Description

Number twenty-nine.
Paint, wood burning, birch bark, found-wood, and vintage nails.

“Grandma was three years old when the farmhouse was build in 1905. Her job every day was to pick up the nails dropped by the workers. I was fortunate to have found an old tin full of these nails. This Spirit Shield has one piece of Wisconsin birch bark attached to found-wood with three of those nails. A hint of birch trees is printed and then decoupaged on the lower half and the top half is enhanced with birch bark circles using a vintage tool from the farm. It was originally used to punch out leather insulators for electric fences, a job given to the little ones on the farm including myself. Interesting how the smallest things in life come full circle.” -Jan Jahnke

Jan Jahnke, former instructor at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. Influenced by her studies in Ojibwe spiritual culture, Jahnke invokes impressions of the earth and that which has passed before us. Color schemes are created using water based paint, stain, and carving on wood and have a surprising amount of texture. Each piece within the Spirit Shield series holds found material to solidify our relation to that which has existed before, and the artist hopes to convey a sense of protection. Pieces are left unframed to allow a more tangible connection to the work.

Pieces measure approximately 30 inches in diameter