STEP INTO THE WHIMSICAL ECOSYSTEM OF ARTIST JILL PARISI…

EXHIBIT DATES: 15 APRIL – 29 MAY, 2013

LOCATION: MPC ART DEPARTMENT GALLERY, 980 FREMONT ST., MONTEREY

HOURS: TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 11:00 – 4:00 OR BY APPOINTMENT (CALL 646-3060) 

RECEPTION: THURSDAY, MAY 9, 1:00 – 2:30 PM (GALLERY TALK 1:00 PM)

Jill Parisi, an artist who works in upstate New York, evokes the subtle beauty of nature with a sense of wonder with her highly detailed, beautifully crafted paper ecosystems. Parisi creates every individual handmade piece with sustainably farmed fibers, adding to the organic nature of her pieces. Most of her pieces are tissue weight, allowing them to freely flutter with the slightest air current, creating a lifelike presence as well as a relationship between the viewer and the pieces. Regarding the qualities of her art Parisi explains, “This aspect intends both a spontaneous whimsy and deep philosophical meaning. It addresses how we choose to observe and relate to the work, and question our degree of awareness as a presence or force in an environment both as individuals and a culture in the wake of a fast-paced consumer driven society.” Jill Parisi’s background in zoology and botany lend to her deep understanding of nature and its majestic qualities, which she so beautifully expresses in her work.

Artist Statement:

My artistic practice aims to create a sense of wonder, a slowing down in the wake of the fast-paced lifestyles that most of us lead today. The natural beauty of handmade tissue-weight papers are an apt substrate for my prints and drawings, having been made from plants that are indigenous to various cultures and locations, and possessing a luminous, translucent quality. The resulting “species” are introduced into various settings, the components responding to new habitats, expanding or contracting in a given space. Many of the works on paper are also interactive as they respond to the flow of air within an exhibition space and are stirred into motion by the proximity of the viewer.