Artist Statement
My art focuses on how I see and value the landscape that surrounds me. My recent work advocates for green space, green infrastructure, biodiversity, and re-greening within urban and suburban environments. I find inspiration from natural histories, maps, urban wildlife, plants, gardens, and parks. My artistic practice has two prongs; making object based artwork and creating art events that engage communities with nature. My goals and mission stem from the core belief that by incorporating more nature in the city, nurturing it, raising awareness about it, and connecting people to it can improve overall health and well being for all inhabitants as well as incentivize greater care for the environment at large, all while addressing environmental justice and climate change.
My creative process begins by walking a landscape extensively, simply being in it, and learning its natural history and present state through research and consultation with ecologists, naturalists, and/or horticulturists. I also like to sketch, photograph, and collect specimens on site. Back at the studio I fuse all of the above with memory, digital imagery, and maps into compositions in oils and mixed media. In my oil paintings I combine expressive strokes with photo realistic details in an attempt to both evoke feeling as well as accurately document flora and fauna. My use of borders has multiple purposes; to represent the hardscape surrounding landscape, to create areas of quiet (curbing my maximalist tendancies), and to frame the imagery. The use of mixed media, including repurposed artwork, echos the layers that make up urban and suburban landscapes.
I’m conscious of my artistic carbon footprint and therefore my consumption of art materials, and so I like to repurpose older works into new artwork this often results in mixed media mosaics and collages and I am committed to creating light weight artwork, when possible, that require less energy to store, display, and transport.
Regarding the second aspect of my artistic practice, creating art events that raise awareness about urban nature and engage communities with nature, I often partner with nature- forward organizations and use online platforms to reach people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. These events include; botanical drawing of locally foraged plants, nature journaling in natural areas, walks, and/or plein air painting and drawing in green spaces. Many of the art events are offered free of charge, notably the Mindful Nature Journaling Hikes through NYC parks.
Bio
Jessica Dalrymple studied Fine Art at Hamilton College and trained as a painter at The Art Student's League of New York and studied with renowned landscape painters; Gregg Kreutz, Scott Christenson, and John Osbourne. She has exhibited with many national and regional juried shows and has received numerous awards including the Fenimore Award which granted her a solo exhibit at the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, NY and was commissioned by City Harvest as part of their Arts Initiative program. Her work is held in both public and private art collections. She earned a certificate in horticulture from Brooklyn Botanical Garden, is a licensed city tree pruner through Trees New York, and actively volunteers with grass roots conservancies and environmental groups.
She collaborates with nature forward organizations to create art events that raise awareness about the local landscape and environmental issues such as; co-creating ArtLab Gowanus, a pop-up structure hosting landscape related art workshops taught by local artists, made possible by the Gowanus Public Art Grant, applied for in collaboration with The Gowanus Canal Conservancy (2015). In 2014 she created a “Plein Air On The Canal” event hosting orgs such as local chapters of The Urban Sketchers and Oil Painters of America on the banks of the canal to capture the evolving landscape. Other events include Botanical Drawing for the Gowanus Dredgers focusing on local vegetation, multiple Botanical Drawing events for The Old Stone House Brooklyn featuring their gardens, and a Botanical “Drink n Draw” event to raise funds for The Human Impact Institute. Most recently she leads monthly “Mindful Nature Journaling Hikes” through New York City Parks.
CV
1-4 Person Exhibitions
2024 Selected Weeds, Gallery Particulier, Brooklyn, NY curated by, Arabella von Arx (solo)
2023 New York City Natural; Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Gateway National Park, curated by, Charles Markis (solo)
2022 This Green Urban World, curated by, Jennifer Roberts, The Interchurch Galleries, New York, NY (4 person)
2021 Nature Contained, curated by, Katherine Gressel, The Old Stone House Brooklyn (3 person)
2020 Quarantine Artworks, curated by, Sasha Chavchavadze, Dredger Boathouse, Gowanus (solo)
2018 Dalrymple + Gowanus Canal Conservancy, curated by, Jonathan Shorr, 313 Butler Gallery & Rooftop Reds Annual Benefit & Auction, Brooklyn, NY (2 person)
2017 Gowanus Landscapes; Past, Present, & Future, Dredger’s Boathouse (solo)
2017 Urbanscapes & Native/Non Natives, Interchurch Galleries, New York, NY (2 person)
2016 Natural New York; Landscapes, Urbanscapes, & Many Species In Between, Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, NY (awareded solo exhibit)
2014 NY State Barn Portraits, Smithy Art Center, Cooperstown, NY (2 person)
2010 Nature In The City, Gallery at 350 Bleecker, curated by, Robinson Holloway, NY, NY (solo)
Selected Awards & Residencies
2023-2024 Naval Cemetery Landscape/Brooklyn Greenway Initiative, artist in residence
2023 Oak Spring Gardens Foundation, artist in residence
2022 City Harvest Art Initiative Program, 1 of 9 artists commissioned to create art
2020 Gilbertsville Expressive Movement, Gilbertsville, NY, awarded residency (however it was cancelled due to COVID 19)
2018 Critical Feedback Program, Trestle Art Space, Brooklyn, NY (w/ Michael Brennan)
2017 Soaring Gardens / Ora Lerman Charitable Trust, artist residency, Laceyville, PA
2016 Brooklyn Art Space (six month artist residency with advisor Christina Kelly)
2015 The Fenimore Award, Art By The Lake, Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, NY
2015 Gowanus Public Art Grant ($10,000); in collab w/ Gowanus Canal Conservancy
2014 Arts Advocate Award, Gowanus Canal Conservancy, Brooklyn, NY
2012 Honorable Mention, Mountain Art Show, Bernardsville, NJ
2011 2nd Place Oils & Acrylics, Armonk Outdoor Art Exhibit, Armonk, NY
2009 1st Prize: Best Interpretation Of The NY Landscape, Fenimore’s Taste of The Sublime
Selected Group Shows
2024 Oak Spring; A Place To Grow, Oak Spring Garden Foundation, curated by, Danielle Eady
2022 & 2023 Upstate Art Weekend, Lexington House Gallery, curator, Jill Benson
2021 Art For Environmental Action & Climate Justice, curated by, Tracy Penn, New York, NY
2021 Gowanus Night Heron, curated by, Bonnie Ralston, Kaisa Zurek-Doule, & M. Draskoczy, Brooklyn, NY
2020 Regeneration In Place, with the Gowanus Swim Society & the Environmental Performance Agency, curated by Katherine Gressel, Old Stone House Brooklyn, BK, NY
2019 Green, Site Brooklyn, juried by Eva Diaz, curated by, Denise Amis, Brooklyn, NY
2019 Synapses, The Hewitt Gallery of Art/Marymount College curated by, Hallie Cohen NY, NY
2018 Processing, The Old Stone House Brooklyn, curated by Katherine Gressel
2017 The Four Seasons, Village West Gallery, curated by, Robinson Holloway, Jersey City, NJ
2016 Falling In, Trestle Gallery, curated by, Melissa Staiger, Brooklyn, NY
2015 Quantum Leap, Trestle Gallery, curated by, Katrina LaFranco, Brooklyn, NY
2015 Conversation Pieces, curated by, Andrea Alban, Fenimore Art Museum
2012 Art Show: Bedford!, St. Matthew’s Annual Juried Exhibit, contributing artist since 2005 2010 Eat Art – A Visual Feast, curated by, Pamela Talese, Atlantic Gallery, Chelsea, NY, NY
Education
B.A. graduated Cum Laude with honors in Fine Art, Hamilton College, NY 1994 Art Student’s League 2001-2003
Certificate In Horticulture / Brooklyn Botanical Garden 2022
Teaching
2020-2024 Mindful Nature Journaling Hikes in NYC Parks in all 5 boroughs
2024 Instructor of Botanical drawing & painting for Molly Oliver Flowers
2017-2020 Trestle Workshops; Instructor; Contemporary Botanical Drawing & Painting 2019-present Hamilton College; Guest Painting & Drawing Lecturer/Instructor
2019-present The Old Stone House Brooklyn; Instructor; Botanical Drawing & Plein Air 2020 Virtual Boathouse Botanical Draw, Dredger’s Boathouse, Brooklyn, NY
2016-2018 ArtLab Gowanus; Curator, Coordinator, & Instructor of art workshops
2008 - 2011 Adjunct Professor of Studio Art & Drawing, NJIT
Memberships
2021- Present Gallery Particulier (whose mission includes loaning art to low income households) 2024 - Steward/Gowanus Dredgers
2020 - 2022 - Gowanus Night Heron
2017 - 2020 Gowanus Swim Society Artist Collective
2013 - 2020 Gowanus Canal Conservancy Volunteer Committee Member & Co-Chair 2013 - Present Trees NYC – licensed citizen pruner
2008 - 2013 Embankment Coalition, volunteer/member Jersey City, NJ
Published & Collections
2024 Oak Spring Garden Foundation acquired Selected Weed; Mullein
2022 City Harvest; acquired/commissioned Urbanscape for City Harvest
2021 Gowanus Canal Conservancy acquired Urbanscape Triptych II; Gowanus Canal
2009 SUNY Cobleskill College of Agriculture & Technology acquired Bank Barn II
2010 The Barns Of New York, Rural Architecture of the Empire State, by, Cynthia G. Falk, Cornell University, 04/2012 Jessica’s painting Bank Barn was included in Cynthia’s book.
2022 Cover Art for City Journal Spring issue
Press Mentions
*Hyperallergic, Colorful & Immersive Expereinces at the 2017 Gowanus Open Studios,” by, Elena Goukassin
“Artists Inspired By The Canal,” by, Caroline Spivak for DNA Info “Go Gowanus,” Brooklyn Paper by, Sarah Dougan October 2016
“By The River Fumes: Painters Gather to render Gowanus Canal,” by Noah Hurwitz, Brooklyn Paper September 2014
“LikeKnowsLike” blog, featured artist photographed & written by Keturah Davis 2014 “Art for Food Lovers,” by, Charlotte Druckman, New York Times December 2010 “Jersey City Studio Tour 2011”, by Greg Brickly, The Jersey Journal September 2011 “Pictures At An Exhibition” by Even Marx, The Record Review January 2010
“The Beauty of Decay, Two Exhibits Find Art In The City’s Relics”, John Zeaman, Newark Star Ledger October 2010
“Painting En Plein Air”, The Daily Freeman September 2006
“New Artist’s At Colorscape”,The Evening Sun September 2005