#sparkchamber 093019 — Jessica Maan
People and place can equally carry the creative torch, and today, #sparkchamber shines a light on both. We start at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto. Perfectly positioned between two of the city’s most creative neighborhoods, West Queen West and Parkdale, the Gladstone is a meeting place for local creatives and world travelers.
A living example of the Jane Jacobs quote, “New ideas must use old buildings,” this boutique art hotel is Toronto’s oldest continually operating hotel and the only B-Corp-certified hotel in Canada. It boasts the highest standards in environmental performance, social responsibility, and innovation, and is actively engaged in promoting Toronto’s creative community. Hosting over 70 exhibitions a year, the Gladstone’s art programming focuses on local and international emerging talent in the contemporary space. Supporting innovative projects and allowing artists to take risks has given the Gladstone the reputation of being an incubator for some of Canada’s most celebrated multidisciplinary artists.
Such as … #sparkchamber alum Jessica Maan. An emerging artist based in Toronto, Jessica’s Portraits in the Age of Selfies is currently on view in the Gladstone’s 2nd floor gallery.
Working from photos she has taken of or borrowed from people in her life, Jessica aims to share her admiration for the complexities of the essence of facial features and how they are conveyed and manipulated through paint. She works in acrylic on canvas to reinterpret the emotion and mystery of her interactions with them, looking to capture the magnetism, grace, and allure found in the snapshotted moment that reveals who they are. She draws attention to the distinctive faces of friends, family, [and pets] using vibrant colors, light, and stark shadows.
If you’re in the area, do check out the show on view through October 6th.
1.] Where do ideas come from?
My travels, walks, bike rides, books, people I meet
2.] What is the itch you are scratching?
I have serious anxiety and depression issues. Perfectionist and OCD tendencies. Painting is an outlet, a way to channel the bad parts and create beauty.
3.] Early bird or night owl, tortoise or hare?
I love mornings because they are fresh, 10 minutes of painting becomes 20, and then an hour, and then it’s already been 3 hours! I push myself to just “show up” to the canvas, when I don’t feel like it, I’ve learned to keep going and the progress may be slow, but just doing it, makes it happen.
4.] How do you know when you are done?
When my eyes are happy at what I see, that feeling of, “yes! This is what I wanted to achieve!” It’s a perfectionism thing, which I don’t think is a good thing but it drives me to push myself as far as I can go before I say, ok, I’m sick of this :)
