“Intersection of Parallel” Group Exhibition by Jen Hem and Julie Russell-Steuart

Intersection of Parallel
Group Exhibition by Jen Hem and Julie Russell-Steuart
October 9th – November 4th, 2023 

Opening Reception: Thursday, October 12th, 6-8pm

The Octagon Community Gallery

About this group exhibition:

Even as they act individually and independently, the work of these artists cross paths and intersect in powerful ways. Printmaker Julie Russell-Steuart and mixed media artist Jen Hem face off on the parallel gallery walls to tell a story together. Viewers will move through the space they inhabit, pick up the threads and follow them to places of their own.

Weaving themes of voice, activism, advocacy, social justice and mental health, Jen and Julie create an experience together that is only as deep and curious as one is willing to dive in: an of-the-moment snapshot of the emotions and undercurrents of being alive right now.

Jen Hem talks about their underlying themes and experience with mental health, “Depression can be debilitating and painful, literally like you’re bound with your mouth sewn shut. Pulling myself ‘up by my bootstraps’ was impossible. It can be hard to function, sometimes hard to even get out of bed…and it can be even harder to ask for help due to fear of not being heard and being dismissed, but finding yourself—and your voice—is possible”.

Some of Hem’s mixed media works are large, spanning six feet with figurative-based vibrant  and energetic images and emotions running through them. 

Hem believes that art is a powerful tool for healing and self-expression. They say that the ink “pulls the art out of me, I do not tell the brush what to paint.” This process allows Hem to tap into their subconscious mind and create works that are both honest and raw.

They contrast with Julie’s more restrained and tightly coiled root-like drypoint etchings, some with boundary pushing colors, like textured neon inks and “rainbow rolls.” Her work also draws on a spontaneity of expression and a dialogue with the work. An enigmatic figure and the anthropomorphic root shapes of a small series within delve into storytelling and narrative art. Poem fragments as titles are incorporated using hand-set metal type offer a layer of contextual experience. Other work is more focused on specific time and place like the 2020 George Floyd protests in “Names in Ash.”

Jen’s works speak too with painted words found in shapes, and symbology like locks and birds. Jen and Julie both share the heart as a symbol and vehicle of expression. Together, Hem and Russell-Steuart create an exhibition that is both deeply personal and universally resonant to viewers, especially activists and advocates finding their voice.

Exhibition Dates:
October 9th – Exhibition Opening Day
November 4th – Exhibition Closes

Julie will teach a pop-up letterpress poster printing workshop on Saturday, Oct 21, from 1 to 4pm, focusing on expressing a message with a short intro to protest poster print history. The resulting student prints will be displayed in the exhibition on a resource wall. Sign up for poster workshop here.

Artist Biographies:

Jen Hem is an Iowa artist who works primarily in India Ink, and is active in Mental Health Awareness Advocacy, Advocacy for the Awareness of Violent and Sexual crimes, and exploring other mediums through their art. Jen exhibits some attributes of realism, pop art, minimalistic line art, and abstract expressionism. Their art is full of color and infused with vulnerable emotions, and psychological undertones that have developed through their experience growing up in poverty amidst a difficult family life. Jen often says “the quiet part out loud” in their art, as they bring awareness to topics including mental health, consent, sexual crimes, inequality, LBGTQ+ rights, and abuses often not openly discussed.

Visual artist Julie Russell-Steuart grew up in Maryland and earned a BFA in General Fine Art from Maryland Institute, College of Art. Her work encompasses multiple mediums with a particular interest the synthesis of word and image. She publishes artist’s books and prints on a vintage Vandercook printing press under the imprint Caveworks Press. A guillotine paper cutter and seven type cabinets full of metal typefaces and various antique cuts round out her print shop. Her artwork often combines two or more printmaking techniques like linoleum carving, pressure printing, collograph, polyester lithography, drypoint, laser cut plates, metal type and wood engraving. She has shown her work internationally, and her books are collected by several University libraries, including The University of Iowa, Texas State University, and the University of Kentucky Lucille Little Fine Arts Library. She resides in Reinbeck, Iowa, with her husband David, and daughter Venus.