ANNE JOHN
The act of creating provides a narrative opportunity in defining my responses to the human condition of life. My work emerges through the eyes of a feminist, because I am, after all a female. My ideas are drawn from contemporary events where philosophies and religion often clash. I paint and sculpt directly from the human figure, sometimes allegorically, sometimes in a modern setting, but always with a psychic grounding beneath everyday interactions.
Several themes interweave within my work. The feminist thread appears in renditions of a contemporary Eve shouldering the burdens implied by the symbolic apple. I credit her for bringing us knowledge, freedom of thought and empowerment. I harbor no resentment towards men. They are seen depicted with their own set of challenges in a changing world. Together I see men and women as the stewards of a fragile planet. My depictions of birds and animals represent our connection as well as a responsibility to protect a complicated world.
I am deeply rooted in the Pacific northwest, where my palette swings with a moody climate. My technique involves surfaces of mixed media, collage, and a layering of oil glazes. I find myself pulling figures from the canvas as though they are emerging from another dimension. As I paint, I acknowledge both the fragility and the strength of life. I see the tug and pull between men and women. I recognize, unequivocally, that life is to be celebrated.