Tag: Events & Exhibits

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diving in…

A few sneak peeks at what I’ve been installing at the Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery for my upcoming show Bodies of Water. The show is inspired by the unseen world of plankton, it’s beauty and it’s role in sustaining the planet.

The plankton bloom site specific installation, comprised of hundreds of porcelain pieces.

We are bodies of water, we are connected to and dependent on the ocean from the very beginning of life on planet earth to our current day. Within all oceans are planktons, tiny marine drifters that make up the majority of all marine life in the ocean and are vital to sustain life on our planet. This exhibit aims to highlight the beauty of the unseen world of plankton, share the ecological importance of them and how we are connected.

Framed planktons leaving amazing shadows on the wall, urchin and medusa inspired pieces captured under bell jars &
gallery assistant Sarah giving the show a thumbs up

The exhibit is on display Sept 20th – Dec 3rd 2022, with an opening reception Saturday September 24th from 5-8.

The gallery is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 12pm-5pm and Thursdays 12pm-7pm

Bodies of Water Exhibition

We are bodies of water, we are connected to and dependent on the ocean from the very beginning of life on planet earth to our current day. With all the creatures that inhabit the oceans, we are easily awestruck by the sighting of a whale sliding across the surface to breathe before sinking to mysterious depths with one tail flip. It is equally easy to forget what it takes to sustain such large creatures and what they in turn give back to their own ecosystems to maintain a cycle in balance. Planktons are defined as marine drifters and while extremely tiny compared to whales, they make up 90% of the mass of all marine life in the ocean. They are vital to sustain all life on our planet, they signal changes in our climate, and yet these microscopic creatures are often overlooked and rarely strike us with awe. This exhibit aims to highlight the unseen world of plankton, share the ecological importance of them and how we are all connected. 

Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery | University of California Santa Cruz

September 20 – December 3, 2022

Gallery Hours: 12 – 5 Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat & 1:30 – 7 Thurs

A parking pass can be acquired from the kiosk at the Bay St. campus entrance click here for a map

To purchase work from this exhibit: SHOP HERE

sneak peek at Bodies of Water installation

One of the bigger parts of this upcoming exhibition is a site specific installation that is based on a NASA satellite image of a plankton bloom in Antarctica near McMurdo Sound. Even though the plankton are microscopic, there are so many of them in a large bloom, they can be seen from space, the color of the bloom all depends of the type of plankton.

plankton bloom in McMurdo Sound Antarctica as seen from space

The general form of the bloom laid out in circles was projected on the wall as a template to place all of the ceramic pieces. Some of the ceramic pieces are flat, some are raised off the wall and some are three dimensional forms, so there’s a lot of variation in the depth of the work. You can scroll through the photos below to see the progress I made.

template projected onto the wall
starting to place the pieces
making progress

As with all installations, things change and move based on how it’s working in the space, so I see some alterations ahead of me with this project but I’m sure it’s going to be beautiful once it’s done and all lit up. Stay tuned…

Bodies of Water | September 20 – December 3, 2022 | Opening Reception September 24th 5-8pm

things are happening but it’s not done yet!

Wander/Wonder Sculpture Dance Event

Attention PNW Friends! You’ll want to save the date for this event!

Dancer Julia James. Photo by Tuesday Sands

I was thrilled to find out that my piece Lichen Series: Spore Patterns was selected as one of the sculptures in the Price Sculpture Forest for the dance event Wander/Wonder. Dancers from the StoneDance Productions will be interpreting and interacting with works in the forest through dance and music. I’m sad to not be able to see this in person but hope to get and share videos of the event. If you’re in the area, be sure to check it out!

lichen series | spore patterns | public art | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture

StoneDance Productions presents WANDER/WONDER: a sculptured dance happening. Come journey on a lush forest trail to witness thought-provoking dance by 10 stunning professional Seattle dance artists alongside a beautiful outdoor collection of art.

Saturday, August 27, 2022 | 1:00-3:00pm | Price Sculpture Forest | 678 Parker Rd Coupeville, Whidbey Island, WA

Suggestion donation: $20 or pay-what-you-can. All donations accepted at the event. All proceeds from this event support the Whidbey Island Good Cheer Food Bank and Price Sculpture Forest.

For more information about this event visit: EVENT PAGE

Save the date for Bodies of Water!

Mark your calendars and get ready to dive into my newest exhibit: Bodies of Water!

Join us for the opening reception at the Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery on the UCSC campus Saturday September 24th from 5-8. The exhibit is on display Sept 20 – Dec 3.

The gallery is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 12 PM-5 PM and Thursdays 12 PM-7 PM

Have you been to see Sculpture IS: 2022??

Grab some friends and your picnic basket!

Sculpture IS: 2022 at Sierra Azul Sculpture Garden & Nursery is open daily 10-5 and the sculptures are up until Oct 31st! There are tables and umbrellas available for use to enjoy an afternoon in garden.

I have 4 fennel inspired sculptures onsite and for sale! They are just waiting to be transplanted into your garden space. There are also over 100 sculptures in a variety of mediums waiting to be discovered in the 2 acre demonstration garden!

2660 East Lake Ave Watsonville CA 95076 | pvarts.org

New Press with The Pajaronian!

Annual sculpture exhibit returns for 16th year

For the past 16 years, Pajaro Valley Arts (PVA) has partnered with Sierra Azul Nursery and Gardens for an annual art exhibit. Artists install sculptures throughout Sierra Azul’s two-acre demonstration garden, creating an open-air gallery surrounded by native trees and plants.

For this year’s Sculpture IS: In the Garden, curators Susana Arias, Hedwig Heerschop, and Sierra Azul owner Jeff Rosendale selected more than 90 sculptures by 48 contributors to be displayed. Read more…

Sculpture IS: 2022 Opens!

Over 90 sculptures by 48 artists are in the 2 acre demonstration garden at Sierra Azul right now! This is one of my favorite shows of the year, be sure to check out my four fennel inspired Umbel flowers growing in the garden, on display June 1st – Oct 31st.

Sierra Azul Nursery & Gardens | 2660 East Lake Ave Watsonville CA | Open Daily 10-5 | www.sierraazul.com

The Umbels are Up!

Yesterday, I installed my four largest Umbels at Sierra Azul Sculpture Garden in Watsonville CA as a part of Sculpture IS: 2022 exhibition. I love showing my work in this space, it’s truly one of my favorite annual local shows. Here’s a sneak peek of A Feast of Fennels, but you really need to get to see this show in person – it officially opens June 1st!

About A Feast of Fennels: The inspiration for these sculptures comes from my exploration of the natural world, and my curiosity about identifying plants, especially the edible ones. As an amateur forager, every hike in the woods has become like a trip to the grocery store for me. Fennels are one of the most recognized edibles that grow in California, available for the taking, yet there is a tendency to not trust the wild plants. This disconnect we humans have with nature, the loss of knowledge about native plants and how that relates to the global issue of food insecurity are all concepts explored with these pieces. 

Sierra Azul Nursery & Gardens | 2660 E Lake Ave, Watsonville, CA 95076 | Open Daily 10 – 5

Sculpture IS: 2022 | June 1 – October 31 | pvarts.org