JENNIFER EVANS, THE FOLKLORE MAJOR
  • Home & About
  • Found Object Mosaics
  • Assemblage
  • Prints
  • Book Art
  • Contact

Found Object Mosaics

In the Fall of 2019, my friend Merrilee and I took a class in Picassiette (the making of mosaics with broken dishes and other objects) at The Chicago Mosaic School.  I did not have high expectations for my success. With Pamela Irving  - a brilliant artist from Australia - as our instructor and inspiration, I found my voice in my art.  I remembered my story.  During my  25 years in the corporate world, I didn't feed my passion for folklore very often.  I have now begun to nourish that part of me, hidden for so many years.  

The piece I created in our Picassiette class is Wandjina, The Folklore Major.  Wandjina are cloud and rain spirits from Australian Aboriginal mythology; Pamela said my structure reminded her of the Wandjina art she saw growing up; the mythology fits right in to my sense of creating art.  Without thinking too much about it, I realized my Wandjina is influenced by several cultures - African, Mexican, Greek and Mideastern, American, French.  I was returning to my passion and my story.  Once my Wandjina was created, it unleashed a torrent of creative ideas and inspirations.  So, I began my journey to identify the people who have influenced and inspired me, in my art and my life.  Some of whom I haven't thought about in way too many years.  These pieces I am calling My Muses, My Saints, My Trusted Advisors.  They help me to create order out of chaos.
Picture
Wandjina, The Folklore Major
alone, supported,
strangers inspire. imbedded
in my soul and heart.
So, this is the piece which set me on my journey; which inspired me to continue in this medium with My Trusted Advisors; which inspired me to create this website and continue on my creative journey.
Thinset on board, glass eye, glass and ceramic tiles, doll part, found metal objects, milagros. 236"x23"x12". 2019
Picture
Zany, The Storyteller
the storyteller,
griot, the sage, all knowing,
I wish I knew her
Thinset on board, beads, ceramic, glass and metal pieces, silk yarn, tin jangles. 13"x25"x4". 2019
Picture
L'Etranger, The One in My Dreams
she who would be queen
appeared in my dream, from where?
accompany me.
Thinset on board, glass and metal pieces, piccassiette, ceramic feathers. 15"x22". 2019
Picture
Coyote, The Older Brother
always wished for one
a protector, confidant
the older brother
Thinset on board, glass and metal pieces, found objects, bicycle reflectors, zippers, beaded fringe.  15"x22". 2020
Picture
Anne, The Sewing Teacher
brunette with backbone
poised, subtle support for me
followed rules, sometimes.
Thinset on board, glass and metal pieces, bobbins, spools, thimbles, zippers, buttons. 23"x27". 2020.
Picture
Freckles, My Only Nickname
my only nickname,
tagged by a friend long ago
hidden in plain sight.
Thinset on board, glass and metal pieces, ceramic tile. 7"x8". 2020
Picture
Vincent
Thinset on board, glass and metal pieces.  6"x9.5". 2020

Picture
Fo(u)r Eyes
glasses in tenth grade
now I see every leaf.
it's nice to see you.

trees have leaves, I said.
everyone already knows.
​I annoy them all.

it's nice to see you,
it's nice to be seen, said she,
it's nice to be seen. 
Thinset on board; copper, wood and leather leaves; glass, ceramic and metal pieces.  23"x24". 2020.
Picture
Thinset on board, glass, metal, found wire, paint, picassiette, beads.  20"x29".  June 2020. 

​VeVe, The Griotte


VeVe Clark was my professor of African American Folklore at Berkeley.  She passed away in 2007.  I read a tribute to her, written by her colleagues.  I have taken many of the phrases they used to describe her, and formed them into haiku.  She was all of these things to me.

She walked in the room,
the room where it happen’d.  The 
force of her presence.
Always insisted
upon the humanity
of all she touched.
A brilliant scholar,
a teacher par excellence,
passionate thinker.
She walked in the room.
The power of her honesty
struck between the eyes.
A master teacher.
Ensured (her) students discover’d,
honored, articulated
their own voice.  She
brought utter joy to teaching.
A master teacher.
She walked in the room, 
woman of integrity.
A VeVeism:
Joined the ancestors.
Not an end, a transition
to high’r, safer ground.
I didn’t thank you 
then.  I thank you now.  Please know
​your impact on me.
Picture
Best Wishes to Lindsay and Tommy 2020 
7"x10". 2020.
Picture
Day of the Dead 2019
Thinset on board, copper, ceramic and metal pieces, beads. 4"x7" and 5"x9". 2019.

Picture
happyhappyhappybirthday, ivxxvi 2020.
18"x9". 2020
Picture
Ode To A Grapevine
Thinset on board, glass pieces, ceramic tile, found objects, grapevine, wire.   14"x30"x6".  2020.
Picture
It's Nice To Be Seen
Found metal base, thinset on board, glass and metal pieces, beads.  9"x9". 2020.
Picture
Trial and (Lots of) Error
In my first mosaic class, my teacher wanted me to follow the rules for mosaics.  She was unhappy with me when I added the circular object that went off the wood block; she actually told me I should not do that.  I disobeyed - I like to color outside of the lines. 
Wood blocks, smalti, glass, thinset, ceramic, found object.  5"x5" (left) and 4"x4" (right).  2019
Picture
Bette’s Purse
She would never use
the word handbag.  For she did
not grow up fancy.

Thinset on board, glass and ceramic pieces, jewelry.  20"x30".  2020

​
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home & About
  • Found Object Mosaics
  • Assemblage
  • Prints
  • Book Art
  • Contact