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Jessi MedeirosMonkey Matrimony
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Artist's Statement
I completed "Monkey Matrimony" while taking a relief printmaking class with Professor Kathyrn Reeves. I am inspired by the Mexican Painter, Frida Kahlo. Her use of vivid imagery has always played a part in the narrative subject matter in my work. I am a painter. By nothing any of my paintings, you will see that I tend to use a very bold, vivid color palette. Working in black and white outside of varietal drawing media was very new to me. I was drawn to this peice because of the use of line and manpower it takes to make a relief print. The expression of the monkey is very monotonous. Moreover, it suggests a sense of love and comfort. I got the idea of doing this subject matter after I overheard a professor discussing the mating rituals between monkeys. This work is based off the assignment of Eros or brotherly love. The whole idea of how animals have feelings and bascially the same mating rituals as mankind, provoked the question....can monkeys love each other as man and woman do?
This is my second time being involved with the Westwood art exhibit. I have received the People Choice award both in the spring of 2001 and 2002 for the annual Student undergraduate Art Show. In 2001, it was the painting entitled, My Broken Spirit. In 2002, It was "Monkey Matrimony.
Last April, my body of work was juried for consideration for an art travel grant by the fine art's organization, Delta Phi Delta. I was given a travel grant to study in Tuscany- Umbria, Italy and be involved with multiple art workshops. Being an art education and fine arts major, this was the greatest experience of my life yet. I was so inspired.