Jackie Dowell-Irvine: Artist in the Window
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Yukon Artists @ Work Cooperative 4129 4 Avenue, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 1H7
Jackie Irvine, "Tools," 2021
Yukon Artists at Work is proud to present another series of Artist in the Window residencies, funded by On Yukon Time.
Jackie Dowell-Irvine is known for her beautiful acrylic and watercolour landscapes. However a new project is prompting the Faro-area artist to look beyond her usual subject matter.
Jackie is one of six visual artists who will be featured in the latest Artist in the Window series at Yukon Artists at Work in Whitehorse. She will be in the gallery’s front window from August 18 –21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., painting not on her usual canvasses, but on found objects.
“My husband and I often go for walks and sometimes we find beautiful old things like scrap metal or pieces of wood. Some of them really interest me, so I have decided to use them in my art,” Dowell-Irvine said.
“My husband’s workshop is also a great place to discover old collectibles. I’ll be using a rustyshovel and a saw from there to make new pieces during my time in the window.”
Dowell-Irvine doesn’t know where these tools came from originally but says that’s part of the intrigue. “I like the mystery of it all.”
She notes that these old objects speak to the tradition in the Yukon of making use of and re-using everything. “In the past things weren’t easy to come by, so you didn’t waste anything,”Dowell-Irvine said. “I like the idea of once again giving these objects a purpose.”
The artist isn’t sure yet what the subjects of these paintings will be, but she says the materials are calling to her to paint them in ways different from her usual style.
The pieces Dowell-Irvine creates during her time in the window will be included in a group exhibit called Experienced Materials that will run throughout September at the Yukon Artists at Work gallery.
Artist bio:
Jackie lives on a semi-remote acreage on the Magundy River near Faro, Yukon. She works in acrylic, watercolor and mixed media. The use of color, light and texture inspires her and animates her work. Recent projects completed by Irvine are: 100 Painting in 100 Days andFaro’s Community Mural Project.