This collection of paintings offers the viewer a glimpse of my recorded impressions of objection and resilience within reach of our business arenas, personal communities and North American landscapes.  These images are all outside the ever-present context of war, without negating our reality that this remains a persisting stain that permeates the cognizant awareness of our lives. 

Objection and resilience are key characteristics of our innate abilities to overcome austerity and continue with the daily routine of our lives, to grow as individuals, families and communities. Our social structures are built around these communities, and ultimately, our reliance on continuance.

In compiling an assortment of images for this exhibition, my intent resolved to portray only exemplar issues as could be found in my immediate vicinity.  Although the media is filled with an abundance of war imagery and a preoccupation with synoptic theories on terrorism, it remains for most of society outside the proximate conflict zone “a news story”.  And although we postulate, argue, dismay and sympathize, the inherent reality of the horror is ascertained only on paper or video for this majority.  Our society outside the war continues with war as a reflection on what we do and who we are.  It remains to us to keep this from becoming a definitive aspect of what we are to become.

People are inundated with images and words every second, and most are assuaged for further reaction to this subjective material on any emotional level; hence, the intellectual faculty over-compensates as our chief ability to assess and communicate amongst ourselves. Whether it’s events on a catastrophic level or a narrative within the confines of a beer tent, we discuss war as weather, natural disaster as stock prices, and the world as it could be, not as we could make it to be.  I wanted to share images that portray life within my corner of consequence; the world, people and issues that I care deeply about, and by doing so perhaps heighten their awareness with others.

Our ability to express ourselves, through objection or acceptance, ultimately validates our individual needs to be heard, to belong and to endure. Our inherent resiliency allows us to adapt and grow beyond the assimilation of new information, allowing for discussion, discourse, and transformation:  change to our lives and those around us. It begins with values and ideals that affect our everyday existence and mundane activities of palpability.  These are the activities of tangible importance, small building blocks of the world we create for ourselves and leave for our children.  How do we, as a society outside the war, lead our lives?  What commands our regard, rules our daily regime and defines our interactions with each other?  Is our lives governed by the war of our times? Is it the business of war, or just the war of businesses that provides pause to the reflection of a landscape scarred by strife?  By posing difficult questions we initiate that forum towards growth.

These painted expressions of objection and resilience are real persons, existing places and operating business practices that are molding societal and interpersonal relationships today.  Some sit quietly and want only to be acknowledged, while others are more demanding of our inclinations to assess and demand a response.  Viewers are ultimately left to think upon and discuss the images for merits and possibilities.

Jane Hoople
Painter

LIST OF WORKS INCLUDED IN THIS SHOW:

Recyclist: Lost in Statistics
Coping with Blindness
Assigning Cost & Value
Northend of Central Park
Snowfall on 5th Avenue, NYC
Sanibel Island Beach After Charley
Mom, 6 years later
Contemplating Clock or Calendar
Charley's Remaining Banyons
Banyon Tree Regrowth
Canadians: A Mixed Bouquet
Steven's Shoes and My Boots
Decision Crossroads, Study
Obesity: Fleshy Cage for the Digital Age
Oakville's $343K Oak Tree
Family Secrets
April Snowfall
Weathering the Climb
Global Sustainability
Resilient Pine with Cacti Growth
MS Remembered