Earth Suit
oil on canvas
dyptic, 8 x 10" each
2005
Untitled (Pink and Blue)
mixed media on paper
11 x 14 1/2"
2005
Masking The Egg
acrylic on paper
19 x 15 1/2"
2005
The View From the Parking Lot
acrylic on canvas
16 x 16"
2005
acrylic on canvas
18 x 14"
2005
Landscape, Roots, and Pattern with Fire
oil on board
9 1/2 x 14"
2006
My Buddha: An Homage to Frida Kahlo
oil on board
42 x 22"
2007
SOLD
Wetlands on Fire
oil on canvas
12 x 9"
2005
SOLD
Roots Become Branches
oil on canvas
5 x 7"
2005
SOLD
My Red Flag is Black and White
black and white gesso on board
dyptic, 22 x 42," 14 x 34"
2007
Which Came First
gouache on paper
10 x 12"
2005
River Road
oil on canvas
5 x 7"
2005
But None to Drink
oil on canvas
7 x 5"
2007
SOLD
Canal
oil on canvas
12 x 9"
2007
Pine Boxes and Pillows
oil on canvas
dyptic, 12 x 12,"
9 x 12"
2006
SOLD
The Flood
acrylic on foamcore
20 x 20"
2006
SOLD
Talk To Me Like You Mean It
oil on canvas
16 x 20"
2006
Dust and Shadow
oil on canvas
16 x 20"
2007
Factory of Flip and Seep
gouache and graphite on paper
5 x 7"
2007
Furrowed Field
gouache on paper
3 x 5"
2007
SOLD
Overpass and Underfeet
gouache and graphite on paper
3 x 5"
2007
SOLD
Olomana
oil on canvas
12 x 9"
2008
Mott-Smith
oil on canvas
dyptic, 5 x 7" each
2008
Happy Hands
fused plastic fabric, thread, handmade paper
8 1/2 x 11"
2008
Quarried and Quartered
oil on canvas
16 x 20"
2008
Artist's Statement
I am inspired by natural settings in conjunction with the manmade grid, and the patterns created by mankind. My relationship to the environment in addition to my relationships with other people and the implicit patterns that occur serve as constant sources of inspiration. I make work that addresses problems. Specifically, there are two themes often at play in the work: predictions about the current lack of sustainability in a complex world, and the problems that crop up as traditional concepts of gender are abandoned, yet continue to be ingrained. It doesn’t seem all that uncommon that we hurt our earth. It doesn’t seem all that uncommon that we abuse our significant others. Just because the genders are considered equal doesn’t mean that a man should treat a woman as if she is of the same physical strength. Many of these works are about surviving domestic violence, a metamorphosis, and eventual transcendence.
Imagery is often based on human form and its similarity to landscape, fractal geometry, aerial photography, pollution,
architecture, and systems. There is a contrast present, the rigidity
and strictness of a grid but also the release and fluidity of organic
forms. The viewer is guided through space by bold color, undercurrents
of light, and the significance of repetition. Mapping out the soothing
conditioning and predictability of pattern by painting layer upon layer
of color was once very therapeutic for me. Now I move forward into a
space where pattern remains the dominant element, but is well supported
by the painting without pretense of the conundrum of reconciling with a
personal history.
The best works of art are those that dig deep, become personal. “The Personal is Political,” stated Carol Hanisch, back in 1969. The personal and the political may seem like contrasts, much as domestic violence and sustainability may not seem entirely related. I am forging a connection, the connection of understanding our roles and responsibilities of showing appreciation and respect: as human beings to one another, and to our environment.
****Please contact the artist at (808)781-4043 or jesslandau@gmail.com for pricing / availability.
