Sherry Lynn Jollymore – December Artist Profile

Sherry Lynn Jollymore, Baloney Town on Ketchup Lake, installation, 2013
Sherry Lynn Jollymore, Baloney Town on Ketchup Lake, installation, 2013

 

1010014_10152947640570371_638631622_n(1)Sherry Lynn Jollymore is a fan of the fantastic, awe inspiring and funny and tries to reflect these qualities in anything she makes. Working primarily as a textile artist, using recycled and found materials she incorporates elements of sculpture and often performance to create wearable pieces of art. Sherry has created touring outfits for Jazz singer Rickie Lee Jones and local Hip Hop legend Buck 65. She’s collaborated with artist Lisa Lipton, contributing wearable works for performances of WINDOW BALLET 3: The Island Nevermind at Confederation Center in PEI and for WINDOW BALLET 2: Electric Boogaloo, Point Pleasant Park in Halifax, NS. She’s also headed costume designing for Frank Forrestall’s award winning short film JacknJill. In 2013 Sherry was part of a group show at Parentheses Gallery and realized a long held dream of constructing a town from baloney, Baloney Town on Ketchup Lake.

Highlighting Canadian Artists

Ive been a member of VANS for 5plusyears and like the shared resources and sense of community an organization like VANS provides. It’s always exciting to see what friends and peers are making and doing and VANS does a service in highlighting Atlantic Canadian artists. I’ve had the pleasure of working with elementary schools facilitating workshops through the Professional Artists IN The Schools program (PAINTS) It’s a wonderful experience to be part of a process where children are learning and finding their own voice through artistic expression. VANS also invited me to participate in NSCAD’s Artist for a Day event hosting a workshop, using recyclables and inexpensive materials to make jewelry.

Make a problem and then solve it

I really enjoy working with recycled, thrift-ed and inexpensive materials. I find inspiration in reusing and re-purposing. Transforming older objects and pieces into newer works. I never tire of that transformation and have recently realized my favourite head space as a creator is to make a problem and then solve it!

Money and Momentum

In general the two biggest challenges for me have been money and momentum! It can be difficult to stay focused on making when you’re thinking about cash. And on the flipside it can be heart wrenching to create just to generate cash. Finding the balance is an ongoing process, one i find challenging but wouldn’t trade. I need to live a creative life.

Just a sense of lightness

My work usually has humour or a lightness running through it. I like making people feel awe, feeling inspired or just a sense of lightness even for a minute. Life is a heavy endeavor and remembering we are spiritual beings having a human experience can be easier accessed through humour and lightheartedness.

Collaboration and new techniques

I did a massive project in July called Project 1062 with my friend and fellow artist Steve Moore. We transformed a storefront in Steve’s 100 year old family home on Barrington st into a pop up shop and gallery. The collaboration was a great way to work together and to celebrate our friends, the community, and the house which is slated for demolition. Lately i’ve been enjoying playing with new techniques. Drawing on cotton with bleach gel to remove colour and then going back in adding diluted fabric paints in bright colours to create almost psychedelic patterns. I’ve also been feeling inspired by denim. I’m in the middle of making a vest from raw material sourced from a single pair of jeans and also trying my hand at weaving using strips of denim to make an Amish knot rug. Its very satisfying.

Sowing creative seeds

I’m not too sure whats next for me. I’ve been sowing many creative seeds over the last year in places that feel right to my heart. I am excited to see what comes from that!

I’m am excited to see what comes from that!