Jill Baker Gower
STATEMENT
I draw inspiration from decorative elements found in ornate historic wallpapers, architecture, ironwork, metalwork, lace, and crochet. These influences are then combined with contemporary ideas on glamour, femininity, beauty, and the body drawn from society, the media, and advertisements. Materials such as vitreous enamel, silver, jewels, pearls, velvet, lace and fur have not only been deemed glamorous for centuries, but throughout time have indicated social status and rank. I combine these precious and non-precious materials, decorative inspirations, and contemporary influences to create thoughtful, aesthetically beautiful, and well-crafted one-of-a kind works.
BIOGRAPHY
Jill received a BS in Art Education with an emphasis in metals from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She continued formal training at Arizona State University, earning a MFA in Metals. She was then artist-in-residence at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, before becoming an Assistant Professor of Art on the faculty of Rowan University in New Jersey. Her work has been shown in many juried and invitational exhibitions and has been published in books and periodicals.