300 Mason Jars - Artist reception

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Thursday, December 31st, 2015
5:00 PM to 9:00 PM

I was about 50 when I learned of my Grandfather’s suicide. I knew little about him and I found a life that I could not imagine. I recognized it was my life I was exploring and how my life has been influenced by the legacy his suicide and the secrets that surrounded it. I stumbled upon the Mason Jar as a vehicle for this series. My Grandmother spoke of having 300 jars on the go at all times with food preserved for the winter. I began putting, food and artifacts into mason jars and painting the images. Now there are 140 paintings and the story is still unfolding. The lids are off in all of the paintings to release the secrets. In addition, for the past two years I have added to my own stock of preserves and they now number 160 fruits, vegetables, pickles, jams and jellies that will be on display. For the exhibition another 60 heritage jars will be displayed containing artifacts and photographs.

An absolute and unexpected joy of creating these works has been the many stories offered to me by viewers: stories of suicide, survival, canning and preserving, gardening, walking through fields of wild flowers, work and pleasure and family. The sorrowful stories are lightened in the telling and the joyous ones strengthened in the sharing. People have asked if they can bring some preserves of their own for the exhibition and I will have a plinth ready to receive these ‘stories’ and some empty jar ready to receive the written legacies that are offered.