Jacques Vesery is an Artist/ Sculptor from Damariscotta and has lived in Maine for over 25 years. Striving to create an illusion of reality, his vision and inspiration begins with repetitive patterns derived from the ‘golden mean’ or ‘divine proportions’. The marriage of pattern, form and proportion conveys a sense of growth from within each of his pieces.
His work is in numerous public and private collections including the Detroit Institute of Art, The Renwick Gallery-Smithsonian American Art Museum, Yale University Art Gallery, Peabody- Essex Museum, The Carnegie Museum and Permanent Museum collections in France, Turkey and Japan. He is a Maine Arts Commission Fellow [2000] and “Master Craft Artist” and lifetime membership from the Maine Crafts Association [2011].
Jacques has lectured on design and concepts within his work in France, Italy, Turkey, China, England, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Nepal, Cambodia and 28 US states at such locations as Journees Mondiales du Tournage D’art Sur Bois Congres, The Escoulen School, Arrowmont, Anderson Ranch, `Aha Hana Lima- Hawaii and Haystack Mt. School.
He has participated in many collaborative art projects around the world and was lead artist for two such events, “The Kopru Project” in Eskisehir, Turkey 2015 and “Brick by Brick” in Nepal 2016. Jacques recently taught “Collaboration” at Harvard University for the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences for two semesters as well.
His work has been included in over 30 publications including ‘100 Artists of New England’, ‘Scratching the Surface’, ‘Wood Art Today’, ‘Natured Transformed’, ‘New Masters of Woodturning’ and the Fine Art of Wood’.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
There are threads that keep us connected to varied layers in life and I am linked to my work by them. Born under the sign of Aquarius I am always a part of water, sea and ocean. I have lived above and below the waves that couple me to the spirit in what I create and there is a vertical line binding sea and sky to my subconscious. This is where I store things that are second nature…color, balance, proportion, attention to detail and numbers… numbers that are the glue holding all this together. The threads are the nature of me…I see threads everywhere with magnified detail.
Concepts in Design and Form; Good Form over Pretty Wood
Technique is often a distraction to the importance of “Good Form”. Methods to create better form can be a difficult step in evolving our work to the next level. In this demonstration, design elements including scale, form, balance, and proportions along with the golden mean and geometry of design will be visualized through this audience participation process. Think of it as sketching in 3D so that this becomes the most important tool in your tool box!
How to Critique, Evolve and Learn from the Experience
This will be an old fashion style group critique held within the instant gallery space… Attendees walk around the space and choose pcs. to discuss…. Jacques will guide participants in ways to see things in a different light and share some ways to constructively critique without the negativity so often found in the process.
Collaboration; Playing well with Others
Collaboration can be a great way to grow skills in design and challenge us to think out of the box. In this session, We will explore the different ways collaboration occur and see some success’ from Jacques past.
Texture for Color Becomes Second Nature
Various carving and texturing techniques on both green and dry wood. The use of power carvers, rotary carvers, burning tools and methods to enhance the details for coloring to create illusion will be demonstrated.
Inspiration, Challenge, and Evolution
An image presentation and discussion of the inspirations and challenges Jacques has confronted over the years and how the work evolves because of these demands in creating. Past, present, and future work, plus collaborations, will be included. Join in this in-depth look at how and why objects made of wood fit into the art world. Explore the difference between art vs. craft, artist vs. craftsman, and how function and art can be symbiotic.
