Jane Maxwell

JANE MAXWELL INTERVIEW

Q. Why do you choose to focus on the female form?

A. I'm interested in exploring the issue of women, negative body image and the feminine ideal. In the US, there is a near obsession with being thin (and yet, our country grows heavier every day). The media is inundated with diet advertising and images of an idealized 'thin' woman. As a result, there is an epidemic of women unhappy with their bodies. In my work over the years, I have taken the iconic female form -- women on the fashion runway, women posing for pictures, pin-up girls - and deconstructed the form to comment on this issue. I've taken away the sexy skivvies and skin tight dresses and replaced them with layers of vintage produce labels, old hollywood posters and related materials. I've recently begun to work with women in seated, more contemplative poses to further reflect on this issue.

Q. The women in your pieces have a sense of anonymity, are their identities intentionally hidden?

A. I'm not intentionally hiding their identities. I am more creating a 'universal' woman. I hope for the viewer to identify in some way with the figure, or to be curious about her. What's she thinking about? Is she comfortable in her body?

Q. Where do you find the silhouettes?

A. I search for silhouettes everywhere - on billboards, red carpet photos, fashion runway shows (online), magazines, etc. I believe it is on the fashion runways - with rail-thin models, and on the red carpet - with Hollywood's ematiated actresses, that the fantasy of the perfect body begins, and is perpetuated. I'm interested in taking those iconic moments that are so present in the consumer's mind - and deconstructing the image.

Q. Why did you choose collage as your medium?

A. I've always been drawn to vintage and unusual papers and other objects to make art. For years I'd been an avid antique and flea market forager--searching for anything from vintage papers to old game pieces to other funky ephemera. I've also always been drawn to the tactile qualities and originality of good fashion and interior design. Collage was the medium where I could make art by combining my interests in all of these visual areas.

Q. What materials do you most like to work with?

A. I love to work with found and vintage papers. I like the way these materials have their own history and unique patina. I am interested in how materials can be manipulated. I think that any piece of art becomes more interesting and authentic when there is a level of complexity and layering of unusual materials.

Q. Where do you get most of your materials?

A. I visit the Brimfield Antiques Fair in Brimfield, MA at least once a year. It has miles of amazing vendors with fabulous finds. I also find really interesting materials on Ebay and other websites. Most recently, I've been gathering wonderful vintage Hollywood posters from a web auction site called www.emovieposter.com.

Q. How do you use beeswax in your work?

A. I use an original method of combining and layering materials with wax. I melt granulated beeswax at a high temperature on a hot pallete. I then take several layers of papers that have been glued together, and lay them onto the hot pallete and paint on the beeswax. The heat and the beeswax seep through the layers revealing imagery and texture. The beeswax also serves as a nice protective layer.

Q. Your recent work has a shiny, reflective surface, what is that?

A. I have begun to use a special 3-layer application of resin on the work. It lends itself well to making the many layers of the work come to life more vividly. I also like the juxtaposition of the vintage materials beneath the modern, slick surface.

Q. Were you an art major?

A. I was not an art major. I graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont in 1986 with a major in American Literature. In 1994 I took my first art clas at Montserrat College in Beverly, MA. I then delved into a variety of classes at the DeCordova Museum School in Lincoln, MA and at the Museum School in Boston. I have been largely self-taught. I have found the most exciting ideas and techniques from mistakes I've made along the way.

Q. What did you do before pursuing an art career?

A. Following college, I worked in the public relations industry--in Boston and New York City. I spent the majority of my PR career as a writer (of press kits, brochures and speeches) and as a Creative Director. As Creative Director (at Clark & Company PR in Boston), I helped both our clients and staff think outside the box about how to reach our target audiences.

Q. Which other artists or art movements have inspired your work?

A. I'm a big fan of Rauchenberg, Warhol, Cornell and Nevelson. And, I love the current work of Shepard Fairey and Greg Miller. 

Jane Maxwell is a collage artist based in Boston, MA. Her current work largely focuses on women, body image and the feminine ideal. Her collages are deeply layered works, combining color, texture and text that surround and become the female figure.

Jane's work is shown in New York City, San Francisco, Napa Valley, Newport, RI, London and at multiple Miami Art Fairs. Her work has been collected by art buyers throughout the world.

Recently, Jane was selected to be included in the 30th anniversary edition of 'Who's Who inAmerican Art.'

She has been a guest lecturer at Wellesley College, Stonehill College and The New England Art Institute, on the topic of body image and art. Her work has been the focus of numerous newspaper and magazine articles and has been featured in many art books, including Collage for the Soul (Rockport Books) and Mixed Media Collage (Quarry Books).

After graduating from Middlebury College in 1986 as a literature major, Jane worked in the public relations field for 10 years, before turning her full attention to art. At that time she took her interest in collage and a natural affinity for found papers and objects, and delved into a range of mixed media classes at the DeCordova Museum School (Lincoln, MA ) and at The Museum School (Boston, MA). Jane lives in Newton, MA with her husband and three children.

EXHIBITIONS

SOLO SHOWS 

 

 

2009

 Caldwell Snyder Gallery
San Francisco, CA

Reign Gallery
Newport, RI

2008

Campton Gallery
New York, NY

Hubert Gallery
New York, NY

2007

New England Art Institute Gallery,
"S, M, L, XL"
Brookline, MA

2006

Oylan Gallery
Cambridge, MA

Carney Gallery at Regis College
Weston, MA

2004

Mario Russo Salon, Louis Boston [Solo Show]
Boston, MA

GROUP SHOWS

2009

LA Art Fair
Los Angeles, CA

Lanoue Fine Art, "Go Figure"
Boston, MA

2008

Galerie Geraldine Zberro
Paris, France

2007

Heidi Cho Gallery
New York, NY

Susan Maasch Fine Art
Portland, ME

2006

Judi Rotenberg Gallery, "Made In America"
Boston, MA

Nave Gallery, "Serious Fun: Whimsical Art by Fine Artists"
Somerville, MA

One Way Gallery, Featured Artist
Narragansett, RI

Woman Made Gallery, "Her Mark"
Chicago, IL

Attleboro Arts Museum, "Small Works National Juried Art Exhibition"
Juror's Choice Award
Attleboro, MA

Fiber Art Center, "Fiber and the Book Artist"
Amherst, MA

Cambridge Art Association, "Blue"
Cambridge, MA

2005

Clark Gallery, "Director's Choice"
Lincoln, MA

Cushing-Martin Gallery, "Communicating Through Collage"
Stonehill College, Easton, MA

2004

New Art Center, "Icons and Alters"
Newton, MA

BAAK Gallery, "Women Spring into Life"
Cambridge, MA

2003

DK Project Art, "Inner Selections"
South End Artists Open Studios
Boston, MA

New Art Center, "Icons and Alters"
Newton, MA

2002

Holzwasser Gallery, New Art Center
Newton, MA

The Somerville Museum, "Persona"
Somerville, MA

Cambridge Art Association, "Hot Colors"
Cambridge, MA

New Art Center, "Icons and Alters"
Newton, MA

2001

The Stage Gallery, "Face to Face"
Merrick, NY

Cambridge Art Association, "Red"
Cambridge, MA

2000

ArtWorks!, "Rhymes & Rhythms"
New Bedford, MA

Period Art Gallery, "International Show"
Omaha, NE

Newburyport Art Association, "Annual Juried Show" Mixed Media Prize
Newburyport, MA