TRYING THINGS OUT

My creative life has gone through many stages; art student, dancer, maker of wall hangings, painter. The last stages of my paintings were landscapes and then waterfalls, both east and west. But last year I wanted to move away from references to the natural world, but I didn't know how to do it in a way that was valid for me. Then in spring in Sedona, a catalogue from an old friend of ours and students of Pete's, Emily Mason, did it. So I flew the coop. And with each painting since then, first in Arizona and now here in Jay, I find, after a time, a feeling of comfort and familiarity. I am working in the way I did when I would toss a piece of lace across some velvet in a way that spoke to me. Or I am carried back to doing a color study with Albers at Black Mountain College, or in Switzerland with Herr Wagner painting a yellow and blue exercise. But perhaps most amazing to me is to be back to doing the crayon drawings I loved at St. Jude's School.

This summer all this has taken place in my Jay studio with a new vaster view of the Sentinel Range just cleared by Corky Corrado. In the past I have done endless pastels and paintings inspired by that view in spring, summer and fall. Now I am inward, with the ecstatic worship music of Vineyard Christian Fellowship playing, surprised each day with what comes forth.

Elizabeth Jennerjahn Jay, NY 8/97

Comments from Living spaces Gallery:
We liked Elisabeth’s writing from a few years ago so much that we choose to use it here. If you like to see more of the Jennerjahns you can go to the Jay Studio Tour.