Jovannah Nicholson: Meet the Artist
I grew up surrounded by nature in a very small farming village called Ovid, MI, where I am thankful to have been raised by a family who let me be me, a weird kid doing weird things. I now reside in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I am a full-time artist and a ceramic studio technician at Kendall College of Art and Design. I am also a sculptor at Edge Themed Environments and I’ve taught ceramics and sculpture classes at multiple organizations over the past decade.
Q: How did you get involved with Lions and Rabbits?
A: I met Hannah Berry through a friend about 10 years ago. We shared lots of similar interests and ideas about the Grand Rapids arts community. Our working relationship was cemented a few years back when Lions & Rabbits was just a baby cub & bunny. Hannah needed some 3D work to hang in some apartments going up, so of course I was up for the challenge. In February last year there was word on the street that the John Ball Zoo was looking for a local animal sculptor. Sculpting animals is my jam! Working with Hannah and the Lions & Rabbits team she compiled continues to be an amazing experience. Hannah, you are one of those badass boss babes, and a champion on every level. I absolutely love what you are doing for the city and the arts community. It was much needed.
Q: What themes/ideas are highlighted in your work? Intentions?
A: I try to express how I’m feeling, or focus on an emotion, or small narrative, typically through animal sculpture. Connection is also a major motivation for my work. I think we all want to connect in one way or another. Whether it's finding your people, who "understand", or converting folks who really don't consider the power of the arts. Art can be so many things and take on so many forms. Lots of people overlook how impacted they are by everyday objects that were designed by artists..Not everyone sees art the same way, and that’s beautiful. We all connect differently to the same piece. Art makes people proud of where they come from, it tells stories and it evokes emotion. These things enhance our everyday lives. They really should be recognized and celebrated.
Q: Run us through your creative process - How do you start, flow and finish?
A: I primarily work with clay, but I do not limit myself to strictly one medium. I have spent years working with wood, metal, and found materials. I have acted in a reality tv show, in commercials, and in films. I am an artist and I’m down to try it all. For the past few years, I have been making a lot of functional pottery, but I really miss making more narrative work. So, I have been adding small-scale sculptures to my functional wares as maquettes for larger pieces. For me, it’s taking something that I make every day, and adding a little more life and personality to it. Those of you that know me will not be surprised, but my creative process is all over the place. I constantly jump from idea to idea, what material, what size, what color, all of it. It can start with something as simple as a found object, a piece of metal, or driftwood that catches my eye and sparks my desire to give it a new life. Or maybe I've had an idea about an experience that I want to express through my hands. Did I mention anxiety? The next step in my process is definitely anxiety, and then second guessing, and then third guessing. Next I make some rudimentary sketches. I am no illustrator, but it's a place to start. Then depending on that size and material, I start a maquette. Oftentimes I get way too excited and scrap the trial piece and just start making.
Q: Can you share a little more about how your art career started. Have you always been in your field? Were you self taught or had additional schooling?
A: Oh man, I have been a creative person all my life. I think most artists feel this. As a child, I would spend most of my time outside building forts, playing in the mud, catching critters, and getting into trouble with my older brother. My indoor time was spent making art with anything I could get my hands on, cardboard and tape, markers, crayons, pens, lipstick, watercolors, Sculpey clay, etc. I was always drawing, coloring, even painting on the windows because my mom is awesome and let my brother and I do it. I just loved creating and never wanted to do anything else. It came easy and gave me joy. I took a lot of children’s art classes at Michigan State, close to where I grew up. I attended Kendall College of Art and Design, where I studied functional woodworking and sculpture, and minored in ceramics.I have done and tried so many things. I want to try it all. My medium of choice has been clay for a long time, however I have spent years working with wood, Ice, metal etc.I have really enjoyed the journey that art has provided me. I tend to be a yes person, and bite off more than I can chew. Because of Professors, bosses and random people I have met, I have been involved in a variety of opportunities and Jobs. I worked for a local Ice carving company, and met some really great people who I still call friends today. Because of that job, I got asked to do movie props, costumes and acting, which I am not good at, but was so much fun and a great experience. From there I did a commercial for Carhartt/Guinness who were highlighting women artists at the time.
Q: Who/what are your biggest inspirations that play a key role in the work you produce?
A: When I was teaching ceramics classes, it provided me with the opportunity to help give creative voice to those who feel as if they have none. I loved that about teaching. Most people think that they are not creative and that “they couldn’t draw a stick figure,” but we continuously learn that it just takes the courage to try something new. I believe everyone has a creative bone in their body. I have seen it time and time again over my 17+ years of teaching. It brings me so much joy to help facilitate others in finding a new skill.Other than that I make art because it makes me feel good knowing that someone is connecting to it in their own way.
Q: What mistakes have you made? What did you learn from them? What are you trying to get better at?
A: I know mistakes! HA. I meet them all the time. I am always making mistakes, but that’s the best way to learn I guess. Organization and time management are probably the biggest challenges I have. I have ADHD amongst other hurdles like depression, anxiety and dyslexia. I have the best intentions, but my follow through is not the greatest. I take notes and lose the paper… so I often write what I need to know on my hand. I work really hard, but I am my own worst critic, and I tend to get in my own way. I think this is probably fairly common for a lot of us artists. It can be very frustrating at times, but working on what doesn’t come as easy to me is all a part of the process.
Q: Do you feel supported by your community as an artist? In what ways could you feel more supported?
A: I will say that I haven’t always felt the support that Grand Rapids has claimed to have for their artists. As a sculptor, there aren't as many opportunities, or they are harder to find. With that being said, I am beyond thrilled at what is happening with the art scene now. I love the collaborations between artists and business owners. Working in this fashion is the best way to build our city together.
Q: Describe a moment when you felt most proud of yourself
A: The Hippo project for the John Ball Zoo. That was my first real big project for the community. There were so many learning curves, and obstacles to navigate. At the time I was balancing 3 other jobs and putting in 15+hour days for months, which was exhausting. There are certainly things I would do differently, but you don’t know what you don’t know, and I guess that’s the power of hindsight. I did the absolute best I could with the knowledge I had at the time. I had the support of friends and colleagues to keep going when I was at breaking points. I look forward to doing more projects like this in the future. It was a great experience overall.
Q: What's next? What are you currently focusing on or looking forward to?
A: I am pretty excited about the work I am doing now. It's a much larger scale than I am used to and I am working with materials I have never used. I have spent more than half my life using clay as a primary medium, and now that’s all changing. I am working with Foam, fiberglass, metal, 3D printing, epoxy resin, PVC and so many other materials. It’s been a challenge and an exciting change. I am working on large scale zoo enclosures and props for dioramas. I travel a lot, and am learning and growing every day. I just finished a 9ft tall corpse flower, and some jackfruit trees for a zoo enclosure. I wish I could show you photos.
Q: What does being an artist mean to you? What is the function of artists in society?
A: What's most important to me about what I create, and how it impacts others would have to be bringing people, conversation, and the community together. I think people are oblivious of how much art can impact a space and bring much needed life to cities and parks. I'm not just talking visually either. It evokes emotion, conversation, and makes the places we visit more pleasing. It makes people proud of where they are from. Art is in everyone’s homes and offices…. and not just “wall art” It’s tables, chairs, silverware etc…someone somewhere made or designed that piece.Connection. I want to connect in a visual way, to express feelings in 3D form. For someone who is not the best at communicating with words and articulating their thoughts and ideas. creating something visual with my hands is my preferred method.
Q: And of course, If you could chose any superpower, what would it be?
A: I would love the power of accurate navigation.
Follow more of Jovonnah Nicholson’s work on instagram.com/missjojobean
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