By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Art work by Jeanne O’Melia, Princeton, is featured in October at RutabagA Gallery, and a reception will be held on Sunday, Oct. 12, to meet the artist. Contributed Photo
Jeanne O’Melia of Princeton, and a member of RutabagA Art Gallery in Geneseo, stands by her papier-mâché creations which are on display during October at RutabagA Art, located at 108 North State St., in downtown Geneseo.
The public is invited to a reception planned from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at RutabagA to introduce the artist and her art work.
In referring to the current exhibit, O’Melia said, “This exhibit contains my giant parade puppets and other papier mâché heads. I realty like trying new art forms. There are always several artworks going in my studio at one time. I am never bored. I enjoy creating special work for exhibits with a theme. There is always a new challenge ready for me to tackle. It makes my world go round.”
O’Melia studied art at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, at Augustana College, Rock Island, and at The Clearing, Door County, WI.
Traveling extensively throughout the world, she makes line drawings in ink or paints in watercolor on location. Her drawings from travels and at home are the inspiration for cyanotype prints, acrylic paintings and found-object sculptures…”I employ a variety of media to express my feelings and reactions to the world we live in,” she said.
“I have been drawn to depicting the human figure since I first learned to draw,” she said. “People come in all shapes and sizes and are fascinating to watch. Watercolor was the first medium I used. I still take my watercolors, paper and a sketchbook with me on trips, even biking or kayaking.”
About 20 years ago O’Melia began making sculptural figures from found objects, brazing metals together.
Growing up on a farm near Princeton, she knew about welding. Most metal scraps were found during bicycle tours, she said…”I’ve added dumpster-diving to gather a wider range of found objects. Gradually I have used other materials – plastic, paper, and even cigarette butts. A variety of adhesives are used to hold the pieces together including JB Weld and Gel Medium.”
She said she has been creating large papier mâché heads “for years. They get burned with their clothed, firecracker filled-bodies each New Year’s Eve at midnight. Many ethnic groups have used papier mâché in art and for festivals, and I’ve always been fascinated by them.”
O’Melia taught art as part of the Illinois Arts in Education Artist Roster program. In Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica and San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico, where she volunteered to work with children creating art from found objects, and she said, “Being up to my elbows in papier mâché paste with a group of first graders is really fun for me.”
Her work has been exhibited in the Quad Cities and other venues throughout Illinois and in Cook, MN. She also exhibited in Montreal and Atikokan, Quebec, and won first place in the Friends of Quetico Provincial Park (Canada) Art Show. She was a delegate on a “Friendship through the Arts” Tour in China.