Script - A Show

I was asked to fill in for a show at The Ice House Gallery in Tatamagouche, NS. The curator has always been super good to me so of course I said, "Yes!" after I did a mental tally and thought, 'yep, I've got enough potential pieces to make this work. Only, they were all on paper and far from being finished. But I had a few weeks and I always work well with a deadline. Bring it on, right?!?

And then my dear pup, Stella got very sick and needed 24/7 care for 8 days. I was a mess and the deadline drew ever closer, stressing me out even more. I think only a couple of hours were spent in the studio during that time and everything I touched got wrecked. Ack!

But Stella gradually got better and I was finally able to get my boards cut, cradle frames made, everything sanded with a week remaining. And that's when the real work began. There were so many dead ends and double backs and while I ended up getting everything finished in time, the reason I even mention it is sometimes an opportunity can feel like it isn't meant to be and you want to wave the white flag. And sometimes you just need to put your nose to the grindstone and Get'er DONE! I'm super glad I stuck with it because through hardship comes discovery and I really love how this group came together. 

Remember Me - Mixed Media on cradled wood board 8 1⁄2 x 7 x 1 1⁄2

The Barn - Mixed media encaustic on cradled wood board 8 x 7 1⁄2 x 1 1⁄4

Melody - Mixed media encaustic on cradled wood board 8 x 8 x 11⁄4

Exile - Mixed media encaustic on cradled wood board 8 1⁄4 x 8 x 1 1⁄4

Swimmers Go the Extra Mile - Mixed media encaustic on cradled wood board 8 x 8 x 1 1⁄4

Transmission - Mixed media, rusty nails, wire on cradled wood board 8 x8 1⁄2x 1 1⁄2

Back Home - Mixed media encaustic on cradled wood board 14 x 9 x 1 1⁄4

762 - Mixed media on cradled wood board 8 1⁄2 x 7 x 1 1⁄2

Wild Lake - Mixed media on cradled wood board 8 1⁄2 x 7 x 1 1⁄2

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Revising History

Revising History’ Artist Statement 

 “He hated confronting those lost moments, being presented with some detail from his past and having to look on it like a stranger. It made his life feel like a made-up thing.” — from Michael Crummey's ‘Sweetland’

Reading these lines led me to explore the concept of memory reliability, the lives we construct, and alternate realities, resulting in my series ‘A Made-Up Life’—meshing perfectly with this show’s theme.

The photos used in this series date to the late 1800s and come from my husband’s aunt, keeper of the family’s genealogy. These characters were often identified with little more than a first name or nickname and are unknown to us, making them ripe to be used in stories. I placed these figures on new landscapes, or isolated them all together, and also used original photos in assemblage pieces, creating a juxtaposition between memory and reality.

Jen Worden is a self-taught mixed-media assemblage artist who makes Wentzell Lake, Nova Scotia, her home and hive of creativity.

Revising History runs from March 26 through April 24, 2022. 
Visit The Ice House Gallery to check hours and to view online.

 

 

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Journeys We Take To Get Back Home

This series,"Journeys We Take to Get Back Home", is both literal and metaphorical.
It has me thinking about all the reasons we travel away ...from what we know, where we feel safe... to stretch our boundaries. Maybe learn new things. Definitely to see and experience what is different. Sometimes at the cost of losing what is familiar. And why this process isn't complete until we go BACK home... to process, to integrate... or maybe just to say we've done it.

There are currently 4 pieces in this series. I suspect there may eventually be more.

Another Rainy Day in Asheville

21w x 18 1/2h x 1 3/4d"
Plaster and gesso on plywood, handmade cradle board
Scanned photo, acrylic, beeswax medium

When These Alien Landscapes Feel Like Home

291/4w x 11h x 1 3/4d"
Plaster and gesso on plywood, handmade cradle board
Scanned photo, acrylic, beeswax medium

Barney, is that you?

20 3/4w x 18 1/2h x 1 3/4d"
Plaster and gesso on plywood, handmade cradle board
Scanned photo, acrylic, beeswax medium

Reno

16 1/4w x 20h x 1 3/4d"
Plaster and gesso on plywood, handmade cradle board
Scanned photo, pouring medium, acrylic, beeswax medium

Contact me for purchasing details!

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Repurposers Show

On at Argyle Fine Art Gallery 

1559 Barrington Street, Unit 102

Halifax, Nova Scotia

B3J 1Z7

902.425.9456

The Re-Purposers

On Display in the Lower Gallery

We're excited to present an art show featuring works by a variety of artists that use re-purposed and re-cycled materials as they main materials in their art making. They are literally turning garbage into art!

Pariticipating artists include" LoHiFi Productions, Zanahoy, Susan Slade, Jen Worden, Kevin McLean, Ed Beals, Kim Danio, William Rudolph, Trista Hanam, Allison Pinsent-Baker

View the Show Online

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On the Road

This  was a revisit to "orange and black". Individually strong colours but that in-betweeny mix? Pure Magic. The image was a left-over from the Conversations series. Hwy#2 through New England has many happy childhood memories as well as recent ones ...Tom and I travelled from Washington State across the US following #2. The 302 is a short diversion off it that heads south to Portland. It reminds me of freedom from routine, hot sun, stuffy cabins, warm pine and diner meals. The very best parts of a road trip!

On The Road

7 3/4" x 20"h

Plaster and gesso on plywood, handmade cradle board

Scanned photo on paper, acrylic paint, wax medium

Available through ARGYLE FINE ART GALLERY in Halifax, NS

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House Up the Street

I chose 4 images before Christmas to work on in the New Year. I'd been pondering the idea of personal vs generic imagery and decide "Houses" would yield both. As it turned out, for me, generic photos don't really work so they sat waiting while I figured out my connection ... my angle. This one became super personal ...the house my sister lived in after leaving home. tumultuously. an hour after she turned 18. At one point I had her face large as life on the light side. Too much. Too far. The words are from a song I would sing to her, Carly Simon's "Older Sister". I feel like I'm getting closer to that line ... personal but not so much it becomes uncomfortable for someone else to own.

House Up the Street

16"w x 14"h

Plaster and gesso on plywood, handmade cradle board

Scanned photo on paper, acrylic paint, wax medium

Available through ARGYLE FINE ART GALLERY in Halifax, NS

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Queen of the Castle

Sometimes the very thing that hooked you on a photo ...or painting, area, house, life event... is the thing you need to let go of. Such was the case in this original photo of Tom's mom.

I love that damn dog.
Sadly. It just didn't end up working for this piece.

Sorry Pup. Another time perhaps.


Details include backward text from my daughter's calculus book which somehow (hello! Tom!) managed its way to the new house. Fitting given his mom had a Master's in Mathematics. Another bit I love is the circle texture (from sequin waste) juts through the wax. Yum!

Queen of the Castle

14 1/2"w x 11 1/4"h

Plaster and gesso on plywood, handmade cradle board

Scanned photo on paper, acrylic paint, wax medium

Available through ARGYLE FINE ART GALLERY in Halifax, NS

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