Today we’d like to introduce you to Juliet Harrison
Hi Juliet, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up with a camera in my hand. Back in the days of the Kodak Brownie, through the Instamatic and then on finally to a Canon 35mm. Eventually getting a MFA in photography at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan. I also grew up loving and riding horses. Stopped as a teen but resumed in my 40s. At which time I turned my cameras on to the horse as subject. Using the same modernist point of view as I did with any subject, I spent many years photographing horses in 35mm B&W film. Through my work I connected with other equine fine artists. Painters, sculptors and photographers. I built a career and network as the Black and White horse woman. Eventually opening a small studio/gallery space in an arts collective, to showcase my work. 11 years ago I was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. After months of surgery and chemotherapy, I had to decide what I was going to do with my little space. I had no new work to exhibit there as I had been focused on my health. Instead of giving it up when it was time to renew my lease, I asked several of the equine artists that I had become close to, if they would let me try to sell some of their art in my space as well as online. A number of them, who I still represent today, agreed and thus the Equis Art Gallery of contemporary equine art was born. After 1 1/2 years I out grew that space and rented a storefront where the gallery still exists today. I show case over 30 artists from all over the world. As well as vintage equestrian art and object, vintage Native American jewelry and objects, as well as my photography and now assemblage sculpture.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The cancer was of course, my biggest obstacle so far in my life. But focusing on equine art, my own and now the work of others, is a challenge. Being that specific and yet representing more contemporary, non-traditional art is not typical. Finding a way to reach my audience both online and in person, takes lots of marketing creativity. And then there was covid. Which brought more online sales…….and changed the balance of the economy and social life so much.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
For many years I created non-traditional B&W fine art photographs of horses with 35mm film. I looked to the horse as my subject focusing on massing, texture light and contrast. I printed my own work in my basement darkroom. I was known as the B&W horse lady. As well as photography, I now create assemblage sculptures using organic materials like animal bones, skulls, antlers, sea shells, rocks and plant materials. I combine those with old tools and rusted metal objects. I call these pieces Sacred Offerings. These works represent where I have been and where I am in my life. How like these things that seem to have outlived their usefulness, I have recreated my life to find my own new identity. A rebirth of sorts.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
While I am not a doing dangerous things type of risk taker. Being an artist is always about taking risks. Trusting your inner voice and ability to translate that in to the visual. And then there is the risk of showing that inner voice to the rest of the world in the shape of an art creation. Being willing to hear the assessment and critique from others. That is very scary. For me, stepping outside the standard horse photographs box to do very non-traditional work and in black and white. That was a huge departure from what most people expect from photographs of horses. My work was not your standard pretty pictures of pretty horses. It challenged the viewer. Same too with my assemblage work. Which was from the outset, a huge risk for me, since I had never worked in 3D before. Never created sculpture. And then to present that new work to the public who only knew me for my photography. That was scary too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.julietrharrisonartist.com
- Instagram: mythic_offerings
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/equisartgallery
- Other: https://www.equisart.com
Image Credits
headshot by Maureen Gates