Rain Jordan's first sculptures were original bronze made through the lost wax method, but she enjoys the immediacy and flexibility that other 3D approaches offer. These sculptures are composed of various materials: clay, wire, and often recycled or upcyled vintage glass, stone, or other materials. Rain's work is held in private collections in New York, California, Oregon, Australia, and elsewhere. She holds an MFA from California State University - San Jose and resides on the north Oregon coast.
Artist's Statement:
Tell the truth, but tell it slant.
– Emily Dickinson
I like to work in a somewhat slant mode; through a slightly abstracted rendering, both the subject of the work and the work's viewer are recognized as the individual beings they are, in flux and replete with potential. My work is an invitation to the viewer to come to their own interpretation while considering the possibilities of the subject's world as well. For me, a slant approach to art opens access to more dialogical forms of communication.
Outside the artistic realm, I work in animal advocacy, which is often stressful. For balance, I find calm in making these sculptures, where all that is required is to simply present a rendering that others might appreciate.
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The essence of sea anemones, jellyfish, and other ocean life seems to me an always-evolving marriage of toughness and delicacy. Although anemones & jellies seem fragile, handling one can induce a powerful sting. Whether in self-defense or offense, they teach us that not all is as it seems.
The captivating beauty of sea life is undeniable, and it’s no surprise that people sometimes wish to keep that beauty close. Sculpture offers an artistic way to do so, while respecting the natural life of the subject.
- RJ
Awards:
Grant from the Oregon Arts Commission, 2022
