November 1 – November 28, 2020

The Slide Room Gallery is honoured to host the work of American visual artist Tamara Jackson (West Sussex, UK). Living in a rural area of England during lockdown, Jackson created this exhibition while on maternity leave. In this new series of work, Jackson focuses on the concept of being limited. Using only materials she had on hand, or was able to forage from her immediate surroundings outside, Jackson highlights the significance of place in a time of restrictions. Her thoughtful and meditative work is an example of the creative possibilities that can be found everyday, not far from home.

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LIMITED by Tamara Jackson

Artist Statement

In this collection of work, I intentionally limited my practice to what I could collect and observe while walking in nature with my 5-month-old. Each piece has a direct, physical connection to myself, my family, the flat we live in or the boundaries of our property. Berry inks made in my kitchen, images drawn with hand carved dip pens, and scraps of bark became tools for linking the physicality of my place with my personal experiences. A primary challenge during this project was the amount of time needed to process natural materials, especially while working around a baby’s schedule. Some of the processes I used are slow. Homemade inks can take hours and botanical contact prints need to be left overnight. I talked through ideas while walking, making notes on my phone to remember what to work on later. My kitchen table became my workspace over the past few months. This meant I could work whenever I had opportunity, even if it was just for a few minutes of work here or there. My available time has been restricted in this new role as a mother, but the pandemic lockdown also gave me time I hadn’t expected. 

I found this series to be both satisfying and incomplete. My goal was to find ways of communicating the frustration and anxiety of new parenthood during a pandemic, but also my gratitude for nature and the place I live. Limiting my practice enabled me to focus more clearly and caused me to see new possibilities of the materials in front of me. These limits also had the brilliant advantage of providing unique quality time with my new daughter. This project celebrates discoveries made by placing boundaries on my practice.

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Biography

“In March 2020, England entered a national lock down due to Covid 19. I am a new mom and the primary parent in our household. I have found that lockdown has taken its toll on me, both mentally and emotionally. Walking with my baby in the carrier has become my primary form of stress relief and the main focus of my art practice.”

Tamara Jackson is originally from Vancouver, USA, but has made her home in Cuckfield England since 2014. Since 2007 she has volunteered full time with a Christian charity, where creative practice has been central to sharing her faith. Tamara loves the outdoors and draws most of her creative inspiration from the natural world. She took Foundation in Art and Design at Brigthon Metropolitan College from 2018-2019, where she earned a distinction for her work. Tamara is an avid reader, cook, loves a good film and spends her days with her husband Daniel and new daughter Cai.

We encourage you to look at Tamara Jackson’s instagram by clicking here.

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LIMITED by Tamara Jackson

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Thank you for viewing LIMITED, a digital exhibition by Tamara Jackson. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. Please stay tuned for new exhibitions coming soon.

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©Tamara Jackson. Images courtesy of the artist.