Notes from a friend (by Alicia Pagano)

On October 7th, Alicia Pagano attended the opening of “Shhh: Works by Jody Isaacson” at KIPNZ. A good friend of Isaacson’s, Alicia shared her experience of the show. Special thanks to Alicia for her words.

"Shhh”  WORKS BY JODY ISAACSON

Opening Reception Oct 7, 2023

Surprise. Peacefulness.

Belonging. Respect.

Welcoming. Community.

Earth-sky-water.

Close to nature.

Healing grief.

Just enough - not too much. 

These are some of the words and feelings that came to me as I walked through Jody’s exhibition, “Shhh.”

Climbing the staircase to the gallery, I anticipated viewing Jody’s work. 

Jody had been preparing for some time with such vigor.  Days spent at the pottery shop learning new techniques to add to those she already knows.  Reincarnating the turkey she had grown a few years ago and planning how it would all fit together - her respect and appreciation of nature.  And now here it is! The finished exhibition curated along with the owners of the gallery.

Jody’s husband, Steve, stood behind me to assure a safe climb up the stiars and Jody waited at the top with my walker.  “It’s all yours now,” she said.  Explore in your own time.”  But first I want to make certain we had a photo of us together.  A friend from her school days surprised her by coming and Jody was happy to know she made the effort to come.  She held her little dog close to her on its leash and took a photo of me and Jody.  ”Now” she said, “You’re on your own to explore as you wish.” 

I was ready. 

Already feeling the aura of an exhibit carefully curated, I walked to the farthest room to feel it from end to beginning. First, a sequence of ceramic arms - some of Jody’s earlier designs - holding and healing.  I lingered with them, appreciating each .  One arm had cracked during the firing process, and it was hung in place just below the rest of the arm.  It made me feel secure; a note that things happen which we cannot control, but we can still use what is before us to create something new. 

I turned and saw a large ceramic work; a recurring motif of Matisse’s painting of arms with hands joined together as if they are dancing in a circle.  There is a space between two of the hands.  On the wall to my left there was one of the new ceramic birds - a prairie chicken. It hung close to the floor on the opposite wall and made me laugh. So playful, like a playful streak in Jody’s life. I went over, bent down and enjoyed it smiling. Then I moved to look at 4 woodblock prints on the wall opposite the ceramic arms. Immediately I fell in love with these.  The total pattern was complete with each piece holding a segment of the whole. The colors touched me deeply. I was deep in a forest, tranquil.

Now I walk into the middle room and am greeted by a wall-high image of a deerstand.  It is the ladder by the pond at Jody’s home.  The ladder I imagined climbing when we saw it as we walked around her pond this summer. I wondered  how she photographed it. Which camera was so perfect the image could be magnified like this and still hold the details of the image. It made the forest a real place in the gallery.  On one wall another turkey took first place. This one had real feathers and a ceramic body.  Jody had planned for this for over a year.

I turned around to see a whole wall of birds flying south for the winter.  Well, that was my first thought.  Maybe they were flying northward for the summer instead.  I looked at them and saw how many were flying together and how detailed each were.  How they  were organized as if they had done it themselves.  My mind wandered to imagine all the times I’d watched birds fly as they can signal the seasons with their migration. I could see them flying, hear them calling as if they were geese.  Hear them babbling if they were smaller birds flying from one August corn field to another feasting and getting ready for their longer southward flight. 

Now I’m back to the room where I first entered the gallery.  On one wall I viewed another pair of woodcut prints. Such beautiful designs. Jody sees with such insight and shares this beauty with us in each of her creative gifts. As I stood pondering I noticed that many of the people here are artists themselves.  They are part of our local community.  I watched and saw that they were fully at home and enjoyed standing in front of Jody’s work and talking with their friends.  I imagined they were discussing Jody’s work.  They were enjoying it and happy to share it.  The whole ambiance of the show was one of quiet respect, appreciation, and recognition for Jody’s creative abilities, her hard work and her love of nature.

Written by Alicia Pagano as her response to viewing “Shhh” Works by Jody Isaacson at KIPNZ.