VOYAGER: A SERIES BY STEVE JENSEN

Exhibition Date: July 2, 2016 to September 11, 2016
Reception Date: Saturday, July 9, 2016 - 2:00pm

"For me the image of the boat is meant to symbolize a voyage or journey, perhaps it’s the voyage to the other side or the journey in to the unknown. I began the Voyager Series to help me deal with my own grief and loss, and with hope to provide relief for others dealing with their own sorrow. I made this work as personal as possible because death is such a sensitive subject for many people. I felt that by exposing myself and my family, the viewers of this work might feel more at ease. Hopefully, for those who may be dealing with their own personal grief and loss, perhaps solace and insight can be found in this series." -Steve Jensen

Voyager: A Series by Steve Jensen, emerged after the death of Jensen’s best friend, who had requested that Jensen carve a boat for his ashes. Over the next eight years, Jensen created boats for the ashes of his parents and his partner, John. The Voyager series grew out of his need to grieve these devastating losses, and the image of a boat seemed fitting as a symbol for the move to the “other side”, as it has been used for centuries in many different cultures. The use of glass in Jensen’s sculptures gives the boats an ethereal quality, but they are also organic because of his frequent use of materials found on Washington beaches and discarded boat parts. Art is often used as a way to communicate complex and difficult issues that are difficult to express in language, and Jensen hopes that this series will help viewers find peace and relief after being told his story through this exhibit.