Artist Statement
From the trailhead to the canvas, my creative process begins in the wilderness. My adventures in backpacking, canoeing and biking have influenced my exploration of the concept of "scape" with oil paint on canvas. My "scapes" include the vistas of canyons, lakes, dynamic weather, and the body. Most of my inspiration comes from the wilderness of the national parks in Utah, the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, and the weather of the Midwest. These external adventures are intertwined with my inward journeys in life with people, loss, growth, and spirituality of place. This human and nature relationship manifests itself primarily in my use of point of view. The viewer experiences the image from a distance or from an imitate proximity to the landscape. This use of depth draws attention to the significance of nature and its power. The paintings not only highlight a visual account of a place, but also contain abstract shapes suggesting mystery and figures. The themes of direction and interconnectedness between the earth and the divine are prevalent in my use of the symbols of the bird and cairn.
20 paintings in 20 days
My work in the past year was the result of a catalyst, my 30th birthday. I never was one of those people to worry about birthdays, until this year. I decided to do something productive with this anxiety and energy about some haunting date. I put it to canvas. The goal was to complete 20 paintings in 20 days before my birthday on March 20th. Perhaps the best part of the challenge was the work and sense of artistic self that evolved. Giving myself a deadline, did not allow me the liberty to linger with ideas I thought were weak, I had to execute. The result left me with a variety of pieces, but a body of work that is revelatory to my life. This challenge became a personal renaissance for me as an artist. It was also a model and process I shared with my advanced art students in the classroom. This experience has fostered my desire to pursue a graduate program in order to grow as an educator and an artist. My painting has become an intricate part of my daily pursuits and passions that I want to share with others.
Jennifer Klecker calls Owatonna, MN home, but resides in Milwaukee, WI. She received her B.A. in Art Education from Cardinal Stritch University in 2004. She worked as a youth minster for five years before entering the classroom as an art teacher at Messmer Catholic High School in fall of 2009. She also serves as an adjunct staff member for the Franciscan Pilgrimage Program.
