Artist Jessica Drenk

Jessica Drenk - Artist Statement

My work is a response to, and experimentation with, materials. My inspiration comes from nature; I am constantly amazed by the diversity and beauty of the forms and patterns in nature. We often think of our immediate surroundings as being “man-made”, but man-made materials still behave according to the same principles as the natural world—they come from nature. Because nature is based on patterns and principles of organization, I look for man-made materials that might be manipulated according to similar patterns and principles. In my response to these materials—learning how they behave under different circumstances and combinations, discovering how to re-order and pattern them, intuitively pursuing new forms and pushing materials beyond how I would normally think of them—I become connected with the physical properties of the world, as well as the nature of my own mind.

The Erosion series began in 2007 with experiments in cutting and sanding PVC pipes for a single piece. The simple tube shaped pipes quickly became a fascinating material to work with, as I explored how the variously gouged pipes created shadow and reflected light. I find it thrilling how such a dull and ordinary material can be changed into something with so much variety.

Resume

2007 MFA, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

2002 BA, Art Major, Cum Laude, Pomona College, Claremont, CA

Exhibitions

Solo and Two-Person:

2008 Semi-permanent wall-installation, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, AZ

2007 Beard Arts Center, Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN

2007 MFA Exhibition, University of Arizona Museum of Art, Tucson, AZ

2006 The Turning World, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, AZ

2005 Reading our Remains, University of Arizona Library, Tucson, AZ

2004 Curious Objects: An Installation by Jessica Drenk, The Forum Gallery, Claremont, CA

2002 Thesis Exhibition, Pomona College Museum of Art, Claremont, CA

2008 Compelling Matter, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, AZ

2008 Penumbra, Gallery 825, Los Angeles, CA

2007 She Objects! II: Women Who Make Objects, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, AZ

2006 Biennial Southwest, The Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM
Juror: Neal Benezra, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

2006 Turning World, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, AZ

2006 Sheldon Swope Art Museum, Terre Haute, IN

2005 8th International Book Fair of Contemporary Creative Books, Marseille, France

2005 Arizona Biennial, Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, AZ, Curator: Siri Engberg, Walker Arts Center, Minneapolis, MN

2005 Residual Pull, Dinnerware Contemporary Arts, Tucson, AZ

2006 International Sculpture Center's Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Awards

2005 Centennial Sculpture Award, University of Arizona

2005 Medici Scholars Award, University of Arizona

2007 University of Arizona MFA Thesis Exhibition Catalog
2006 Sculpture Magazine, October
2006 The Albuquerque Tribune, October 5
2005 Transformations, University of Arizona College of Fine Arts publication
2005 “Arizona Illustrated”, KUAT-TV, PBS, Residual Pull
2005 “Arizona Illustrated”, KUAT-TV, PBS, Arizona Biennial
2003 Pomona College Magazine



	Jessica Drenk - Artist Statement My work is a response to, and experimentation with, materials. My inspiration comes from nature; I am constantly amazed by the diversity and beauty of the forms and patterns in nature. We often think of our immediate surroundings as being “man-made”, but man-made materials still behave according to the same principles as the natural world—they come from nature. Because nature is based on patterns and principles of organization, I look for man-made materials that might be manipulated according to similar patterns and principles. In my response to these materials—learning how they behave under different circumstances and combinations, discovering how to re-order and pattern them, intuitively pursuing new forms and pushing materials beyond how I would normally think of them—I become connected with the physical properties of the world, as well as the nature of my own mind. The Erosion series began in 2007 with experiments in cutting and sanding PVC pipes for a single piece. The simple tube shaped pipes quickly became a fascinating material to work with, as I explored how the variously gouged pipes created shadow and reflected light. I find it thrilling how such a dull and ordinary material can be changed into something with so much variety. Resume Education 2007 MFA, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 2002 BA, Art Major, Cum Laude, Pomona College, Claremont, CA Exhibitions Solo and Two-Person: 2008 Semi-permanent wall-installation, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2007 Beard Arts Center, Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN 2007 MFA Exhibition, University of Arizona Museum of Art, Tucson, AZ 2006 The Turning World, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2006 Imprints, Lionel Rombach Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2005 Reading our Remains, University of Arizona Library, Tucson, AZ 2004 Curious Objects: An Installation by Jessica Drenk, The Forum Gallery, Claremont, CA 2002 Thesis Exhibition, Pomona College Museum of Art, Claremont, CA 2002 Pomona College Museum of Art, Claremont, CA Group: 2008 Compelling Matter, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2008 Penumbra, Gallery 825, Los Angeles, CA 2007 She Objects! II: Women Who Make Objects, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2006 Biennial Southwest, The Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM Juror: Neal Benezra, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art 2006 Turning World, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2006 Sheldon Swope Art Museum, Terre Haute, IN 2006 Art One Gallery, Phoenix, AZ 2006 Casa Libre, Tucson, AZ 2005 8th International Book Fair of Contemporary Creative Books, Marseille, France 2005 Arizona Biennial, Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, AZ, Curator: Siri Engberg, Walker Arts Center, Minneapolis, MN 2005 Residual Pull, Dinnerware Contemporary Arts, Tucson, AZ 2005 Bound and Unbound: Artist Books and Other Paper Constructions, Tohono Chul Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2005 Hayward Area Forum of the Arts, Hayward, CA 2005 Re-Visions III, Tohono Chul Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2005 Contents Interiors, Tucson, AZ 2004 Pomona College Alumni Symposium, Pomona College, Claremont, CA 2001 Pomona College Student Exhibition, Pomona College Museum of Art, Claremont, CA Awards 2006 International Sculpture Center's Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Awards 2006 Arizona Artist’s Guild Scholarship 2006 Creative Achievement Award for graduate work in Art, University of Arizona 2006 Coris Family Trust Fine Arts Award, University of Arizona 2006 Albert Haldeman Scholarship, University of Arizona 2005 Centennial Sculpture Award, University of Arizona 2005 Medici Scholars Award, University of Arizona 2004 Graduate College Fellowship, University of Arizona 2002 Phi Beta Kappa, Pomona College, Claremont, CA 2002 Louisa Moseley Fine Arts Prize, Pomona College, Claremont, CA 2001 Rembrandt Junior Prize in Art, Pomona College, Claremont, CA 2001 Matthew Klopfleisch Memorial Prize in Art, Pomona College, Claremont, CA Publications 2007 University of Arizona MFA Thesis Exhibition Catalog 2006 Sculpture Magazine, October 2006 The Albuquerque Tribune, October 5 2005 Transformations, University of Arizona College of Fine Arts publication 2005 “Arizona Illustrated”, KUAT-TV, PBS, Residual Pull 2005 “Arizona Illustrated”, KUAT-TV, PBS, Arizona Biennial 2003 Pomona College Magazine





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