Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Cronin.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Some people can recount the moment that they knew they were an artist. For some, it was coloring on their grandmother’s kitchen table, or an experience looking at a beautiful piece of artwork, or the guidance of a transformative teacher. I had a lot of these moments and many inspiring people in my life for which I am very thankful. But I always struggled with making the decision to be an artist. After graduating from art school and working as a practicing studio artist for years, it slowly began to sink in.
As I have evolved and changed as a person, I realize that my art has evolved and changed right alongside me. I know that wherever I go in life, art will be there, ready for me to take my experiences and insights and lay them to canvas. I’ve come to see art as a lifelong friend—one that knows me well and that I can always count on. It is precious and I am grateful it is a part of my life. And now, years later, I am happy to say that I am an artist, and that I am going to keep being an artist in the future.
Please tell us about your art.
As an artist, I seek to make work that is a genuine reflection of my interests as they grow and change. In my early paintings, female figures bearing my likeness pushed against the boundaries of mundane, domestic life. As time passed, I became less interested in exploring insular, daily life, and more interested in exploring the larger world around me. Recently, I completed a series of small, highly detailed drawings documenting foreclosed houses in Chicago. While working on this series, I found myself interested in the act of documenting spaces that are in transition, disappearing from this planet. This interest, along with my long-standing preoccupation with climate change, led me to my current series, Seen and Unseen, which documents the effects of climate change in the small, remote Alaska Native village of Newtok. This work is very subtle—at times, barely visible—highlighting the vulnerable nature of this disappearing landscape.
We often hear from artists that being an artist can be lonely. Any advice for those looking to connect with other artists?
I feel like you really channeled me through this question. This is something that I’ve recently been working to address in my life. As a natural introvert, I find comfort being alone. But as I dive deeper into my art career, sometimes I feel as though I am in a void, lost in space and not really sure where I’m going. After feeling this way, I began making a greater effort to connect with my surrounding art community. I changed my work schedule so that I would be available Friday nights to visit more art shows and show support to my artist friends. I was also recently introduced to a group of artists that meet on a monthly basis to talk about the demands of the artist life and share opportunities and inspiration with each other.
While it’s great to have this resource, it also feels even better to be able to contribute and help other artists whenever possible. It’s always wonderful and exciting to meet new artists, but it’s also vitally important to continue to nurture the relationships with artists that I’ve known for years. Meeting up for coffee or drinks, or even a quick note can really go a long way (and as I say this last bit, I also recognize that I still have some work to do here). Ultimately, I believe that we are all only as strong as our community. And after spending more time with artist friends, I’ve realized that I find much more comfort and energy surrounded by these people than I do being alone.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
All of my work can be viewed on my website and Instagram page, which can be found below. I am represented by Elephant Room Gallery and show frequently in the Chicago area. I am currently working with Kimberly Leja Atwood, curator and cofounder of Elephant Room Gallery, to plan a solo exhibition featuring my latest series, which I will have more information about later this year. People can support my work by sharing it with others. Tell your friends! 😉
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jennifercronin.com
- Email: jennifer.anne.cronin@gmail.com
- Instagram: @jennifercroninart
- Facebook: @jennifercroninart
- Twitter: @jenniferacronin
Image Credit:
Artist portrait by Kimberly Leja Atwood
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