With black oil paint on a gessoed panel, Jennifer Day reveals the drama of water's liquidity without the infinite options of applying local color. Gray scale sensitivity and range is her goal. To achieve this, she works reductively by rubbing the surface and scraping her fingernail methodically through the paint to find the light beneath. Similarly, the artist explores the ephemeral form of clouds which are, in fact, another form of water. Both subjects require specific formats, preferably large, which speak to the untenable immensity of the natural world. In striking contrast, her smaller works bring her closer to the more intimate gestures of trees and organic life. In all cases, the artist works between two opposites: the geometry of the picture plane versus the challenge of the ephemeral and the impulse of nature to escape the plane altogether.
Jennifer Day’s sculpture employs natural materials that she finds in her yard and cupboards to create constructions of construction sites in HO scale. In building these miniatures, the artist shows how small worlds are constructed, yet leaves the idea of “finish” up in the air, so to speak. Her themes revolve around the competing ideas of making and deconstructing, engagement and abandonment, the joy of discovery and the realization that maybe not all is well, or fun. Twigs, toothpicks and wood scraps combine in tiny invented worlds. They seduce all ages by virtue of their toy-like scale yet are quizzical and even forbidding. Some examples include a self-powered treehouse, a defunct coal tipple, a ziggurat constructing itself and an underground fort, also “creating” itself.
Solo Exhibitions
Miller White Fine Art, Dennis, MA, paintings, June, 2022
Bromfield Gallery, Boston, MA, paintings, July, 2021
Addison Gallery, Orleans MA, paintings and sculpture, June 2020
Bromfield Gallery, Boston, MA, paintings, July 2019
Bromfield Gallery, Boston, MA, multi-media sculpture, July 2017
Bromfield Gallery, Boston MA, Prints and Drawings, July, 2015
The Drawing Room, Cos Cob, Ct. June-July 2104
Bromfield Gallery, Paintings, July, 2013
New England Biolabs, Ipswich, MA, February, 2013
Trident Café and Booksellers, Boston, MA, March 2013
Cotuit Center for the Arts, Cotuit, MA, Paintings, October, 2012
Bromfield Gallery, Wood to Wave, New Paintings, June 2011
Bromfield Gallery, Boston MA, Air and Ocean,, New Paintings, June 2009
Cape Cod Museum of Art, Dennis, MA, Paintings, April-June 2009
Bromfield Gallery. Boston, MA, Paintings, June 2007
Bromfield Gallery, Boston MA, Paintings, June 2005
The River Valley Club, Lebanon, NH, paintings, April, 2001
The Firehouse Center for the Arts, Newburyport, MA, paintings, 1996
Kling Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, paintings, September, 1988.
Ahmed's Gallery, Cambridge, MA, paintings, 1983.
The Cape Playhouse, Dennis, MA.
Constitution Quarters, Charlestown, MA. paintings and reliefs in support of commissioned wall piece,
June, 1983
St. Mark's School, Southboro, MA. paintings, March 1982
Phillips Academy, Andover, MA. paintings and prints, April, 1982
Group Exhibitions
Atelier Gallery, Newport, RI, paintings,June, 2022
Northhill Gallery, Dedham, MA, paintings, 2021
Newport Art Museum, Newport, RI, Annual Members Juried Exhibition, winter 2020
ArtsWorcester, Juried Exhibition,” Gravity/Levity”, sculpture, August, 2020
Atelier Newport, ”The American Landscape”, paintings, October, 2019
ArtsWorcester, Regional Juried Exhibition, sculpture, May 2019
Agora Gallery, NY, NY, Chelsea International Juried Exhibition, February 2018
Bristol Museum of Art, Bristol RI, “A Kaleidescope”, Spring 2018
Cambridge Art Association, Cambridge MA, Juried, June 2013
Prince Street Gallery, NY, NY National Juried Show February, 2014
Danforth Museum, Framingham, MA, Annual Juried , June 2011
Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Summer, 2011
The Copley Society, Summer Juried Exhibition, August 2008
The Copley Society, Patron’s Choice, March 2008
The Copley Society, Summer Juried Exhibition, 2007
The Copley Society, Patron’s Choice, March 2007
The Copley Society, Fall Juried Exhibition, 2005
Anderson-Soule Gallery, Concord, NH, November,2004
McGowen Fine Art, Concord NH. "Black and White", July 2000
AVA Gallery, Lebanon NH, Juried exhibitions, 2000, 1998, 2001, 2002
AVA Gallery, Lebanon, NH paintings and drawings, February, 1998
Marion Graves Mugar Art Gallery, Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH., paintings and drawings,
September 1997
Marion Graves Mugar Gallery, faculty exhibitions, March 1997-2002
Northern Essex Community College, Haverhill, MA, faculty exhibitions, Jan 1993, May 1994
Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, PA., thesis exhibition, May 1987 Ross Gallery, Philadelphia,
PA, student exhibition, May 1985, 1986
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Museum School Annual, March 1983
Jewett Hall Gallery, University of Maine, Augusta, Me. Museum of Fine Arts Students Select. January, 1983
Museum School Gallery, Boston, MA. Juried Exhibitions, 1982, spring 1980, fall 1980
St. Georges School, Newport RI, Faculty Exhibitions,1981, 1980 Education
Collections
Bowdoin College Archives. Brunswick Me, Hand-made book of etchings
The New England, Boston MA
Immobiliare Inc, Boston, MA
Northhill Gallery, Dedham, MA
Awards and Grants
Chelsea International Juried Competition, Agora Gallery, NY, NY, cash award, 2022
Arts Worcester Regional Juried Exhibition, Juror’s prize for sculpture, 2019
The Copley Society, Honorable Mention, Summer Juried, 2010
The Copley Society, Third Juror’s Prize, October, 2007
The Copley Society, First Juror’s Prize, July, 2006
The Copley Society, Honorable Mention, October, 2005
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa, Scholarship to study painting at La Napoule Foundation,
France, summer, 1983
The Artist's Foundation, Boston, MA. Commission awarded for permanent painting installed in Constitution Quarters, Charlestown, MA. May, 1983
St. George's School Newport, RI, Summer study grant for work in France, summer 1980.
Publications
Letter to Lucy: A Manifesto of Creative Redemption in the Age of Trump, Fascism and Lies by Frank Schaeffer
Ar Morgezeg by William Hope Hodgson
Ocean Home Magazine, June/July 2018
Maine Home Magazine, September/October, 2017
New England Home, September/October, 2019
Studio Visit, Volume 37, Open Studios Press
Teaching
Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH 1997-2003, Assistant Professor, Creative Expression,
Art education Methods, Drawing, Two-dimensional Design
Northern Essex Community College, Haverhill MA, 1992-1997, Adjunct Instructor, Color and Design,
Drawing I, Drawing II, Art Therapy
Shipley School, Bryn Mawr, Pa, 1988, 1989, Summer Enrichment Camp, Art
Phillips Academy, Andover MA.,1982, 1983, 1984, Summer Session, Intensive Studio Art Program, Painting,
Visual Studies.
Fay School, Southboro, MA, 1981, Summer Session. Program Director, Art
St. Georges School, Newport, RI 1979-1981, Full Time. Painting, Drawing
Education
University of Pennsylvania, School of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA. Master of Fine Arts, Painting, 1987,
Mentors: Neil Welliver, Hitoshi Nakazato , Rafael Ferrer
School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA, Diploma Program, 1981-1983.
Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Me, BA Studio Art and Art History, 1978.
Lancaster University, Lancaster, England. Junior Year Abroad, 1976-1977.