Visit monca for a dive into the incredible artistic works of Belinda Hanson and Carol Jenkins in the exhibition, Vivid Visions: Exploring Place in the Far Reaches of Northern California.
Belinda Hanson and Carol Jenkins share a love for the unexpected aspects of nature.
The vast open spaces of Siskiyou County—ringed by towering mountains and carved by rivers and lakes—influence the artwork of Hanson and Jenkins in uniquely different ways.
Hanson’s sculptures and sculptural installations are raw, even rugged, yet surprisingly delicate. Her quirky sense of humor and freedom with materials and space engages the viewer in an immediate and kinesthetic relationship with her work.
Jenkins’ color-saturated abstracts are infused with her love of the natural world. Using reflected light, organic shapes and layers of fluid paint, she creates landscapes that are sensitive yet have a strong emotional impact.
Together, Hanson and Jenkins offer a vivid impression of the place they call home.
Belinda Hanson was born on a dairy farm in Minnesota and went on to study science like her siblings. She later pursued her true passion, art, earning her BFA in painting and Masters in Fine Arts in sculpture. Much of her artwork reflects her surroundings in the natural world, particularly the rugged beauty of Siskiyou County and the American River winding near Carmichael, CA. Her work ranges from abstract, mixed-media paintings depicting the confluence of time and landscape to stark sculptures made of concrete and feathers with powerful titles like "They Cut off my Wing so I wouldn’t be so Loud" (pictured). Hanson's work has been shown in numerous galleries and museums including the Pence Gallery in Davis, CA and the Siskiyou Arts Museum in Dunsmuir, CA. Belinda Hanson has taught at various colleges and universities since 2001.
Carol Jenkins has studied with inspiring artists like Jenny Nelson, Nick Wilton, and Alice Sheridon. Her work has appeared in exhibitions at the Montclair Gallery in Oakland, CA, Liberty Arts Gallery in Yreka, CA, and beyond. With a focus on experimentation, Jenkins work is full of engaging textures and colors. Her landscapes remind the viewer of scenes from a faraway memory or vivid dream. Nature's dynamism is reflected in her art practice, where uncertainty and discovery guide her compositions. Along with creating art, Jenkins publishes a monthly newsletter meditating on the creative process.
"My paintings are abstract and process driven, yet somehow express the joy I feel in wild terrain. It is the vast diversity of the visual world that moves me: a jagged peak, the splash of color in an open field, layers of transparent paint. They all amaze!" - Carol Jenkins
Exhibition Dates: May 15 – June 6
Opening Reception: May 16, 6-8pm - free - no-host bar
