lisa chizmar
Lisa M. Augustine-Chizmar, EdD.
North Augusta Artist Guild, President
Better World Studios, Grant Writer
North Augusta Arts and Heritage Center Member
@Coachchiz
Although Lisa has always appreciated a variety of artistic mediums, she had never participated in the creative process until it became necessary. When a dear friend’s child was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and placed into isolation, she had to do something. Lisa began photographing large and small scale nature, then sending one photo of the world outside the hospital every day. The Bloom of the Day was born and continues still. This simple little act kept her and MC connected to each other and to the resiliency of the natural world.
When Lisa returned to school to complete her doctorate in education, she realized she could integrate art into her research. With the encouragement of her family, friends, and the members of the North Augusta Artists Guild, she began photographing and videorecording life along the Savannah River. If you are interested her dissertation is available on the Georgia Southern website: Middle Savannah River: An A/r/tographic Ecopedagogical Ethnography Experimenting with Rhizomatic Perspectives.
Lisa continues to enjoy her nature photography; however, in the last few years she has been working with fluid abstracts. Inspired by the river, botany, neurology, chemistry, and astronomy, her paintings are representative of research and the result of happy accidents. Each piece is carefully considered, then she plays until she is happy. Oftentimes her husband, who builds the frames, has to tell her to walk away and let it rest. Usually, this is when it turns into the final piece.
Lisa splits her profits with Team MC for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society towards cancer research. Her life has been deeply affected by friends and family with cancer including MaryCatherine Hydrick. MC is now 7 years cancer free due to the dedication, tenacity, passion, and willingness of the faculty at the Georgia Cancer Center.
When she isn’t covered in paint (and sometimes when she is), she enjoys gardening, teaching, and taking care of her dogs, children and grandchildren. Her latest and past work can be viewed on her instagram page @coachchiz. .
