An Interview with Artist Jennifer Shorter Part 2
What would you say to someone who would say they have absolutely no artistic ability, or that they love creating art, but they are not very good at it?
So, how do you get good at something? No one is good at anything that they first start. And if they are, that is a very rare thing. So, here’s the thing, you can think that you are not very good, but if it brings you joy, do it. What does it matter? It’s for you, right? So, there are many things that I don’t think I am very good at, and art’s probably one of them, but I put myself out there, and I am creating every day. A regret I have in life is that in 8th grade, I was told by my art teacher that I should go take art at the high school, and I never did because I couldn’t fit it into my schedule because I had to take all of these college prep classes. And that is a regret of mine, and it has taken me all these years to take care of. So, if you get joy from creating, or whatever that is [that brings you joy]. . . I sing all the time. I am horrible at it, but I love to sing, so it’s not going to stop me. It shouldn’t stop you.
Was that 8th grade teacher Mrs. Phelps?
Yes it was. I won a sketchbook award in 8th grade, and that was at the old middle school.
Side note- I too had Mrs. Phelps for 8th grade art, and she was a fabulous teacher and human being.
Where can your art be viewed, or even purchased if someone were interested in getting their hands on some Jennifer Shorter exclusives?
Oh! That is such a good question! Thank you for asking. So, actually, you might not know this about me, but I have three stores on Lake Street. (She comments sarcastically).
“Only three?” (I ask her with equal sarcasm).
Yes, I am an underachiever. So, I have some sailboat art at Grandpa Shorter’s Gifts. And, at J.W. Shorter and Son Mercantile, I have a lot of my florals. I don’t have originals there, but I have canvas prints of my paintings, and I also have pillows there ready to decorate with. Then, at The Katydid, I have some of my abstract paintings- more just lines and colors, so as I go through phases, I tend to evolve. If you look at the three different stores, you would say they are three distinct looks.
Is there anything else that you would like to tell the readers?
I am looking forward to taking part in the Art Walk later this month! I am going to show my works at J.W. I need to order some more canvases. So, what I will do there, I will take a picture of one of my paintings and print it, but I might only print a portion of it, and I might blow it up and change it a little bit- so I might paint roses on something- to make it look different. I like that. I think I am going to stick with more florals for that event because I happen to have a lot of florals.
Jennifer frequently hosts events at her four stores, and she talked to me about how important it was to her to include and promote local musicians and artists by hiring them for these events. I asked her to elaborate on this a little more.
I want to support those people, the local artists. Those that bring joy to others. I have Ella Johnson coming in [for the Art Walk]. She is 19 years old. She’ll be at The Katydid. Molly McCarthy will also be at The Katydid. She is doing make your own mandala stickers with people. And then Karen Mazzolini will be there. And then Andy Backus will be at Grandpa Shorter’s with his nature photography. I am working with him because I want to encourage him. He and I went to high school together. He does beautiful work, but he does not sell it. Sometimes people will approach him about selling his work. I met with him about showing his work for Art Walk, and he put out a bunch of his pictures on his Facebook and let his fans pick what he should print and bring to the [show]. I have been encouraging him, telling him that he can make a career of this. I encouraged him to join Crooked Tree, and he is now putting his work in shows there. By doing Art Walk, I am trying to encourage people to appreciate local artists.
She wrapped up the interview by telling me about her grandmother, Ruth Shorter.
My grandmother was a painter. My Grandma Ruth and I have a lot of things in common. I didn’t even realize this until much later. She spent a lot of time on our family’s genealogy, and I have done that as well. I did that for a number of years though not so much anymore. She was an oil painter, and she painted I think as a stress relief from retail. I remember being in her house and she had these clowns she had painted and they hung in her dining room forever. And she did landscapes and stuff. We have a painting that she did of the Mackinac Bridge, and that’s hanging in the bathroom of The Katydid because it went with the colors on the wall. Later on in life, when she had dementia, my dad would get her into painting classes, and [I have one of those paintings] hanging outside my office, and it’s very interesting- it is kind of like a weeping landscape almost. If you look at that compared to her detail of before there’s such a difference due to the dementia. But painting always brought her joy. She painted in oils, and that’s really because that was one of the only mediums available forever. I seem to sometimes follow in her footsteps. I can’t knit for anything. . . but I am learning how to paint.
Art Walk is an event in Petoskey that takes place at the end of August each year and is organized by Crooked Tree Arts Center. It is a free event in which people can stroll through downtown Petoskey’s galleries, design studios, and creative spaces for an exciting evening of art, music, refreshments, and celebration. This year’s Art Walk is taking place on Thursday, August 29 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Click here to find out more details.
