Kaleidoscopic by Christen Mattix

December 5, 2019 – February 28, 2020

The Jansen Art Center is pleased to welcome Christen Mattix to the Chamber Hall for an exhibit of her work this Winter. The exhibit, Kaleidoscopic, opens with a reception from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM on Thursday, December 5. Enjoy Live Music in the Piano Lounge with Walt Burkett, meet the artists and explore all of our Winter Exhibits.

Christen Mattix grew up in Thailand and moved to Bellingham, WA in 1995. She received a BFA from Western Washington University; an MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. Her work exists in private and public collections. Exhibitions: The Whatcom Museum in Bellingham, WA; SAM Gallery in Seattle, WA; and nationally. Christen teaches at WWU and the Jansen Art Center. 

ARTIST STATEMENT

I create kaleidoscopic landscapes probing the boundaries between realism and abstraction, the self and the environment. Each artwork reveals inner and outer landscapes simultaneously as if presenting reality strained through poetry. I use different layers and textures to embody the multidimensional worlds we inhabit. With a mandala stencil and brush, I make allover patterns and pulsing rhythms on the paintings’ surfaces. These stencils pay tribute to crystallographic patterns in nature and the decorative arts. The mandala also connects to cosmic symbols found in Buddhist and Catholic iconography. The ritual of stenciling mandalas over and over evokes meditative practices like observing the breath. 

Nature is in a constant state of change just like I am. The cycles of natural time parallel my shifting moods, thoughts, and memories. Certain landscapes, forests and oceans in particular, become charged with my deepest fears and longings. Like a fawn in a dark forest, I make my way through a wilderness that is bewildering and brutal at times, but also magical and sweet. Throughout this body of work, I seek to preserve a sense of wonder at the stubborn beauty of the world.