Three In - Art comes Out - Vancouver, BC

"More of Me Comes Out When I Improvise"

-Edward Hopper

It's been 3 weeks since I planted my feet in Vancouver, which means the artwork created during the Between the Points Project is just about ready to ship out to the individuals involved.  It has been a rewarding experience and process being with these artworks for this long, and reflecting over the journey - the colors, textures, temperatures, interactions, etc.

I suppose, much like any trip, it is normal look back at the images created or the souvenirs procured during that time.  I've realized, however, that this journey and these experiences resonate within me without needing to refer back to a specific image.  Colors I didn't typically gravitate towards in my painting suddenly seem common on my painter's palette.

Images and motifs seem to seep their way into the artworks, almost without my conscious action.  When I look at the artwork after the fact, I feel the memory of that moment, of that place, come charging back to the forefront of my mind.

Nature, and natural elements and colors, have found there way into the artworks in direct and indirect ways.

Moments are still playing themselves over and over in my mind, as if I were there - feeling the feelings, hearing the sounds, seeing the sights,

holding that connection between the body and the earth.

As I finalize the last envelopes before sending the artworks out to those individuals involved, I feel it necessary to say
Thank you.
Thank you to Artist's Mediums of Williston Vermont for donating art supplies to the project.
Thank you to Black Horse Fine Art Supply for donating art supplies to the project.
Thank you to Desillusion Magazine for donating magazines to use as supplies for the project.
Thank you to you for this opportunity and being a part of its creation.

I will announce by the end of the week when the work has been sent out.  I would suspect it will take no more than two weeks to reach each of you.

I hope you enjoy the work.
I hope you keep in touch with the artwork inspired by the journey after the fact at:
www.jessagilbert.com
and
faeebook.com/jessagilbertstudios

or directly

jessacgilbert@gmail.com

It has been my pleasure.

Jessa Gilbert

Process, Memory, and Beautiful British Columbia

The dogs here can communicate in English and French.

Or at least that's what the government here is pushing for - that all dog owners must teach their dogs commands in both English and French.  Luckily, this breaking news story came around the same time Miley Sirus began twerking, so all in all we in Canada may be winning.

Set up has begun, and although there are minor tweaks to the studio to come, I feel I am closing in on a permanent set up.  I overlook my neighbor's beautifully manicured vegetable garden, a Sedarium plant I'm hoping becomes interesting and not just mold, and my Grandmother's (I think) table that I have turned into my painter's table.

It's been such a joy to go through the pieces created on the Between the Points Project.  Although I have landed here in Vancouver, British Columbia, I feel as though I'm still on the road when I go through these works.  It's as if creating these pieces in those places captured and retained the energy of that moment.  While I always thought of paintings and artwork being able to produce emotions for the viewer, these sentiments are much stonger than I had anticipated.

Even within the photographs I developed from my Ricoh 35 mm camera.  Perhaps that's just how memory works - it is jolted awake by images or things or scents.  When I began the Latitude/Longitude photographs I had this in mind - that a memory is actually a fleeting, unclear thing.  As theory states, "our perception of the past is always influenced by the present, which means it is always changing."

By having something, in this case a latitude and logitude location "trigger", in the foreground, the background becomes gauzy and painterly - much like memories.

This process of redefining what you see and how you understand it is essential for creating a body of work, or a process of working, that feels noteworthy - for me at least.  I also enjoy trying to think of past events in a different way.  Perhaps you can imagine an unpleasant moment in a positive or humorous light.

Like these:

Cloudy Mornings.

Although I was hoping for a beautiful sunrise in Virginia, I was greeted with cloud covered rolling hills.  I would pack a few things and go back to look, but the mountains were still fast asleep under their blankets of clouds.

Allergies.

Which plagued me State after State either due to dust of different things in bloom.

Desert Heat.

As my close friends like to point out, my body does not do an exceptional job regulating heat.  However, the colors of the desert feel alive, and though I was at times unable to take a step, the people accustomed to the desert heat didn't let it stop them.

Sometimes to energize the mind and body, for me, it is best to just get to work.  This project, as well as preparing for my next group show, the Lab Arts Show put on by Glitz Entertainment, as well as creating a new portfolio for the Open Door Gallery, who I am represented by here in Vancouver, has helped me to hit the ground running, and be thankful for everything I have, have done, and will do.

That doesn't mean I have chained myself to my painter's table.  It is still important to be outside in the real world - noticing color combinations,

compositions,

symbols,

and beyond.

Two weeks in, and things are settling in nicely as I prepare the artworks from the Between the Points Project to ship out this month.

So much to come.

Jessa Gilbert

www.jessagilbert.com

facebook.com/jessagilbertstudios

Day 8 - New Mexico - Arizona

Driving into Flagstaff is like driving on Mars.

Santa Fe was such a joy, and I can definitely see myself back there, however it was time to continue on.  Set the GPS to Flagstaff, Arizona and pointed it West.

Leaving Santa Fe is incredible.  Basically, Santa Fe is situated out in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by a few mountains, but mostly flat.  There aren't really any large factories around it, so you aren't surrounded by Semi-Trucks on the highway.  Not to mention, any pull off you take you could find yourself in the middle of nowhere.

Albuquerque is the largest city in New Mexico and is located about an hour outside of Santa Fe.  It has a beautiful historic section in the middle of the town with plenty

of color and pattern to keep your senses alert.

I really loved all the side patio spaces in Albuquerque.  Although the central square had a beautiful church in it, and a very historic feel, these patio spaces just felt very calm, peaceful, and beautiful.

Onward!  Decided to switch up the route a little bit and hopped onto the Historic Route 66.  The scenery is relatively the same as the new highway I-40, but you are on a smaller road with fewer traffic.  This is ideal when you are looking at the scenery around you more than the road in front of you.

Met some new friends.

Saw some incredible old signs (which are starting to crop up a LOT in the work I'm producing).

Got WAY out there.

And learned what one of the coolest ways to drive across the country is.

A few hours later, and I was in Flagstaff, Arizona.  Managed to catch the last few rays coming over the mountains - a great way to be greeted into a new city.

Flagstaff seems like a real rad community.  Nestled in the mountains with an historic few block area, and very friendly people.  Again, there were a bunch of old, neon signs lit up to show the way through the streets.  However, that didn't stop the stars from beaming.  I even caught a shooting start.

Another city with live music - this one in particular was a rockin' blues band.  I hung out in the back and watched as people created waves of silhouettes in front of the red lights.  Foreground and background seemed to blur, and the energy in the room was contagious.

Looking forward to checking out more of Flagstaff tomorrow, plus I'm going to check out, what I'm told, is one of the best hidden gems of Arizona.  Any guesses?