Whiteley Center Art Residency Art GJ Gillespie Art Native Oaks Series August 2022

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SAN JUAN ISLAND ART RESIDENCY REPORT PART ONE

Native Oaks #3 by GJ Gillespie.

Art made during 5 day Residency sponsored by the University of Washington in August 2022. We chose to focus our creative efforts on the ancient Oak Trees that grow on San Juan Island.

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GETTING THERE and ART PROCESSES

Teresa R Gillespie Art 

Native Oak Figure G2 by GJ Gillespie.

Oak Leaf Print by Teresa Gillespie.

Artist Statement:
NATIVE OAKS SERIES 
GJ Gillespie 

The Garry Oak is a beautiful tree that has been an integral part of the northwest landscape for centuries. The unique design of oak leaves has been used in art for thousands of years, and the acorns were always valuable food source for tribal peoples.

 

Today, Oak trees are still revered by many artists and creatives. The distinct shape of the leaves makes them ideal subjects for graphic design and modern art. And the acorns continue to be a food stuff for oak tree enthusiasts.

 

Let us continue to honor these ancient trees by using them in our art and respecting their value as age old features of native culture that speak of our love of the natural environment. 

When white settlers arrived in this part of the world, native people had been devastated by European diseases, leaving many villages empty. My art is offered to cause the viewer to pause and remember what we have done to these gentle and artistic people who once thrived in these lands. 

In this series I made a template of an oak leaf to frame scenes of San Juan Islands in Washington state. 

 

I also framed early 19th century photographs (now in the public domain) of northwest native Americans inside the oak leaf design to remind us of the century old connection between indigenous peoples and the natural world. 

 

Garry Oak Tree at UW Research labs Compound.

San Juan Garry Oak
by GJ Gillespie in a Leda sketchbook.
August 2022 

Ancient Tree by the Sea. 

Native Garry Oak, San Juan Island.
Mixed media collage on canvas. 14 x 11. Aug 2022.

Oak Leaf Expression by GJ Gillespie. 

Oak Leaf Visions 2 by GJ Gillespie.

Oak Leaf Visions 11 by GJ Gillespie.

Oak Leaf Visions 3 by GJ Gillespie.

Oak Leaf Visions 6 by GJ Gillespie.

Oak Leaf Visions 7 by GJ Gillespie.

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Oak Leaf Visions 11

Native Oaks 1 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oaks 2 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oaks 3 by GJ Gillespie. 

Native Oak Figures 19 by GJ Gillespie. 

Oak Leaf Visions 14

Oak Leaf Visions 12

Oak Leaf Visions 16

Native Oak Figure 1 by GJ Gillespie. 

Native Oak Figure 2 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure 3 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure 4 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure 5 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure G2

Native Oak Figure 6 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure 7 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure 10 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure 12 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure 13 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure 14 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure 15 by GJ Gillespie.

Oak Leaf Visions 12

Native Oak Figure 16 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure 17 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure 18 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure 19 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure 20 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure H5

Oak Leaf Visions 5 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure 21 by GJ Gillespie.

King Farm House on San Juan Island by GJ Gillespie

Native Oak Figure 8 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure G3

Oak Leaf Visions 15

Oak Leaf Visions 14

Native Oak Figure 6

Grandma's Cove by GJ Gillespie

Native Oak Figure 9 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure G8

Native Oak Figure G5

Native Oak Figure A30 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure A40 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure A42 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure A21 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure 120 by GJ Gillespie.

 Native Oak Figure 1.1

Native Oak Figure 101 by GJ Gillespie. 

Native Oak Figure G9

Native Oak Figure O3

Oak Leaf Visions 12 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figurs H2

Native Oak Figure 11 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure H3

Native Oak Figure G4

Native Oak Figure 132 by GJ Gillespie.

Native Oak Figure H8

Native Oak Figure J

Friday Harbor Pier by GJ Gillespie

Native Oak Figure A19 by GJ Gillespie. 

Native Oak Figure O1

Native Oak Figure O4

Native Oak Figure P1

UW Labs Garry Oak 

Native Oaks Figure A36

Native Oak Figure 18 by GJ Gillespie. 

 

MORE GJ GILLESPIE ART FROM RESIDENCY 

GETTING THERE and ART PROCESSES

see Teresa R Gillespie Art