Story submitted by Melinda Ludwig
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Jennifer Bowman considers herself to be a “self-taught” artist. That is not to say there is anything academic or amateur about her paintings. On the contrary, her abstract landscapes are both earthy and sophisticated. Industrial color palettes glide across canvases in a dream-like fashion of mixed media layers made up in varied combinations of molding paste, acrylic and oil glazes, coffee, fabric and found objects.
Jennifer says of her work “While I may begin each piece with a concept or general idea, the painting is actually formed through a process of layering, editing and re-editing. Shapes and textures are randomly created, removed and recreated; each layer leaving something behind. Shapes, marks and patterns emerge from the disorder and chaos. Through this repetitive process the work begins to find its own direction and path. Inspiration for my abstract paintings comes in everyday visual encounters such as weathered facades, rusted signs or battered pavement. Surfaces reflect the passage of time and its transformative properties; all hinting at hidden languages and secrets withheld. I believe that uncommon beauty and profound truths can be found in the simplest of things. By avoiding preconceived outcomes and embracing the unpredictable, I hope to form a more spiritual and transcendent connection through my work.”
In conjunction with the exhibit, Jennifer will be doing a gallery talk on October 24th. As part of the museum Art & Lunch programming, this event is free to the public. Her paintings continue to develop a strong following and have been shown on HGTV. The work of Jennifer Bowman can be found in collections throughout the U.S. including the University of Kentucky, Hopkinsville Community College, Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus, and Nancy Pruter Goodman. Entangled Roots will be on view from October 3rd through January 5th, 2014.
Located at the corner of Second and Commerce Streets, the Customs House Museum is the second largest general museum in Tennessee. Regular museum hours are 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 pm on Sundays. Adult admission is $7, Sr. Citizens and College ID $5, Ages 6 to 18 $3, and under six is free. For more information on above events contact Terri Jordan, Exhibits Curator, at 931-648-5780 or terri@customshousemuseum.org.
