Review by Donald Dusinberre

Critic acclaims Jennifer's new Intrinsic Nature Series
March 2007

Donald Dusinberre, art critic for EU Jacksonville, had this to say regarding Jennifer's Intrinsic Nature Series now on display at Stellers Gallery Annex:

While I consider myself a focused person while I'm looking at art, I cannot say the same for myself when I'm looking for art. Apparently, the Stellers Gallery has four locations, and it took me a couple of tries to find the right one. There's one in Ponte Vedra, Neptune Beach, San Marco, and Julington Creek. Nevertheless, I successfully found the Stellers Gallery Annex in Neptune Beach, currently displaying the work of Jennifer J.L. Jones, an artist living in Atlanta, Georgia.

Jones' mixed-media work is rooted in nature, though not completely representational like the work of a landscape artist. Each piece in her Intrinsic Nature series is a sophisticated example of texture and aura. She smoothly incorporates a variety of materials, including paints, wax, paper, charcoal, glue, and metal. Despite using such seemingly incongruous materials, Jones exhibits a masterful ability to integrate them and construct a uniquely cohesive visual plane. Lightly sheeted within many layers of paint is a single background color, washing in and out of view. Floating gently above the background are branches, leaves, and petals that stand as sharp flecks of contrast to the mist of color behind them. From a short distance away, some of the paintings may resemble photos of a deep space nebula or the bottom of a shallow pond.

Upon examination, Jones' paintings imposed upon me a strange effect. Those countless intermingling layers and floating petals caused me to lose the thoughts I intended to think, and drew me into vague impressions from which I could not escape. Jones herself alludes to this effect in her bio: "The colors I choose to glaze over one another create mood, atmosphere, and a 'vibration' of energy unique to each viewer interacting with the final piece."

Perhaps that sounds a bit fruity to some of you, and for the most part, I don't generally acknowledge any sense of "energy" or "aura". Many of the concepts of Feng Shui are a load of crap, and people who say they see auras around others are desperate for attention or admiration. In other words, your own perception is the only thing you can believe. But that doesn't mean that the energy vibrations and auras don't exist. They are simply coming from the viewer, not the painting, and that's why they can be different for each person.

Jones' paintings are successful because they can bring about just such an interaction. It's a delightful thing to become lost in the fog of a painting, and the Stellers Gallery Annex is full of them. The Annex is comfortable and not at all intimidating, so head out to the beach this week and take a few moments to view this artist's work.

The Stellers Gallery Annex is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., as well as Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Learn more about the Stellers Gallery by visiting www.stellersgallery.com Their website contains a portfolio of images and an artist statement by Jennifer J.L. Jones

Pace Academy selects art donations for 2007 silent auction

Last year Pace Academy’s annual Spring Auction was a great success due to the generosity of its donors, which included a painting by Jennifer J. L. Jones entitled Aurea from her Natural Progressions series. This year, Jennifer will donate two pieces: Verdant Color Field I and Verdant Color Field II from her Arrangements series. Each 24X24 painting is mixed media on wood panel.

The auction will be held on March 24, 2007 at the Greek Cathedral of Atlanta GA. Proceeds from the auction help Pace Academy maintain and enhance its various academic programs. All money raised is used for scholarships, academic materials, and school equipment. This is a highly attended event featuring both live and silent auctions. A catalog will be distributed to over 2,000 Pace Academy parents and friends. For more information call (404) 262-1345, or visit the Pace Academy website at www.paceacademy.org

Donating painting for Art Papers 8th annual silent auction

For the fifth year Jennifer has been asked to donate a painting for inclusion in the ART PAPERS silent auction to be held at Mason Murer Fine Art on Saturday, February 3rd. This year Jennifer has selected Autumn Light from the Between Things: Fall Series for the event.

The auction benefits ART PAPERS Magazine and features works from internationally recognized contemporary artists. Join the Editors and Board of ART PAPERS for a preview viewing on Friday, February 2nd from 7 to 9pm. Preview tickets include admission to the Friday Preview and the Saturday auction. To purchase tickets, view a list of the participating artists, or for more information call 404-588-1837, Ext 18. Or, visit www.artpapers.org.

Note: Major funding for Art Papers is provided by the Fulton County Commission, Atlanta, Georgia, under the guidance of the Fulton County Arts Council. We are funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Atlanta Bureau of Cultural Affairs, and the Georgia Council of the Arts (GCA) through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. GCA also receives support from its partner agency, the National Endowment for the Arts.

'Five Elements' painting selected as added inspiration of building's design

Construction is underway for 44 Monroe, a $70 million, 523,619-square-foot residential high-rise building in Phoenix, Ariz. When complete, the 33-story tower will be Arizona’s tallest residential structure. San Diego-based Tucker Sadler Architects is providing full architectural services and interior design services for the tower’s community areas. The project is scheduled for completion in early 2008.

The exterior and interior incorporates the five Chinese elements of nature - earth, wood, water, metal, and fire. As an added source of inspiration, the architect selected Five Elements, a painting by Jennifer J. L. Jones. The clean lines and color palette found in the painting serve as the project’s interior design guide. The linear elements, along with a color palette reflective of the painting and brilliant Arizona sunsets, form a cohesive design throughout the tower.

Tucker Sadler Architects is a full-service design firm with headquarters at 225 Broadway, 17th Floor, San Diego, CA 92101 www.tuckersadler.com.

Hyatt Hotel selects art for fitness centers

Hyatt Hotels has contracted to feature, on an exclusive basis, Giclee prints of selected paintings by Jennifer J.L. Jones, starting with Cassia I, Cassia III, Origin, and Little Ketsu. The prints will be used in Hyatt’s fitness rooms through-out the United States as part of their Hyatt Stay-Fit Program. The agreement was recently concluded between Hyatt and Jennifer through the Soho Myraid Gallery in Atlanta. Hyatt has been a regular collector of Jennifer’s work over the years, and has acquired major pieces for eight of their US properties.

San Francisco gallery displays work

The Andrea Schwartz Gallery in San Francisco will soon be offering several of Jennifer’s new paintings to their clients. The Andrea Schwartz Gallery supports work that is challenging and at the forefront of contemporary practice and represents a select group of emerging and established artists. The Gallery is located in the South of Market area in San Francisco at 25 2nd Street across from South Park.
(415) 495-2090 www.asgallery.com

Continuing support of The Womens Center of Jacksonville

Jennifer is donating Papyrus from the Balance Series to support The Womens Center of Jacksonville 11th Annual Silent Auction and Raffle. Last year the Center expanded their non-profit programs to include girls, and succeeded in reaching out to more than 5,000 women and their families, focusing on counseling, rape recovery, health education, and literacy.

This year’s event will be held on August 25 at Jacoby Symphony Hall, Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts in Jacksonville, Florida. The Patron’s Party starts at 6 PM, followed by the Silent Auction at 7 PM. Featured performer this year is Susan Klein, an award winning spoken-word artist and author.

For more information about the Center, and to learn about sponsorship opportunities, call the Center at (904) 722-3000, Ext. 203. For Reservation information, call (904) 722-3000, Ext. 228. Visit their website at www.womenscenterofjax.org