Jennifer Okumura: Nowhere and Everywhere
Jennifer Okumura is a Philadelphia-born, hapa artist whose work reflects her dual Buddhist-Catholic heritage, weaving together Eastern and Western influences. A graduate of Syracuse University and Boston University’s MFA program, she views art as both therapeutic and transformative, bridging the physical, psychological, and spiritual realms. Her creations explore the relationship between humans, nature, and objects, as she seeks to balance conflict and harmony while drawing inspiration from both the raw sounds of the city and the deeper cycles of life. Through her art, Okumura strives to create expressions that are simultaneously deeply personal and universally shared, embodying a constant search for new passion, energy, and change.
How did your creative journey begin?
I was 16 years old, and a visiting commercial artist in my junior year of high school encouraged me to take classes at a local college, Moore College of Art and Design. He helped me apply for a scholarship, which led me to take painting and figure drawing classes in my junior and senior years. He said my thirst for knowing more about the human form could only be achieved in these classes. Outside of school, I spent many hours exploring the 1300 Chestnut Street murals, sketching at the Rodin Museum, and sitting/drawing in the Arms and Armor room at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In addition, I sketched anyone who would let me and sometimes people I saw at a distance—I still remember the glares and fingers of unwilling subjects. While my creative journey began above, my first memory in the Arts was creating a wall of large white or brown paper held by tape—my artistic and unconventional Mama would say, “Wow me.” I thought this was the norm in everyone’s home. Once you reach school age, you realize it was unconventional but inspiring and outré at times. She had always been my creative inspiration, a safe and offbeat person. We all need someone who believes you are an artist so you can genuinely believe you are one, too. “You don’t decide to be an artist,” Cuban-American painter Carmen Herrera has said, “Art gets inside of you. It’s like falling in love.”
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
Conflict, balance, and harmony. My dual heritage is reflected in my work, where I frequently explore the relationship between humans, nature, and objects. My art is an objective homage to my Eastern and Western traditions and the raw architecture and objective homage to my Eastern and Western traditions and the raw architecture and sounds of the city. Let my art speak conceptually and emotionally through color, texture, space, and time. I hope to continue drawing, exchanging, and growing with the viewer’s gaze. I am always learning, experiencing, and pushing myself to reach for more. Over time, a powerful work of art continues the discovery process and builds one’s deeper conversation with the piece while answering, “Is it okay to engage longer?” In this engagement, as practicing artists, we are in tune with the activity of past and present, who push the envelope to the maximum of what is defined as art. My face subjects are familiar but not specific faces of peeps I know or know currently. With that said, I love this poem by Jorge Luis Borges (from “Dreamtigers”), especially the line “Art must be like that mirror, that reveals to us this face of ours.” I hope my works reveal this essence as this line is painted on the wall of my studio, and not all is revealed yet.
How has your work evolved over the last few years?
My works are a source of life. Art and being an artist are therapy for me, both physically, psychologically, and spiritually. Being present in my expression, life is synonymous with Gaia or Mother Earth. In this conception, 'Nature' is not a source of material for production but the beginning and end of all life and culture. As I created these works, I was keenly aware that every mark I made was made by one hand--my hand--and that the finished product would live and breathe as part of a world in which we all are tenants and share. My works, aka my expression, are synonymous with Mother Earth, leading to our departure from the stations of life, searching for new noise and passion, and empowering and encouraging change. In this conception, 'Nature' is not a source of material for production but the beginning and end of all life and culture--it is centered around the main idea of being nowhere and everywhere, waltzing around cultural boundaries with beliefs and traveling through form and energy, attempting to incorporate conflict, balance, and harmony to shape the work's influences, thoughts, and hope for the same thing and shared moment.
What does a typical day in the studio look like for you, and how has your art practice grown or changed?
I always start with words, and then images follow as words, i.e., poetry at its core are irrefutable and deeply personal truths seen through the artist's lens. One of my favorite pieces is ‘Unity: One World’. She greets you when entering the studio. This wood, oil on canvas piece represents the idea that ‘Only on stage are we ever truly unified.’ The Nō face (meaning 'skill’ or 'talent’) is rooted in courtly entertainment and was traditionally made from a single block of Japanese cypress wood. The neutral expression lends to the pallet wood, representing the ever-changing set design and art world.
In my ongoing series, 'Same, Same but Different,' I take great pride in being myself. I am comfortable with who I am. My suit (skin) is in brilliant color. What suit is yours? This series is likely forever ongoing, and I would like to know how long it will take. Each piece has an undercoat of words and my thoughts; images are formed from quick sketches. This process is less controlled as I get into a zone, stay there, and time is irrelevant. My zones can be hours, multiple days, or months, as I usually work on a few at a time, letting breathing time in between each piece.
Which experiences have impacted your work as an artist?
Life=human-to-human experiences reflect my dual Buddhist-Catholic heritage. I grew up with an environmental engineer parent, and my heritage influences my art-making itself—the urge to create—is personal. Impactful work speaks with a clear, rare voice. Yet art without a viewer is an inner monologue. The circle is not complete. We need to be inspired and stimulated in our own lives. This led to my art world experience, aka all I have ever known, a comprehensive solid knowledge of the Art Market, Modern and Contemporary Art, with diverse and extensive Fine Art experiences as an Operations Manager and director, Fine Art Consultant, Design Associate, and Adjunct Educator at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, coFounder of Art Advising Group. I surround myself with creatives by sitting on the board as President and founding Exhibition Chair for the National Association of Women Artists, Inc. MA chapter, Artist Ambassador for ARCKBoston [a forward-thinking and innovative education nonprofit, has been working to improve the educational experiences and outcomes for students from marginalized communities] and former Fort Point Arts Community [FPAC] Board of Directors. These experiences have led me to grow deeper as an artist. A creator to enjoy the notion of play in art materials to surround and dive deeper into my life experiences as a BIPOC in an art world with many voices and opinions on the directions you should go with your art. Still, all these voices come from a good place that may not be suitable for you and can steer you away from your pure 'joy' to create to inspire not only yourself but hopefully others; the arts are the only field that can impact/change and understand nothing is permanent except somehow being able to document these life experiences.
How has social media impacted your work?
Everyone deserves an opportunity to connect with the arts and engage with their city's artistic community, especially since more preparation is needed to be a full-time artist. You must persist and dive in; social media gives you this platform. I have connected with artists I may never have been able to work with and collaborate with artist-to-artist, artist-to-venue, and artist-to-media outlets while living as a mother/caretaker/partner. Regardless, social media can distract but also keep you motivated and focused. Thinking positively and trying to stay positive to keep being positive has helped me overcome challenges in the arts. We are our most beneficial selves and have the best chance of staying focused by surrounding ourselves with colleagues who share in our vision of the world/life, and no easier way to connect is on social media; here we are ourselves with and without a mask and can be the human/artist we strive to be. Nothing’s impossible when it comes to the arts. The one who gives up is a fool—a pause is one thing, but to throw away your passion (our creative obsession), why? Passion picks up the broken pieces and puts them back together. Passion wants your ‘self’ to be honest and say what is on your mind; the arts are love, one where what you create matters most, and the bumpy journey is just that: social media can make you feel less alone.
Can you tell us more about the themes you explore in your work?
Ongoing themes while experiencing the joys of life—a hopeful outlook—I have achieved some balance consisting of always learning, experiencing, and pushing myself—I want to be mind-blown and leave this world a little better. Continuing the above themes, making sense of life's conflict, balance, and harmony includes 'Amen, so be it!' [Every day, I create; I want the world to see everything under the sun. The unseen stars, moon, earth, and universe -- things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Join me in my escapism, my temporary break to set my mind straight, enjoying pieces of life so we can get things done]; Joy [life is joy; life is free. With my joy, love of nature, unexpected beauty, and no pain or gain, they. Creating and sharing, giving and loving, is a joy to me], Being Human during a time lacking humanity. [Our eyes, ears, hearts, and souls are open. Being Human should be obvious - no need to discriminate or constantly hate - a need to say humanity is not lost; our habitat condition can be changed, and we can recover and be reborn if love is not over. Learn once again to be human.], more to come.
IG: @jennyjean25
Website: www.jenniferjeanart.com