- Story by David Wyle Photography by Darren Hull
Perhaps art and science are more closely linked than we think. Both help us peer into the mysteries of existence and wrestle with the deeper questions and meanings of life.
Artist Jolene Mackie found herself at the crux of the two. Born and raised in Kelowna, Jolene had earned a full scholarship to the University of British Columbia to study the sciences 91裸聊视频� but she was also drawn to art.
91裸聊视频淒o I have a career that is more linear, and maybe makes more sense, or do I go to art school?91裸聊视频� she wondered at the time.
Mackie applied to in Vancouver, where some 300 students would be accepted out of 3,000 applications.
91裸聊视频淚 had a one in 10 chance,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚 was just hoping more than anything to get some feedback.91裸聊视频�
When she found out she91裸聊视频檇 been accepted to art school, Mackie felt the decision had been made for her. Yet that love of science has remained part of her art.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e always loved anatomy and biology 91裸聊视频� how all these parts come together and make things work,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淎 lot of my earlier work was bridging biology, anatomy and fine arts.91裸聊视频�
Jolene is in good company. History is filled with the alchemy of art and anatomy, like Leonardo da Vinci91裸聊视频檚 ground-breaking sketches of the human body.
| Photography by Darren Hull |
Jolene, 31, graduated from Emily Carr in 2009. She hit the ground running, quickly building up an impressive and diverse portfolio, including high-profile murals, one-of-a-kind painted instruments and myriad oil paintings.
91裸聊视频淚 love working on canvas. My fascination with working on a flat surface has to do with depth 91裸聊视频� transforming a flat surface and pigments into something that evokes a sense of place or depth,91裸聊视频� she said.
Jolene describes her style as illustrative and whimsical, filled with dreamscapes; although her art pulls from the very literal world around her, like the shape of a leaf or a colour palette in the sky.
91裸聊视频淚 love that painting is a language I can use to talk about dreams and the subconscious and other worlds and other places that you can91裸聊视频檛 do with any other medium,91裸聊视频� she said.
Jolene has been a catalyst in bringing the local art community together. For the past five years, she91裸聊视频檚 been on the board of directors for Art Walk in Lake Country, the biggest art event in the Valley. She wanted to bring a similar event to Kelowna and organized the first ever Discover Art in the Valley at the Kelowna Curling Club.
About 45 artists participated in the first year, including graffiti artists and fire spinners.
It91裸聊视频檚 an exciting time in Kelowna with a thriving cultural community, encouraged, in part by the creative tech community.
Jolene sees art as uplifting, something she thinks is in dire need these days.
91裸聊视频淎rt-making encourages me to be present because there91裸聊视频檚 a lot of bigger things, and more complex things in the world, and art should be something that brings me back to the present moment. There91裸聊视频檚 a lot of serious things in the world. It91裸聊视频檚 nice for art to be light,91裸聊视频� she said.
91裸聊视频淧ainting is my meditation. It91裸聊视频檚 a time I91裸聊视频檓 not thinking about anything but what91裸聊视频檚 right in front of me.91裸聊视频�
While Jolene91裸聊视频檚 work has often been inspired by nature, ships and whimsical skies, she has ventured in a new direction. She91裸聊视频檚 been delving into science-fiction-inspired art 91裸聊视频� a genre that hadn91裸聊视频檛 interested her until recently. She was captured by some of the masters of sci-fi, including Ray Bradbury.
91裸聊视频淢aking art is very much an evolution. I91裸聊视频檒l still be influenced by those thoughts and ideas and inspirations, but I91裸聊视频檝e built a different level on top of it,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淢y work has taken a hard right into something completely different.91裸聊视频�
The seeds of sci-fi have been there in the form of a tiny robot she has drawn or painted hundreds of times.
The robot first appeared in her work in her university days. She was replicating very traditional works, and found humour in injecting a little robot into them. The robot continued to spring up over the years in her sketch book.
Embracing a new direction has been teaching her to be open to inspiration and to be true to what speaks to her the loudest.
She said she sees the robot as a self-portrait in a lot of ways 91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渁 curious little investigator.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚 thought this little guy has somewhere to take me, he91裸聊视频檚 got something to show me,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚f you91裸聊视频檙e vulnerable enough to put it out there, people connect with that vulnerability, with the honesty and that little weird part of yourself.91裸聊视频�
Existential questioning is at the root of a lot of her art, as she tries to make sense of what existence means for her.
Asked what she91裸聊视频檚 learned so far, she said, 91裸聊视频淪trive for happiness and joy more than anything. It91裸聊视频檚 a strange and confusing and interesting time to be alive. We grapple with why we are here.91裸聊视频�
Mackie91裸聊视频檚 work can be found at .
| Photography by Darren Hull |
