A Space to 'Be'

The mixed media, sensory captivating and serene work of three female artists – Jenny Wilson, Jessica Loving and Liz Latrup, will converge in the Richey Gallery in Lakewood Civic Center this summer.

A Space to ‘Be’ is an exhibition with a moving motivation to soothe and make at peace the viewers who experience the paintings. The cumulative work creates a personal sanctuary; a space that offers all access to a nurturing moment of silence and quiet reflection though layered landscapes and atmospheric, abstracted compositions.

In an interview with the City of Lakewood Arts Programming Curator the artists reflect on their work and the exhibition:

1. What inspired your collaboration and desire to show your work together?

JL, LL, JW: Individually, as artists, we often explore quietude in our work. This spaciousness can be pulled from the actual physical experience of creating the work itself, but also when one views the work. In times such as these, overwhelmed is something we all feel all too often. This show explores the notion of holding space and creating a container for the viewer to simply be. It's a breath, a meditation, a moment that one can savor all to themselves.

2. Talk a little about what motivates your work and about your process.

JL: My work is intuitive in its construction; I allow layers to build, one atop another until the painting feels complete. I often feel the most inspiration when confronted with a feeling of how minute we truly are, that comes into focus when staring up at a night sky or camping in an expansive desert. I seek moments that are away from the buzz of "progress" and feel most inspired when I am outdoors.

 LL: Creative work, for me, takes place in a quiet place or with quiet music and is an intuitive process in which I lose all sense of time. The state of creating fills my intense need for quietude and freedom. My two great muses are Water and Earth, and these appear prominently in this series of stony circles, among flowing waves created by collaging hand-painted paper on painted wood and adding a textural, flowing wave layer of cold wax and oil paint.

JW: I find the greatest artistic inspiration from exploring the mysteries of nature. Making art is a meditative process, steeped in the desire to create something beautiful and serene that will resonate with the viewer. My art is motivated by desires many of us share: to connect with something greater in this universe; to find peace and serenity.

3. What do you want viewers to take away from their time spent with your artwork?

JL: I hope that viewers can access a sense of peace when visiting the exhibition. I hope that the pieces create a space that feels inviting, accessible and calming.

LL: It is my hope that people feel the peace in the space and the work, and that they can enter one or two of the artworks, as if they are entering another world, where they can experience the quiet power of the present moment.

JW. I hope that the viewer becomes entranced with the work and feels a sense of calm and serenity.

Learn more about this exhibition as part of Inspire Arts Week, on page 4 or at Lakewood.org/Exhibitions.