Meet & Greet with Park Towne Place Artist in Residence Jessie Renew

Please join us outside the Artist Studio Gallery in the lower level of Towne Center at Park Towne Place on February 6th from 6-7:30 PM for a reception of Rehomed and a Meet & Greet with Park Towne Place’s new Artist in Residence, Jessie Renew.

In Rehomed, Jessie Renew invites viewers to step into a world where discarded objects are transformed into meaningful, intricate works of art. Drawing from her surroundings, Jessie collects "free stuff" at the end of its life cycle—household items, string, clothing, toys, jewelry—and imbues them with new significance. Through adhesives, sewing, weaving, and sometimes paint or dye, these once-forgotten items are reborn as paintings that tell stories of history, emotions, and the magic of manifesting connections. Each piece becomes a reliquary, memorializing the things we leave behind and stripping them of their former value. Rehomed reflects Jessie’s vibrant, passionate approach to creating as she explores the energy that stays with these objects and the narratives they carry.‍

About the artist

Jessie is a multi-disciplinary, mixed-media artist based in Philadelphia. She was born in South Africa and immigrated to South Carolina, where she began her art career in Charleston. Jessie’s twin passions of art and nature have led her on an exciting career journey, including work as a commercial artist, graphic designer, kayak instructor, marketing strategist, landscaper, painter, outdoor educator, and retail specialist. She works on design projects for clients and operates a gardening company in addition to making art and showing around the city. Outside of her artistic and professional pursuits, Jessie enjoys outdoor adventures, cooking, yoga, and spending time with her loved ones and pets.

Statement

“My pieces are intricate tapestries of stuff, mostly household items, string-things, clothing, toys and jewelry that have a color, texture, or significance that unites them. I use various adhesives, sewing, weaving and sometimes paint, ink or dye, to create wall-hung objects that I consider to be paintings. My artistic process begins as I collect from my immediate surroundings - finding ‘free stuff’ at the end of its life cycle, given away in one way or another. I lean deeply into magic and manifesting to bring the right things at the right time into my studio. The objects begin to create a conversation with one another about history, concepts, aesthetics or emotions. I rely on my intuition to see these connections and unite objects to make art. These once discarded items, are made permanent - memorialized in my work. Each piece is a reliquary for things we are leaving behind and stripping of value, they are reborn as art materials.The energy of this process stays with the pieces, and they embody my vibrant, passionate approach to creating”.

Address & Details:

Artist Studio, Lower Level of Towne Center

Park Towne Place

2200 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia PA, 19130

in-residence

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