Jenny Balisle
http://jennyebalisle.com/
https://www.instagram.com/jennyebalisle/
https://www.facebook.com/JBalisle
Artist Statement
My art practice investigates diverse yet interdependent relationships within natural and manmade environments. Fascinated by alternative realities, I combine disparate experiences to create new narratives, perspectives, and theories. The goal is to identify how patterns and symbols of influence impact social behavior, institutions, history, and truth.
Mediums are repurposed by altering function to explore inequality within identity and ideology. As a multidisciplinary artist, my practice incorporates drawings, sculpture, site-specific installations, objects, digital, video, and audio. Inspiration, investigation, research, and writing dictate the final form.
Artist Bio
Jenny E. Balisle earned a B.A. in Art and Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and a M.F.A. from the Academy of Art College in San Francisco. Exhibits include the de Young Museum Artist-in-Residence, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Chicago Cultural Center, Korean Cultural Center, Harvard University, Farmington Museum, Museu Brasileiro Sao Paulo, and Shanghai Oil Painting & Sculpture Institute Art Museum.
Her work has been featured in such publications as The Huffington Post, WOMENCINEMAKERS, A5 Magazine, ZYZZYVA, The Drum Literary Magazine, and Sculptural Pursuits Magazine. Public art includes The Cube Art Project, Hearts in San Francisco, and South San Francisco Utility Box Mural Project.
Balisle works as an artist, advocate, curator, writer, lecturer, and instructor at the Academy of Art University, UC Berkeley Extension, and Diablo Valley College.
https://www.instagram.com/jennyebalisle/
https://www.facebook.com/JBalisle
Artist Statement
My art practice investigates diverse yet interdependent relationships within natural and manmade environments. Fascinated by alternative realities, I combine disparate experiences to create new narratives, perspectives, and theories. The goal is to identify how patterns and symbols of influence impact social behavior, institutions, history, and truth.
Mediums are repurposed by altering function to explore inequality within identity and ideology. As a multidisciplinary artist, my practice incorporates drawings, sculpture, site-specific installations, objects, digital, video, and audio. Inspiration, investigation, research, and writing dictate the final form.
Artist Bio
Jenny E. Balisle earned a B.A. in Art and Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and a M.F.A. from the Academy of Art College in San Francisco. Exhibits include the de Young Museum Artist-in-Residence, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Chicago Cultural Center, Korean Cultural Center, Harvard University, Farmington Museum, Museu Brasileiro Sao Paulo, and Shanghai Oil Painting & Sculpture Institute Art Museum.
Her work has been featured in such publications as The Huffington Post, WOMENCINEMAKERS, A5 Magazine, ZYZZYVA, The Drum Literary Magazine, and Sculptural Pursuits Magazine. Public art includes The Cube Art Project, Hearts in San Francisco, and South San Francisco Utility Box Mural Project.
Balisle works as an artist, advocate, curator, writer, lecturer, and instructor at the Academy of Art University, UC Berkeley Extension, and Diablo Valley College.
Freedom
|
Freedom Stainless Steel Dog Tags (50) 2x1/8 inches dog tag and 24 inches chain The FREEDOM Project consists of fifty customized stainless steel dog tags. The same material worn by the military embossed with the word FREEDOM. The number represents the states in America. Once freedom is given away, citizens are responsible for its care and protection. |
America
America
Shotgun Shells, 36x8x3 inches
The America series investigates diverse cultures and relationships between manmade and natural environments. The artwork’s font is ITC Clearface same as the gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson. The shotgun shells are Winchester, a popular ammunition company in America. The artwork repurposes and alters a weapon's function into artistic commentary by exploring identity, ideology, and history.
Shotgun Shells, 36x8x3 inches
The America series investigates diverse cultures and relationships between manmade and natural environments. The artwork’s font is ITC Clearface same as the gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson. The shotgun shells are Winchester, a popular ammunition company in America. The artwork repurposes and alters a weapon's function into artistic commentary by exploring identity, ideology, and history.
Void
Void
A National Archives reproduction of the U.S. Constitution has been updated to reflect an altered democracy. The Preamble states: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” On February 4th, 2020, Donald J. Trump was acquitted in a “trial” without witnesses protected by a wall of sycophants. When an unchecked pandemic president is allowed to obstruct, ignore subpoenas, and solicit foreign election interference: words in the constitution bind together an empty contract. Like Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, the word VOID spans the chest of the constitution’s pages absolving truth into a system built on racism and sexism. Citizens (disposable commodities) become sacrificed to protect party and power.
VOID blog: https://balisle.com/2020/05/10/void/
@neaarts @saatchiart @art_net_news @artnet #void #constitution #vote #art #artistsoninstagram
A National Archives reproduction of the U.S. Constitution has been updated to reflect an altered democracy. The Preamble states: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” On February 4th, 2020, Donald J. Trump was acquitted in a “trial” without witnesses protected by a wall of sycophants. When an unchecked pandemic president is allowed to obstruct, ignore subpoenas, and solicit foreign election interference: words in the constitution bind together an empty contract. Like Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, the word VOID spans the chest of the constitution’s pages absolving truth into a system built on racism and sexism. Citizens (disposable commodities) become sacrificed to protect party and power.
VOID blog: https://balisle.com/2020/05/10/void/
@neaarts @saatchiart @art_net_news @artnet #void #constitution #vote #art #artistsoninstagram
Drunk on Power |
Fatal Failure |
|
|
|
Drunk on Power
Aluminum Sign 8x8x3 inches Current status of power in America. |
Donald J. Trump’s constant gaslighting, lies, exaggerations, and false promises continue to have dangerous consequences. At Trump’s COVID-19 press conferences, officials fawn over the dear leader like a dystopian dictator melodrama. As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across America, Trump continues his racist rhetoric and press attacks. Like a computer system abruptly shutdown, a red hat with the words FATAL FAILURE mimics Trumps signature swag. No prop, performance, or lie will be able to hide the truth. #pandemic #covid19 #vote #trade #community
|
Just Following Orders
|
Just Following Orders
Handcuffs have been repurposed altering function. The words “JUST FOLLOWING ORDERS” is branded bearing the weight of America’s history, identity, and future. The red color mimics the signature color of a former president’s fascist swag and propaganda. Sycophants circle the Nuremberg defense drain gaslighting insurrection with hollow loyalty to avoid liability. #truth #art |
Democracy
Democracy
More than 100 House Republicans signed amicus brief aimed at overturning election results and Trump administration carried out ninth federal execution part of first series of executions during a presidential lame-duck period in 130 years. Smith & Wesson’s most popular police handcuffs have been repurposed altering function. The word “DEMOCRACY” is branded and shackled bearing the weight of America’s history, identity, and future. #brandonbernard
More than 100 House Republicans signed amicus brief aimed at overturning election results and Trump administration carried out ninth federal execution part of first series of executions during a presidential lame-duck period in 130 years. Smith & Wesson’s most popular police handcuffs have been repurposed altering function. The word “DEMOCRACY” is branded and shackled bearing the weight of America’s history, identity, and future. #brandonbernard
America Red, White & Blue
America Red, White & Blue
Colorplan paper and a Mossberg 500 Shotgun
The America series investigates diverse cultures and relationships between manmade and natural environments. Fascinated by flight or disorientation, I merge together disparate experiences to create new narratives. Colorplan sheets of cover stock sized 25x38 inches were brought to a gun range. Using a Mossberg 500 shotgun as a vehicle of mark making, paper was placed on a target 7 yards away. The artwork records how patterns of power and inequality can be spread through distance, speed, and the repurpose of intention.
Colorplan paper and a Mossberg 500 Shotgun
The America series investigates diverse cultures and relationships between manmade and natural environments. Fascinated by flight or disorientation, I merge together disparate experiences to create new narratives. Colorplan sheets of cover stock sized 25x38 inches were brought to a gun range. Using a Mossberg 500 shotgun as a vehicle of mark making, paper was placed on a target 7 yards away. The artwork records how patterns of power and inequality can be spread through distance, speed, and the repurpose of intention.
Signal
|
Signal
Shotgun Shells, 19x22x3 inches My art practice researches cultures and relationships between diverse environments. Fascinated by flight or disorientation, I merge together disparate experiences to create new narratives. Signal mimics the patterns of brain activity through its networks of neurons. The shotgun shells represent the speed of thought and decision making within a political context. I’m fascinated by how logic, opinion, and decisions are organized to support powerful interest groups. The shotgun shells are placed facing away from the viewer exposing its empty contents. The speed of a shotgun shell is 1260 feet per second compared to a neuron of up to 394 feet per second. Thought maybe slower than action but the power of information can change narratives. Signal provides a silent gesture for an electorate to promote positive change. |
Courage, Dear Heart
Courage, Dear Heart
Bathroom graffiti highlights C.S. Lewis’ “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” declaration. “Courage, dear heart” flickers the trauma and aftermath of a failed psychopath presidency. As citizens evaluate an altered landscape impacted by extreme climate change, the art is a personal portrait and digital distortion documenting the pandemic experience.
#pandemic #climatechange #digitalart #graffiti #cslewis
Bathroom graffiti highlights C.S. Lewis’ “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” declaration. “Courage, dear heart” flickers the trauma and aftermath of a failed psychopath presidency. As citizens evaluate an altered landscape impacted by extreme climate change, the art is a personal portrait and digital distortion documenting the pandemic experience.
#pandemic #climatechange #digitalart #graffiti #cslewis
You Look Hella Good
You Look Hella Good
Bathroom graffiti is juxtaposed with assessing collective sustained trauma and the aftermath of a failed psychopath presidency. As citizens evaluate an altered landscape, the art is a personal portrait and digital distortion documenting the pandemic experience.
#pandemic #art #womenshistorymonth #digitalart
Bathroom graffiti is juxtaposed with assessing collective sustained trauma and the aftermath of a failed psychopath presidency. As citizens evaluate an altered landscape, the art is a personal portrait and digital distortion documenting the pandemic experience.
#pandemic #art #womenshistorymonth #digitalart
We Are Capital
|
We Are Capital
Sexism is interwoven into systemic discrimination and progress (aka “equality”) feels like oppression to the privileged. Women will continue to disrupt power structures and reclaim equality. The artwork is a digital distortion of the pandemic experience with racism and sexism. #neeratanden #sistersinsolidarity #art #women #womensupportingwomen @unwomen |
|
Free speech and expression will win over hate in 2018.
http://balisle.com/2017/12/31/new-2/ #art #resist #women #peoplepower #makeartmakechange #WMWArt #community #history 
|
Fire & Fury #metoo
|
|
|
|
Reset Rebuild Reimagine
|
|
|
VOTE!
Vote Poem by Jenny Balisle
