Dreams, Prismatic Spectrums & the Universe with Jessica Majella
Exhibiting | October 7th - 8th, 2022
Online Collection Release | October 6th, 9pm PST
Opening Reception | Friday, October 7th, 6:00-9:00pm PST
Open Studio/Gallery | Saturday, October 8th 12-6pm PST

DREAMS, PRISMATIC SPECTRUMS & THE UNIVERSE

Dreamy images in vibrant colored pencil depict the imagination of the sky and the subconscious with imagery of nebulae, sunset clouds, kaleidoscope grids, and symbolic representations of flora and fauna in Jessica Majella's premier solo show "Dreams, Prismatic Spectrums, & The Universe". Color is part of the narrative as the folklore-esque and surreal works read almost like pages from a book of fairytales, allowing the viewer to interpret a story from their own imagination.

Through painting I explore the realms of imagination and the freedom it gives. Developing a personal symbolic lexicon I build a story into each set of images. I treat the medium as both sacred narrative spellwork and a place to dive into the absurd, liberating the fantastic weirdness of having infinite imagination.

Dreams are a source of inspiration as well as imagery conjured in mythology, folklore, and modern science fiction/fantasy. Wonderfully odd memories, moments that keep life weird and interesting, also show up in my work. Growing up in 1980’s era Tennessee there was no lack of irreverent absurdity in everyday life.

On February 2, 2022 I fell out of my studio chair and ruptured the tendon in my thumb, separating it from the bone. It was a huge setback, requiring emergency surgery and immobilization of my hand.

An element of strange magic, however, was involved in this incident: The previous day I was sketching imagery based on a dream I had in which bees came out my thumb. The opening on my thumb in these sketches is almost the exact size and place as my real surgery scar. In a way the artwork and accident feels like a spell that I unintentionally made. And whether or not one believes in such things, it reminds us that there are powerful unknown forces at work and theuniverse is whispering, hinting.

This event created a clear vision for my work moving forward making me aware of how intentional the narrative spells I cast with my imagery should be. It is important to me to impart to my audience that life is both magic and absurdity. That one’s life can include the experience of dreams that foretell the future and your memaw taking you to JCPenny for that really bad perm.

About Jessica Majella

Jessica Majella is a painter born and raised in East Tennessee currently residing in Arizona. Raised by two self-taught artists she has been making art in a home studio since she was a toddler.

Displaying a natural talent and love for art at such an early age, Jessica was encouraged to draw and paint throughout grade school and joined programs like National Honors Art Society and took AP art classes in highschool. She continued her arts education in college and graduated in 2007 from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a BFA concentration in sculpture.

Following graduation Jessica began her own cottage jewelry business while also freelancing papercut illustration work. After 15 years in the jewelry making business she decided to return to her original art love: painting. Exploring the realms of imagination through painting, Jessica treats the medium as both sacred narrative spellwork and a place to dive into the absurd, liberating the fantastic weirdness of having infinite imagination.

Jessica currently paints out of her studio tucked away inside the HeartBox gallery in downtown Flagstaff, AZ where she has an upcoming solo show Friday, October 7th, 2022.