her sketchbook, Elisabeth sets out to take the photographs she needs to create the image. Her creative process is variable and spiritually instinctive; often, an image is well on its way or even completed before its concept is fully understood, and that meaning may vary from one viewer to the next.

All of her scenes have a strong natural connection, set completely or partially outdoors, often with an anonymous subject. “Anonymity allows the viewer to take part in writing the story,” Elisabeth says, “and that story is going to be different for everyone.

Upon finishing her studies in Graphic and Digital Design at Parsons School of Design in New York City, Elisabeth Ladwig’s artistic career began as a graphic artist in the music industry. She created designs for the likes of Liza Minelli, Barry Manilow and Patrick Stewart, as well as for Broadway and for major motion pictures.

“Elisabeth’s been a friend of ours for a long time,” Sue Kenney said. “Catherine and I just love her work and thought people would enjoy meeting her.”

For more information about this artist, plan to be at Black River Gallery and speak with her … or visit https://www.elisabethonearth.com.

Black River Gallery is a collaboration of the creative and photographic visions of Sue Kenney and Catherine Day. For more information, visit http://www.blackrivergallery.com or call 315.6522