Well, the wild roller-coaster ride that is the NZ Art Show 2021 has come to an end. Six months ago, I started creating this new collection consisting of grungy street abstracts – all vulnerable “pieces of me”. Many long hours of blood, sweat, tears, doubt, energy, frustration and elation of working alone in the studio, went into ripping street posters and turning them into layered, mixed media works which attempt to “capture the beauty in the decay” of our city.
The public’s reaction was completely overwhelming, walking into an almost empty wall on Opening Night. By the end of the show, 20 out of 21 of my pieces went to new homes. To continue to realise that my art has an ability to resonate with people is an incredibly affirming, validating and emotional experience for me as an artist.
It’s now been a few days since the show has finished, I’ve decompressed a little, have gathered my thoughts and I’d like to express my gratitude
Firstly to the little girl in the fluoro pink jacket and leopard print pants – who came back 2 or 3 times to view one of my last pieces hanging on the wall – this large pink work called “Holding my Nerves Together in the City”. It was such a beautiful moment. I asked her dad if I could take this photo, and it’s my favourite photo from the whole experience. She obviously loves pink, and it melted my heart to see her just taking the time to take all of the ‘pink’ in.
To those people who purchased my works - Thank you! I’m super humbled that you connected with my work enough to want to take it home with you and hang on your walls.
A huge thanks to Carla, Midge, Julie and the whole NZ ART Show team for your support and for providing such a wonderful platform for artists to showcase our work and share our stories.
Thank you to my friends, colleagues and complete strangers who wished me well, or stopped and showed an interest in my process and my work. It means so much.
To the new artists I bonded with, and the old ones that I reconnected with – we’ve all got stories to tell - thank you for sharing your stories with me and for also listening to mine.
To my students who took the time out to come and say hello – this is the hugest heart-warming compliment. Thank you for challenging me and inspiring me and I hope I inspire you to exhibit your work one day!
Finally, I’d like to thank my husband, Andy. He has been my harshest critic but also my most loyal and fierce supporter of my process and art over the years. He allows me to pursue my art, which isn’t the easiest path, and he often has to carefully negotiate the highs and lows that comes with living with an intense & emotional creative Gemini - the worst type! 🤪 His constant love and support has been pivotal to my success, and I couldn’t have achieved this without him.
Where to from here? Hmmm, who knows? Overall, it has been a wonderful and affirming experience for me, and has given me the confidence and validation to keep on creating my art for others to see and enjoy in the future. In the meantime, I’m going to sit back, relish the moment, and take a little of the pink in
Glen Jorna
June 2021
LOCKDOWN CREATIVITY
The last few weeks have seen New Zealand go into complete lockdown, which has meant not being able to access my studio space. Fortunately, my neighbour’s grungy garage has been sitting empty - hence I have been lucky enough to temporarily hijack this space and move a car load of materials and supplies into it. Despite being a little damp, it’s been the perfect space to create my new body of work in for the NZ ART SHOW online exhibition, launching in May 2020.
My adorable Lumi loves to keep me company in my new grungy garage space…
FORAGING & COLLECTING
Amidst the abandoned alleys and hidden street walls of Melbourne are hidden gems just waiting to be discovered.
