Fumi Matsumoto and Jane Terry are two local Juneau artists who have exhibited their artwork together since 2007. This year’s show “Happy Trails” at the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council Gallery is a collaborative effort that features two large canvas wall hangings that the artists completed together this summer. One 10′ x 10′ wall hanging is a colorful Southeastern Alaska forest scene that used real ferns, leaves, twigs and branches as stencils for the composition. Multicolored cans of spray paint were used to create layers of color and give the forest an impression of a fantasy landscape.
Their second wall hanging is a Southeastern Alaska landscape with mountains, rocky cliffs, forests and a small stream. Wildlife that is typically found in our environment are scattered across the canvas. A deer peeks out from the forest, a mountain goat stands atop large boulders, a bear and wolf wander across the land as an eagle flies above the snow-capped peaks. Smaller critters, squirrel and beaver and others are also included. What is striking about the piece is that there are many tracks that meander across the landscape, each set of tracks leads us to their respective creature.
In addition to the two wall hangings, the artists have created many mixed media pieces that are complimentary to the larger works. Both Jane and Fumi have shadow boxes with “butterflies” as a theme. Jane’s pieces are crocheted from yarn and Fumi’s Geisha and Samurai butterflies are cut out of origami paper. Jane has also fashioned several trees using yarn and lights, and also crocheted fish and a mermaid. Fumi has rolled magazines into tubes and coils to make an owl, dragonfly and fish. She again uses recycled and re-purposed items to make her “teabag and coffee filter bats,” “Garbage bag Raven,” and “Mannikins.”
The “Happy Trails” show is an amusing collection of fanciful artworks that is sure to make you laugh and put a smile on your face. The opening reception will be Friday August 7th from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm.The exhibit will run through August 31st at the JAHC Gallery in Downtown Juneau. Listen to Jane and
Fumi’s radio interview on KTOO “Juneau Afternoon” on August 5th at 3:00pm.