Artist Statement:

I enjoy the company of animals in life and in artwork.  Invasive, endangered, and mythic animals uncurl from my imagination in the form of woodcut prints.  Most of my prints are “color-reduction woodcuts”  which means I take one block of wood, draw an image onto the block, carve then print.  Each printed color comes from carving away the previous layer so when I am finished, all that is left of my wood block is the last color that was printed.  I can never remake an image unless I re-carve a new piece of wood.  The prints are very limited edition, not a typical Kinko's reproduction.

I am constantly dumbfounded about how animals are treated.  Once I saw a boy catch a frog, pulls off its skin, throw it back into the water, and watch the translucent creature slowly die.  This boy was emotionally detached from the frog.  He was able to cause the frog pain and discomfort for his own entertainment.  And I watched in disbelief.  It is my intention to emphasize the ambivalent attitude people often have towards the animals that live alongside us.  I found this instance from my childhood an allegory that perfectly describes the detached relationship of humans and animals. 

            I make artwork because I believe that with education and understanding of the environment, people will learn to respect and attach importance to our own backyards and beyond.   I hope to inform my audience about the natural world so that information can bring stewardship and respect.  I am currently working on three new projects which include bird migration myths, global warming band-aids, and a children's book about invasive animals. 

Jenny Pope