Jackie Barry
Jackie Barry
Multidisciplinary Artist
Written by Gale Straub
Jackie Barry was trained in printmaking at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, but she uses multiple mediums to express herself. She draws, illustrates, prints, photographs, and sews textiles. What do they have in common? Jackie’s work is tactile. Her pieces look handmade. I had the chance to talk with Jackie over the phone, and learned that this constant is quite important to her.
Jackie in the elements
On Art & Living
Jackie’s work speaks of process and trial and error. It’s a bit like those little admittances to yourself – the small realizations of an emotion in a moment. In Philadelphia, Jackie hit a creative wall, and started to feel like her work was ‘talking about living’, telling a story about living life rather than getting out there and living it. She moved to Denver because she wanted a change. She wanted to get as much out of life as she could and create art from that, rather than mulling over theory and perfection.
She worried before the transition that she would be moving backwards. She had established herself in Philadelphia and made connections. She was comfortable. But she learned that “friction is moving forward.”
Friction is moving forward.
From Jackie’s solo show this summer, “Nobody Deserves You The Way That I Do.” Photo by Amanda Tipton.
On Denver
Jackie found herself in a new place that felt right in a surprising way. There’s a city culture in Denver and incredible access to the outdoors. For Jackie, this balance was key. She loves living in a beautiful place, which inspires her. She is also inspired by the growing community of Denver-based artists. The dialog and support keeps her momentum building, even when she is not creating.
Title piece from Jackie’s solo show this summer, “Nobody Deserves You The Way That I Do.” Photo by Amanda Tipton.
“I Woke Up To This Red Light In My Room And I Wanted To Give It To You” installation. Photo by Amanda Tipton.
Tote bag commissioned by the Allen Ginsberg Estate.
On Guilt
Jackie told me something that all types of creatives can agree on – “guilt and art is a constant balance.” It’s that lurking feeling that you’re not doing enough, that the time spent watching the sunset or doing your taxes or having a drink with friends is time lost. It’s also that feeling that when you’re inside making art, you’re not outside finding inspiration. This too, comes back to friction. Art and guilt play off each other and finding the right mixture keeps you moving ahead.
“Then Devils Themselves”
On Front Range Flag Co
Jackie and her business partner make “flags for fun.” Back in Philadelphia, Jackie was a wooden boat-builder for the Independence Seaport Museum’s Workshop on the Water. There she was first inspired to make nautical flags for the boats. She took that practice and spirit with her to Denver.
The flags celebrate living in Colorado, but more than that, they celebrate every day adventures. – Jackie hand makes every flag because she doesn’t want them to look perfect. She stressed that they are human made, adding to the character and reflecting the owners and the places they go. The flags represent the small feats and joy found outdoors – apart from technology. If the flags looked perfect, they would be imitable. And where’s the fun in that?
Jackie made a custom pennant for She Explores
Talking with Jackie was a reminder to embrace community, vulnerability, and the outdoors. The conversation was about creating and experimenting with new mediums, because why not? Jackie is living her art and I’m looking forward to see where it takes her next.
Photos (C) 2015 Jackie Barry
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