Featured Artist - Jace Mattson

Jace Mattson will be the featured artist at Coffee at the Point during August/September. Largely self-taught, she finds that art is bleeding and laughing. Jace covers the canvas with those feelings creating each piece as if it were her last. This is an exciting and well thought out show and we hope everyone will enjoy it during the next two months.

More About The Artist:

I grew up in Chicago, City of Big Shoulders, where at the age of 8, I had the good fortune to have a new neighbor purchase the house next door to mine. She was called Frieda Davis who painted in oils and oil pastels and encouraged me to draw and paint. She was my earliest mentor. She also taught me how to apply mascara without flaking and/or smearing it. She was an excellent mentor in many, many ways and had an enormous impact on me for the ten years she lived there.

My artistic process has changed radically over the last eight years due to a brain tumor which was removed during an emergency surgery. I was an absolute realist until I couldn’t be anymore. It took a little while to get used to the idea of painting things that didn’t look “real”; but I believe I finally got there. Prior to the brain surgery, and unbeknownst to me, I had been having “silent seizures” which allowed me to speak with Picasso, Kandinsky and even Georgia O’Keefe. I told no one about these conversations lest they lock me up! I found that my favorite dead artist was Mr. Kandinsky who was always a gentleman and always suggested exactly the right color. On the other hand, Ms. O’Keefe was most unhelpful and rude. Although at first blush this makes me sound crazy, I really miss those conversations. But I can assure you that I am just the regular amount of crazy.

Prior to the brain surgery I had a series of strokes all on one morning when I was supposed to be having a garage sale. All this together necessarily changed the way I work. However, given the option between being alive and conversing with dead great artists, I think I made the right choice. My husband and family concur.

Largely self-taught, I find that art is bleeding and laughing inside and covering the canvas with these feelings. I work each piece as if it were my last because it may just be. My process is meticulous whether on pre-stretched canvas or hand-built panel. I want my art to survive me by as many years as possible. When a collector puts out a great deal of money, he should be assured and confident that the work will be a good investment and will endure.

All of what I create may not work for everyone, however, some of what I create will always work for someone. It is difficult to create a client base of collectors in Colorado. I am not Leroy Nieman, so sports, which is probably the most admired activity in our state, does not enter into my work. Although I am rather fond of painting spheres which could loosely be called balls.

I was originally represented by the Michael Walters Gallery which, unfortunately, did not survive the downturn in Denver’s economy. I made many sales and I believe that I have many happy collectors living in this city. I am currently part of a cooperative gallery called Kashi Kari located at 910 Santa Fe. My problem is that I am so prolific, and I have but a 4’x8’ space in which to display, so I am truly grateful to have the opportunity to hang as a solo artist in this current exhibition.