Jo Ellen Van Ouwerkerk "Curious Sanctuary"
Woodward Gallery
This event has ended.
The gallery welcomes Jo Ellen Van Ouwerkerk’s "Curious Sanctuary." A brilliant painter who seemingly channels the late 19th century, Van Ouwerkerk’s women are intriguing and complicated. Her characters share their personal state of being and lure us in to contemplate the experience. Van Ouwerkerk’s characters engage in ritualistic scenes carried out in special places. They push the acceptable boundaries of a time long ago- or perhaps even today- and tempt us to exist alongside.
“This body of work in 'Curious Sanctuary' is titled perfectly to me, because each painting is a glimpse into these women's private day-to-day existence. These are not fantasies, everything is actually as you see it. One woman sits in her bedroom, arranges wooden soldiers on her bed and poses, maybe in front of a mirror. Another thinks she hears women whispering above her in a huge cavernous room. I don't consider this fantasy since this woman can see and hear the others whispering above her- they are real as far as she is concerned. I don't judge whether or not it is possible. Sanctuaries are private places not meant to be seen by the public... I intended for the images to be curious at first glance, since you are looking into someone's room or looking at a moment in their life without a back story. I'm not analyzing what they are thinking, I'm just looking and accept everything I see as real." - Jo Ellen Van Ouwerkerk
[Image: Jo Ellen Van Ouwerkerk "She Tried To Hide The Lizards In Her Hair" (2010) acrylic on canvas]
Media
Schedule
from January 29, 2011 to March 19, 2011
Opening Reception on 2011-01-29 from 18:00 to 20:00