A Conversation with Visual Artist Mary Jennings
with Mary Amendolia Gardner
In my experience, art has its inception at the intersection of limitation and grace.
— Mary Jennings
Mary Jennings is a native Washingtonian and graduate of Duke Ellington School for the Arts and Moore College of Art (Philadelphia, PA). Blending her experience as a professional visual artist with her delight in sharing her passion for art through teaching others, she leads visual arts experiences for every skill level. Mary’s award winning art can be seen in local area galleries and juried exhibits as well as some replays of HGTV’s “Bed and Bath Design” episodes. Currently, she is the Artist in Residence with the Forbes 5-star Salamander Resort and Spa in Middleburg, VA.
Rev. Mary Amendolia Gardner is an ordained Anglican priest and spiritual director with Coracle and is currently pursuing a DMin at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC in Curating Community Through the Arts. She trained for ministry at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford, England, and earned an MA in Christian Spirituality with a focus on the visual arts and spiritual transformation at Heythrop College, University of London. Additionally, she holds a BA in Art History. Mary is an artist and photographer who works mainly in collage. When the pandemic is over she hopes to resume giving art tours at local DC museums. She speaks at retreats, enjoys international travel, and enjoys all things Italian. She and her husband John love to kayak the East Coast.
The following transcript has been condensed and edited. For the full conversation, please view the video above.
Mary Amendolia Gardner: How would you describe yourself? (Artist, Teacher, Community Advocate, Etc. Other?)
Mary Jennings: Well, if I'm filling out a form, it's simply Artist and Instructor (teacher). The real question is, "How would people describe me when I'm not in the room?" It's very telling what others have to say about you. It's your brand. I also find it fun to take those evaluations or quizzes that reveal some aspect of your style or personality, just for fun. Adobe has one just for creatives. Try it! It's on mycreativetype.com and is very well designed. The result that I got indicated that I was an Innovator.
MAG: Tell us about your art training. What was the best advice you received as a young artist?
MJ: I began overcoming at a very young age. My mother (she passed away when I was 12) was extremely creative, and I watched her skills be applied to paintings as well as functional items like refinishing furniture or building houses. I went to a local community center every day after school and took every class they offered while I was in elementary school. I graduated from Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, and then received my BFA from Moore College of Art in Textile Design.
As I mentioned, my real art training came in the form of overcoming. In my experience, art has its inception at the intersection of limitation and grace.
As a very young girl, I was told that I had potential. While this isn't advice, this statement has remained with me ever since and continues to provide me with strength. As an established artist, advice or direction that I give myself these days is to remember, you are enough. Simply allowing myself to be enough has given me the freedom to be so much more than I could imagine.
MAG: When did you know you were an artist? Why do you do what you do?
I remember when I became comfortable identifying myself as an artist: it wasn't until about 15 years ago when I took on this title in a spiritual sense rather than solely as a professional or career title.
MJ: At a young age, I wanted to be an artist, clown, or lawyer when I grew up. At present, I believe in some way, I've been able to tap into all of these throughout my career.
I remember when I became comfortable identifying myself as an artist: it wasn't until about 15 years ago when I took on this title in a spiritual sense rather than solely as a professional or career title.
I've always wanted to be more than a person who made art. Today, I am an artist (image maker) that has been created in the image of the creator himself. When I instruct, I'm using art to connect people to their image-making potential. They have provision, and I instruct them on using it. I believe creating is a form of worship.
Mary Jennings. Accept in Love. 2019. Acrylic on canvas.
MAG: What practices keep your creativity fresh? And keep you creating?
MJ: Remaining constantly curious helps sustain my creative practice. The desire to dig deeper into relating to something or sharing a relationship with other is what drives me. An awareness of problems and brokenness around me gives me cause to create art that may lead to potential solutions.
Surrounding myself with opportunities to create in any medium inspires my art-making.
MAG: How do you work?
MJ: I would love to tell you that I had this great consistent practice of art-making. I don't, yet. I really work to tackle a nagging problem or commitment to others as a jumping point. Deadlines and deliverables!
I may look like I am being helplessly distracted, but I call it marination. I am working things out in my mind. Hunting and pecking for a spark or detail that will add to my process. When I do settle down to apply everything to a project, I dive in.
At times, I have little backing into work rituals like, cleaning my palette, organizing my studio shelves, journal writing or sketching, and the post it note with three tasks waiting to be checked off are all effective.
MAG: What role do you think artists have in community/society?
MJ: We are the ultimate Resource Managers. And by that, I mean that we are able to create something from nothing. Resource (Provision). Manage (Process).
We can operate in any condition and climate. We demonstrate resilience.
MAG: What role does your religious faith play in your art-making? Are there some aspects of art-making that bring you close to God?
MJ: Everything I do relates to my faith. I am clear on the times when I'm moving away from or drawing near to my relationship with God when I'm creating. AWAY: fear, anxiety, panic, lacking, fog, unsettled, doubt, anger, hubris, perfectionism, selfishness, and inpatients. NEAR: warmth, comfort, rich, overflowing, easy, deep, abundant, happy, good, sustained. Art-making is worship.
Mary Jennings. Stacked Sugar. 2016. Acrylic on paper.
MAG: What is your favorite work of art by another artist? What is your favorite work of art that you made yourself and why?
MJ: I don't do favorites. Picking a favorite color or art is like picking a favorite child. How can you even do that? Impossible!
I do admire work that demonstrates a real push and pull with the subject and the medium. I appreciate seeing a bit of the struggle revealed in the art. It shows the hand of the artist. Almost like looking at a well-worn Bible. It has the character of the owner all over it and feels like it has irreplaceable value.
Most of the work I make is all about the process and little about the product. When I like to look at a work, it's because I like to remember what was revealed to me in the process of making it.
Of my works, I like Three Generations. I saw the image online and got permission to paint it by the owner. I fell in love with the photograph and will keep the painting in my collection. I even made a video of my process while painting while sitting in a public park on a beautiful afternoon. The image reminds me of my grandmother, mother and myself. I plan on keeping this painting in my personal collection.
Most of the work I make is all about the process and little about the product. When I like to look at a work, it's because I like to remember what was revealed to me in the process of making it.
MAG: Anything about art/making you would like to discuss?
MJ: I have a few directions that my work has been taking over these last few years. As an artist, I'm more concerned with the character of my art resonating with the viewer rather than the outward appearance. I have a series of abstracts that I created around the learning of Empathetic Listening.
As an instructor, I use art/making as a tool that will lead others to a more developed heart. A heart that wants to grow. As a professional artist and instructor, I prompt others to embrace curiosity, generosity, and community.
