THE HERE AND AFTER

Join us Thursday, 6/14 at 7:30pm for a free Artist Reception with Robin Jones, the artist behind the newest exhibit in our Gallery, ‘The Here and After’. Enjoy light refreshments and hear insights into the work from the artist herself.

Artists: ROBIN JONES

ARTIST STATEMENT

Drawing from my love of figurative painting and of animals and the natural world, my most recent work focuses on specific animals that are endangered, accompanied by the next generation of humans. As we humans continue to expand our presence on the planet, we are displacing, endangering, and threatening other species with extinction. They are endangered due to habitat loss, trophy hunting, palm oil deforestation, climate change – the planet we will hand to future generations could be vastly different from the one we now know, devoid of many of the animals that currently make up the Endangered Species List. Most of these works I would categorize as ‘activist art’. Some I have chosen to gild with gold or silver leaf, which adds dimension and a dynamic shifting of light and shadow. Other figurative pieces are inspired by my many years working as a professional actor in the theatre – these are characters from plays and actors in the process of working. And several are of, or based upon, women I admire. As both painter and actor, I’m drawn to female characters who are warriors, leaders, rebels, misfits, and eccentrics, some of whom are represented here. With all of my paintings, I strive to capture spirit- whether animal or human – inner life, emotion, the soul of the being that I’m painting. This, to me, is perhaps the most important thing of all.

ARTIST BIO

Robin began painting in earnest 10 years ago, the day after Hurricane Ike hit Houston, Texas, where she had been living while working at the Alley Theatre. For two weeks after the storm, with no electricity throughout most of the city, Robin began making abstract paintings which then evolved, over time, into more realistic figurative work. Robin is completely self-taught, which has been both a trial of patience and extremely rewarding. In addition to painting, she serves as Co-Artistic Director of Civic Rep, which produces plays in Seattle and on Vashon Island, where she lives with her wife, 4 dogs, and a horse.