Ternary
Artist Statements
Kristina Davies
For this exhibition, Ternary, Davies uses the female figure to depict her exploration of identity and a deeper understanding of self. Researching a variety of spiritual beliefs and philosophies about the self, Davies is uncovering her relationship to family, culture, sexuality, and gender. She is interested in deconstructing the female archetypes that are prevalent in Jungian psychology and mythology, as well as discovering what “binds” her to the conventional ideas of self, the roles she plays, and femininity.
Using large-scale silhouettes that she began as an Artist in Residence in 2022 at Chateau Orquevaux, France, Davies is creating a visual representation of this journey. The painting “Lilith” illustrates the uncovering of the shadow self, understanding why it exists, and what it seeks, without casting shame. “Unveiled” is what remains after discarding Asmita or egoism, the obstacles that hide the True Self. The painting “Carna,” titled after the Roman goddess whose name is related to the Latin “Caro,” or flesh, is a raw expression of the strength and power of the female body but also the suffering that must be endured.
Davies also uses antique dress forms, fabric she creates, and strips of canvas, to emphasize the struggle between being bound by our roles, the conventional ideas of femininity, and our perceptions of self versus the freedom from that which binds us.
Jazz Holmes
Jazz Holmes is a Southern artist who creates drawings though a variety of media. She received her BFA from the University of West Florida, and her MFA from Colorado State University.
She creates drawings through a variety of media. Her works are meant to offer discourse on consumerist society and its appetite for devouring Black culture. She uses depictions of staple foods from her Creole upbringing, hair culture, music and textiles to showcase the eternal connections she keeps to her ancestral home. Her work celebrates the many colorful aspects of Black American culture while creating conservation on the multifaceted way it's consumed and regurgitated amongst the populace.
For this exhibition, Ternary, Jazz exhibits pieces that are meant to be portals into an ancestral plane where her Creole ancestors are cultivating recipes from a surrealist landscape. Through usage of mixed media on various surfaces, she creates lush environments swathed in layers of color and precious metals. These landscapes house deity-like figures who cultivate the land. While their faces are wistful, heavy with the pain of forced labor, our depicted ancestors look lovingly to their future generations.
Jen Starling
Starling’s work makes a personal statement that is an amalgamation of her experiences, and a desire for deep connection with others. It speaks to the search for meaning, peace, and spiritual connection that is inherently human. The subjects in her work are undeniably vulnerable. When people witness vulnerability in others, compassion ensues, and allows them to feel connected regardless of their differences. Starling’s hope is that in viewing her work, the viewer not only sees the emotional state of the subject, but feels seen by the subject. She wishes for there to be an exchange that validates the viewer's humanity, and ignites self awareness. It is from this place of vulnerability that growth and change is possible.
The body of work shown in Ternary includes charcoal drawings that are cut and collaged together in order to morph and distort the faces while retaining recognizable features. The collaging contributes to a fragmented effect that represents the emotive state of one who has struggled, yet emerged whole as a more complex, layered, and compassionate person than before.