FIRST FRIDAY Art Opening featuring local artist JOJAY. This work will be up through the end of September.

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

I AM A FIGURE ARTIST WORKING PRIMARILY IN CHARCOAL, EXPLORING THE QUIET, COMPLEX REALITIES OF LIVING IN A BODY — QUEERNESS, GENDER, MEMORY, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

USING MY OWN FORM AS BOTH SUBJECT AND REFERENCE, I DRAW TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN HOW WE PERCEIVE OURSELVES AND WHAT IS ACTUALLY THERE. I AM DRAWN TO WHAT WE HOLD IN OUR BODIES, WHAT IS EXPRESSED WITHOUT WORDS, AND HOW OUR LIVED EXPERIENCES SHAPE US OVER TIME.

CHARCOAL MIRRORS THE WAY WE HOLD EMOTION: IT CAN BE SOFT AND ATMOSPHERIC, OR SHARP AND INTENSE. I DON'T DRAW TO OFFER EASY ANSWERS OR FIX A PROBLEM. THESE PIECES ARE SIMPLY A SPACE TO SLOW DOWN, STRIP AWAY SELF-CRITICISM, AND VIEW THE BODY WITH CURIOSITY.