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    Video: Inspiration through Exploration: Bhutan, Sikkim, Nepal

    In the midst of having my solo show in Grants Pass Oregon and getting ready for two upcoming residencies, I snuck in a month long adventure to Bhutan, Sikkim India and Nepal. Have you noticed that I like my schedule completely overwhelmed!?!

    While it may be overwhelming to my schedule, I believe that my time exploring the world outside of my studio is equally important to the development of my art work inside the studio. Engaging in Art, Nature & Travel are my three favorite ways to spend my time and they all connect together to inspire my work. This video shares just a few images from each country, and I hope that you find inspiration to travel, explore and connect with cultures different than your own. It will be interesting to see how these experiences find their way into my sculptures and installations in the future. Enjoy!

    Studio Closed

    Studio Closed | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture

    Just a reminder that the studio is closed until May 7th!

    Any online shop orders placed before then will ship out when we reopen.

    I will have limited access to wifi, but promise to get back to you as soon as possible!

    Thanks!

    -j

     

    New Video: Time Lapse Installing the Rock Candy Series

    I realize that my Dirt posts are time-lapse video heavy this week- sorry if it’s too much speedy craziness for you!- but it’s really the best way to share 3 full days of installing a show condensed down into mere seconds. And this one is kind of special because it’s the resolution of my total snafu.

    On the morning of day one, I realized I left two boxes at my studio (a 7 hour drive away), BUT by the end of day one, thanks to my amazing studio assistant Nina, they were already packed up and on their way to me. They arrived at 4:30pm on day three and with the help of museum curator Mark they were up on the wall in less than an hour. An amazing recovery for what could of been an epic fail.

    The show opens for April’s First Friday… wish me luck!

    Taking the Show on the Road!

    I hit the road on Monday with the van fully packed with art and headed north to Oregon. The Grants Pass Museum of Art is a beautiful second story space in the downtown area and I’m grateful to show my work here. All the work arrived safely – except for one snafu- I realized I left two boxes behind in the studio! Luckily they are being shipped up here and will arrive in time for the opening of the show – whew! After a year of planning and a tiring day one of install, a lot of the work is ready to go and I’m really happy with the way it’s turning out. I’ll post more photos and videos of the install as things develop!

    Taking the Show on the Road! | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture

    On the Road Again…

    On the Road Again | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture

    This weekend I’m packing up the van to head north but this time I’m bringing art, lots and lots of art instead of our usual camping gear. I’ll be headed up to Grants Pass to start the install week of my solo show ‘Where Art & Nature Meet’ at the Grants Pass Museum of Art! I’ll be posting photos and videos of the installation as it happens next week, so stayed tuned!

    And keep your fingers crossed that all the art makes it there safely!

    Exciting News!

    While it’s still a few months off, I’m excited to announce that I’ll be attending two residencies at the beginning and end of this summer!

    I was invited to attend Buffalo Creek Art Center in Gardnerville, Nevada for the month of June and in September I will be off to a month long residency at the Fish Factory in Stöðvarfjörður, Iceland (also, I need to learn how to pronounce where I’m going!). I am so thrilled for both of these opportunities to meet and work alongside other artists, explore the natural beauty of both of these amazing places and most importantly, to make art- completely uninterrupted from daily life. It’s a pretty glorious opportunity! 

    Exciting News! | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture

    I’m really hoping to use these two months to experiment with materials I haven’t worked with in a long time (porcelain has been lingering in my mind for awhile now!), to focus on the process of making my forms and to build relationships with other artists I meet. I hope that the combination of these elements will also result in new work, a wider network of artists and supporters as well as a general boost to my art career.

    I am so lucky that the residency at Buffalo Creek is partially funded, which means that they cover my housing & studio time while I’m there but I’m responsible for my materials, food & travel all of which I can cover from my current savings. My residency in Iceland however is a ‘pay-to-play’ opportunity so in a few months, I’ll be setting up a donation account and ask for some help making this opportunity happen. More to come on how you can help me boost my art career soon but in the meantime – I’m just thrilled!

    photo credit: Crystal Birns