Gallery Hijinks Artist: Kyle Jorgensen

Growing up I went to church with my family and attended a sunday school for children. There was an esteemed position there called the “reverence child”. His or her duty was to stand in front of the class with their arms folded and be an example for the rowdy, wiggling, clip-on tie wearing, mini-worshippers. It mostly worked. I mostly calmed down, and mostly spoke quietly when the reverence kid was doing their thing. Today, in part to my computer, smart phone, and probably an excess of cartoons in my youth, I find myself more easily distracted than I was as a seven year old. My artwork attempts to counteract the distractions that face me and draw upon moments of reverence and solitude in the face of a raucous and distraction rich world. These contemplative moments are the catalyst for discovering an often intangible resolve. They allow me to hone in on my aspirations and navigate towards a goal. 

            I draw inspiration from both the constructed world and natural symbols. The bold line of the cantilevered building, the patch of doug fir trees on the crest of the hill near my house, and the enigmatic nature of the cosmos, are all sources of stimulation within my work. Humankind has managed to scrape the sky with buildings and construct oceans of homes from the wood of trees that once stood like reverent children. We’ve even figured out how to peer across the galaxy with telescopes and satellites. But despite the overwhelming marvels of modern technology, I find I can remain grounded when contemplating the expansiveness of the universe beyond what satellites can see. Usually I’m standing still, with my arms folded and my mouth shut.  - Kyle Jorgensen