Java.July.2017

For this exhibition, Pettis said that she “showcases
the female body and the spiritual and mysterious
essence of it, as depicted through color.” And
beyond that, it touches issues that women have
faced throughout time and are still being challenged
by today. “With today’s political and social climate,”
she said, “women are at a tipping point of equality
we have never known before, as well as a
pushback from government and other parts of
society. I wanted to encourage women to be
shameless in their femininity, no matter what their
ethnic background is. Let’s be shameless about the
female body and its beauty.”
“I Am in This with You” is a forceful piece that uses
patches of color to fill in the eyes and skin around
the mouths and noses of the two women who stand
together. It shows and fosters unity as the prevailing
factor, without suggesting the relationship of the
subjects. Pettis said, “It can represent LGBTQIA
pride to some, or to others it can simply mean
human affection and solidarity. To others, this is
Lady Liberty embracing us and telling us that our
freedom and liberty as a people will overcome any
bigotry or oppression.”
Pettis was raised in Holdenville, Oklahoma, and
learned how to draw and paint at her father’s art
studio. She said that Native American culture and
spiritually has helped shape her artwork, as well as
a penchant for social justice. She has branded her
artwork and the apparel line that features images of
her paintings under the name Brazen Wolf. Brazen
means shamelessly bold, and wolf represents
territory. Together the words create the tagline for
the clothes: Shameless Territory. Shameless Wear.
Though the styles of Angel and Pettis are very
different, it’s the human experience that both artists
are spotlighting, especially how actions shape the
landscape, forcing us to think about the parts we
want to play, and the ones we do play.
Juxtaposition
Through July 30
FOUND:RE Hotel1100 N. Central Ave., Phoenix
www.foundrehotels.com
James Angel, Instalation view
James Angel, Colorshift, mixed media on shaped panel, 44” x 40”
Jaime Pettis, Good Grief, (girl with wolf tattoo)
Prismacolor Pencil on paper
Jaime Pettis, Identity Flow, (girl with hand on hip and dark bangs)
Primsacolor Pencil on paper
Jaime Pettis, I Am In This With You, (2 girls/title is in piece)
Prismacolor Pencil on Paper
JAVA 17
MAGAZINE