Jane Braddock Exhibit opens in the Visual Arts Gallery

Release Date: 1/30/2002. Expired: 2/28/2002

Detail from “Naked - You Are Blue - Like a night in Cuba (Pablo Neruda)” by Jane Braddock. Acrylic/Metallic Leaf - 2001 - 90"H x 100"W - $8000

Spirit and light enmeshes the newest exhibit at The Renaissance Center’s Visual Arts Gallery. The work of well known Tennessee artist Jane Braddock opened Jan. 25 and runs through February.

Braddock, who has traveled the world extensively and has countless exhibits to her credit, said experiences during her trips, particularly to Tibet and India six years ago, inspired her newest works.

“In 1996 I took a major trip to Tibet, Nepal and southern India. I was gone over six weeks,” Braddock said. “The last three I spent alone in India. Even now it is difficult for me to assess the personal impact of this experience. I returned home and was immediately seized with a passion to paint new images.”

Braddock said her paintings have always been about “the reality behind the veil - the painting behind the picture”.

“Instead of painting the idea of light and energy, these paintings (at least some of them) are light and energy. I believe the works from that period have a visceral and vibrational presence.”

The artist said the word that best describes her work is “Shakti,” which is Sanskrit for divine force or energy.

“Later, as I began to research this, the plot thickened deliciously,” she said. “I was certain that this described my new work. Shaktism emerged as a renegade offshoot of Hinduism. They worshipped the fertile, feminine force by the communal breaking of Hindu taboos to achieve physical and spiritual communion. It is said that these practices are sometimes carried to such extremes that to an outsider they look merely orgiastic.”

Finally, Braddock said, the Shakti paintings began as a physical or “sensate” expression of a metaphysical set of beliefs.

“The new works evolved into the emotional energy driving this astonishing and always mysterious process,” she said. “That force is what we come from, and it is what brings us to our knees.”

Curtis Southerland, curator of the Visual Arts Gallery, said Braddock’s work is very inspired and in touch with the inner soul.

“Her interpretation of energy and life force is reflected in these abstract canvases,” Southerland said. “Working hand in hand with Jane over the past several months has been enlightening and rewarding. The Renaissance Center has been honored to have this opportunity to work with Ms. Braddock.”

Braddock’s artwork has been collected and displayed in countless solo and group exhibits across the country. Aside from her other credentials, Braddock also served as juror for the third annual Renaissance Regional Art Exhibit at the center last fall.

For more information on Braddock’s exhibit call The Renaissance Center at (615)740-5600. The Visual Arts Gallery is open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and admission is free.

The Renaissance Center is located at 855 Highway 46 South in Dickson, just 35 minutes west of Nashville on Interstate 40 at exit 172.

Visit the Visual Arts Gallery page for more about the gallery.

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