THE SHINE JOURNAL

Flash Literature, Poetry, Art and Photography!

AIR 2009

Alison Watt Jackson

Artist In Residence (AIR) 2009

 

www.silkieart.com

 

 

Alison Watt Jackson is an artist, photographer, silk painter, writer, poet, vegetarian, certified massage therapist, intuitive, part time clinician, and volunteer with The Marine Mammal Center.

 

Alison received her Bachelor of Arts degree Cum Laude from Plymouth State University and her Masters degree from Rutgers University. Her work has been exhibited in both solo and group shows in galleries, businesses, coffee houses, and public venues.  Her pieces are also in private collections around the world.

 

Alison has been creating all her life. "A brush, a pen, a camera, a keyboard, my hands¾these are my tools¾art is a way of life, it just depends on the moment and how I feel like expressing myself.”

 

 

 

Zug Alley - 5/2007
 
This image was taken while walking the side streets of Zug,Switzerland. 
I saw an entrance to an  alley way which naturally made me curious to know 
where it lead.
 
As I walked into the alley and saw the stairway ahead of me leading
to an old church, I was immediately fascinated by the bright light shining
in the stairwell  and through the side windows.It was in the middle of the
day and no one was anywhere to be seen - and it was a gift to walk down
this alley and just to watch the glow.  
 
What also caught my eye were the angles and geometric patterns,
inherently I have always been drawn to triangles and angular patterns.
 
 
Rice Field Irrigation - 1/05
 
I was traveling with three friends to Southeast Asia for a month and
happened to be in Northern Vietnam when I took this photograph.
 
Much like California, many of the agricultural fields (in this case rice fields)
are located next to main industrial roads. I was amazed by the timing and
 skill of these two individuals and couldn't begin to imagine their task at hand. 
 
I was also mesmerized by their reflections.
 

"Sea of Trees" - 8/2008 
 
This photograph was taken from a magical place called Irish Hills in
San Luis Obispo,  CA where I often go to re-connect with nature.  
 
What is most special about these hills are the oak trees - they speak
to me with their intricate, artistic shapes,  arms reaching out
–simultaneously aesthetically pleasing while providing
 temporary respite from the bright  California sun.  
 
In my imagery I consistently find myself intrigued with trees and nature.  
This probably has to do with the fact that since  I was a young girl, 
it was nature I would turn to when I needed refuge even
though Mother Nature couldn't talk back.
 
I always felt this image can be summarized best by what my
greatest photographic mentor once taught me, "Photograph
what you love, it's not about loving your photographs."