Artist's Statement
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I have always been passionate about art and creating. Seeing promise, my high school teacher, urged me to enroll in art school. Like so many, I never believed there was a future for me in art; so, I veered in the opposite direction. Yearning to escape to the West, I left my home town Virginia, and headed for college in the great Rocky Mountains. I graduated with degrees in Spanish and International Relations. I pursued careers in Law Enforcement, Firefighting, and Real Estate. Though the work was exciting and rewarding, I still felt unsatisfied and restless. This is when I turned back to my first love, and established Mandala Recycled Art in 1998. Although these educations and careers were not “right” for me, I know see the how the dots connect me to finding "Jendala." Law enforcement provided me with the assertiveness and awareness needed to be self-employed, and firefighting gave me the appreciation and connection with fire, as well as, the knowledge of using the oxy-acetylene torch. Real Estate prepared me for the daily office routine that any business requires. |
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In a nutshell, these experiences looped back to my youthful passion with art and allowed me to understand it in new ways. Wanting to work with people and the environment, wanting to see and show the connections between each other and with the earth, I began to envision how I could make the interconnections of these passions into my life’s work. Now, I collect “trash” and make it “work” for me; it is in this simplicity that creates beauty and allows new ideas to flow. I design all products with the use the hand torch. All metal is reclaimed (mostly sheet metal and steel cans). I then hand paint and assemble each piece with beads selected from Sustainable Cooperatives in India and Indonesia. The current product list includes affirmation chimes, picture frames, flags, keychains, etc. Thanks to all of you for your continual support and encouragment as Jendala grows! Mirroring your inspiration! Jenn |
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