jennifer williams | artist bio & statement 

 

Artist’s Statement

After growing up in the Cascades foothills, I find the power of nature is my greatest influence and the impact of human pressures my greatest concern.  I have been devoted to environmental issues, focusing on the contrasts that occur when nature is viewed as society’s resource.  I strive to show the strength and resilience of nature while questioning the balance of our own presence.

 My paintings emerge through a process of acrylic layered over mixed media on birch panels.  The collaged surface materials consist of recycled maps, text, paper grocery bags, cedar bark, and gold flake.  Alternating processes of building up the surface and breaking the surface down through sanding and scratching creates a lush base from which the composition evolves. Upon closer examination, the surface reveals fragments of words and traces of maps that invite a deeper exploration of meaning.

 

 

"Tier"

Collections / Public Spaces

  • City of Vancouver Water Resources Education Center
  • Dulce Int. Skamamia Lodge, Stevenson, Washington

  • Fort Vancouver Regional Library, Vancouver, Washington

  • Kaiser Permanente, Salmon Creek, Washington
  • Lewis River Golf Club, Woodland, Washington
  • Lower Columbia College, Longview, Washington
  • Northern Star Professional Building, Salmon Creek, Washington
  • Park Plaza Inc. Number 3, Vancouver, Washington
  • Riverview Savings Bank ,Vancouver, Washington
  • Wendel Museum of Conservation, Vancouver, Washington
  • Yuichi Ozaki, Matsudo Chiba, Japan

Select Solo / Group Exhibitions

  • 2011 "Written in Water", solo exhibition, Art on the Boulevard, Vancouver, Washington
  • 2010 "Native Waters", collaborative exhibition, RiverSea Gallery, Astoria, Oregon

  • 2010 “Disturbance and Resilience”, collaborative exhibition, Art on the Boulevard, Vancouver, WA

  • 2009 “Where Elements Meet”, solo exhibition, Waterworks Gallery, Friday Harbor, WA

  • 2008  “What the River Reveals”, collaborative exhibition with writer Valerie Rapp, RiverSea Gallery, Astoria, Oregon.  

  • 2007 "Forces of Nature", Group Exhibition, RiverSea Gallery, Astoria, Oregon
  • 2007 "Mapping Mountains, Charting Waters", Solo Exhibition. Yoshida's Fine Art, Portland, Oregon

  • 2007 “Stumps and Clearcuts, group exhibition, Grays Harbor College, Aberdeen, WA

  • 2006  "The Confluence Project" Group Exhibition, Lower Columbia College, Longview, WA
  • 2005  "Watershed", Solo Exhibition, RiverSea Gallery, Astoria, Oregon
  • 2004  "Regional Expression" Group Exhibition, Vancouver School of Arts &   Academics, Vancouver, Washington
  • 2004  "Reflections", Solo Exhibition, Yoshida's Fine Art, Portland, Oregon.

 

 Exhibitions Continued
  • 2003  "Art About Agriculture", Statewide Tour, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon

  • 2003 Rogue Art Gallery, Medford, Oregon

  • 2003 Pendleton Center for the Arts, Pendleton, Oregon

  • 2003 The Dalles Art Center, The Dalles, Oregon

  • 2003 "Balancing Act", Solo Exhibition, RiverSea Gallery, Astoria, Oregon
  • 2002  Fisher Poets' Gathering Art Exhibit, RiverSea Gallery, Astoria, Oregon
  • 2001  Gorge Discovery Series, Skamania Lodge, Stevenson, Washington
  • 2001  Washington State University Solo Exhibition, Vancouver, Washington
  • 2000  "Vantage Point", Solo Exhibition, Altman Gallery, Vancouver, Washington
  • 1999  "Ritual", series continued. Solo exhibition. Water Resource Education Center, Vancouver, Washington
  • 1998  "Silent Season", Solo Exhibition, Altman Gallery, Vancouver, Washington
  • 1998  "Endangered Ritual", Solo Exhibition, Water Resource Education Center, Vancouver, Washington
  • 1997  "Connecting Waters", Juried Exhibition, Lower Community College, Longview, Washington
 

Education

  • 1996 Bachelor of Fine Arts. Portland State University, Portland, Oregon
  • 1995 Fresco Workshop, Rome, Italy
  • 1991 University of Washington

 

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