
Jennifer Dorner’s exhibit “Outer Space Living is Easy” opened at the St. Thomas Elgin Public Art Centre this past Saturday. Each of the large scale works draws the viewer into limitless space, to wonder about the spectacular animal floats, to be drawn even further again into the serene idyllic little green spaces within the floats, and finally to reflect on the details to be found in each.
Jennifer was on hand for the opening, with family, including her children and husband. The works make an impressive show in the main gallery, and all seemed delighted to see them together. Jennifer noted that the concept for the work had come to her at a time when she had discovered a new passion for gardening.
Jennifer was on hand for the opening, with family, including her children and husband. The works make an impressive show in the main gallery, and all seemed delighted to see them together. Jennifer noted that the concept for the work had come to her at a time when she had discovered a new passion for gardening.
In the exhibit description she says, “I became interested in extracting activities and spaces related to leisure, life, and notions of beauty from the world that surrounds me. I was also interested in the innate uncanny found in cultural traditions related to the “spectacle”. In parades, flowers and animals become icons for beauty, ornamented with sparkly flags, glittering lights and streamers. In this series, the paintings depict outer-space-parade-floats with greenhouses…What would civilization look like if it did expand outward while maintaining current social-political systems and values?”
On the way to reflecting on that question, it’s fun to let the imagination take a flight into the easy living outer space Jennifer has so skillfully depicted.
Jennifer was born in Victoria, British Columbia in 1974. She received her BFA from the University of Ottawa, and MFA from University of Western Ontario. She is based now in Montreal and pursuing a multi-disciplinary artistic career. She has taught at the University of Western Ontario, Dundas Valley School of Art and is the recipient of several grants and awards.
“Outer Space Living is Easy” continues until July 14, 2012 in the Main Gallery, STEPAC, 301 Talbot St, St. Thomas.
On the way to reflecting on that question, it’s fun to let the imagination take a flight into the easy living outer space Jennifer has so skillfully depicted.
Jennifer was born in Victoria, British Columbia in 1974. She received her BFA from the University of Ottawa, and MFA from University of Western Ontario. She is based now in Montreal and pursuing a multi-disciplinary artistic career. She has taught at the University of Western Ontario, Dundas Valley School of Art and is the recipient of several grants and awards.
“Outer Space Living is Easy” continues until July 14, 2012 in the Main Gallery, STEPAC, 301 Talbot St, St. Thomas.