Jessica Meyer’s “Sad Girls” …

by Rick McCluskey

I have never given much thought to what happens to newspapers once they’ve been read and discarded. I know a few made it to the bottom of my birdcage, but other than that, the post editorial journey usually ended in a container destined to a landfill.
Unless of course Jessica Meyers needed them. Then the journey was just beginning. That was obvious when I stopped in to visit her opening reception at 716 Fine Art Gallery in Racine, Saturday.

She is much more than a mixed media artist who puts newspaper and other such materials to good use. She is a composer and writer, a weaver of tales through a variety of mediums. Her series Sad Girls is just another expression of what makes her so unique. Inked and accented with acrylics these expressions have that rare blend of innocence and artistry that draws you nearer, anxious to read the caption.

I asked if she planned to offer them boxed in set of occasional cards.
“I’ve heard that from a lot of people and I actually have thought about it. I just haven’t gotten to it just yet. All of these were done since October of 2007 so they’re all pretty new.”
‘All of these,’ numbered close to twenty pieces and included the Sad Girls Series, sketches of nursery rhyme characters and more mixed media paintings. An amazing amount of work considering what it takes to go from thought to finished product. And there’s more. Although Jessica is an exceptional talent, she refuses to rest on her laurels. “There are so many different things that I like to do. I’m a hard one to bore. If I’m not painting, I’ll be writing, reading, or making jewelry. I spin yarn by hand too.”

On her Myspace.com website (www.myspace.com/mixedpaint) she is the mixeduppainter, author of a whimsical site that gives a peek into just how busy Jessica Meyers is. “Lately I’ve gotten away from using newspaper a little. It didn’t really fit with the subject matter anyway. I wanted this show to be different from the last one (at Lemon Street Gallery in 2007) and my style has definitely shifted. My work is a lot more straightforward than it was. A lot simpler. I also make jewelry, some of it mixed media.”
Simple or not my eleven-year-old granddaughter loves the jewelry. She found several pieces perusing the site. Now we’re bargaining. It’s either the earrings or the necklace or the Sad Girls. She hasn’t decided which. My guess is she’s holding out for all three. Papas are such softies.
Do visit 716 Fine Art Gallery before June 22nd. Jessica’s originals will be displayed until then if you’d like to see her work up close. And pay particular attention to the Sad Girl series. You’ll be amazed.