Photo by Pat Harrison. Sculpture by Niki de St Phalle

What's the big deal about art?

I’ve been asking myself that a lot lately.  Why is it important to create art, to see art, to appreciate art, for me to make art? I think art communicates who we are, what we are drawn to and away from; what we are thinking, feeling, going through; what touches us, triggers us, catapults us into another time/place, way of being. Art for me expresses what words can’t. It creates questions. Bursts with emotion. Touches memories and heart. Helps me feel alive and attentive to my environment, to see beyond first impressions. Art is ground and glue, edge and emptiness, pain, ink, chalk and dirt trying to explain the inexplicable. And with some luck and a bit of magic, for artist or viewer, it draws the awes and “aahs” out of us. 

Personally, I love the genius of the body, the playfulness of spirit, the face--a canvas of emotions. I can’t imagine a world without beauty—not just seeing “it” as beautiful, but having our own experience of what beauty does for us—how we feel it--uniquely for each of us. Even without studying formally art can show us how much we all know: balance, order, shape, line, integrity, contrast, value…and the value of following intuition: we do know what we like. We do know what we don’t like. And I think that tells us a lot about ourselves. 

One of the most powerful and transformative tools we have, as I see it, is any method, any practice (ART, YOGA and MINDFULNESS are mine) that help us access imagination, wisdom, love, compassion, connection with something bigger -- anything that can help us move towards peace and clarity inside ourselves and in the world. And of course an ability to make messes, clean up after them, and then make new ones is all part of it. Art and life are hard work. It’s good to get our hands dirty. And stay seriously playful.

Art for me is a joyful, challenging, heart breaking, heart opening, ever-exciting spiritual practice that helps me stay in the present moment. I work with clay, mixed media, monoprints, collage and painting, and I’m constantly exploring new realms. It’s a continued journey of learning technique, developing skill, getting to know a medium--its strengths and weakness, and my own.  I acknowledge the dark side, the shadow, but ultimately I try to look for the light and the good in art, yoga, life and others.

Calling oneself a “sculptor” means digging ones hands into clay and seeing form and imagination manifest. It’s instinct mixed with raw emotion put to raw material. Study. Refinement. A long process of building, redefining, transforming mistakes, hollowing, rebuilding, fine tuning, preparing (and praying) and glazing, reglazing and firing and re-firing. And not asking one piece to say it all.

My thirty plus years teaching/studying human nature, anatomy and the body-mind connection through Yoga, Buddhist meditation, Hakomi and RCS (recreating the self) somatic-based therapies and the work of other artists all influence my Art. I strive to find the quirky humor, the heart, an essence or story of each piece whether it’s sculpture, mixed media, a sketch or a painting. I am indebted to Marianne Groh, Andrea Borsuk, Coeleen Kiebert and all my teachers at Cabrillo College. I am grateful to collectors of my work throughout the country. For prices and availability, or to discuss future work, contact Jenni@NamaStay.net.