Galerie Tangerine’s 4th Annual Holiday Show and the ‘I Am…’ Series with Jennifer Ingala
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On November 20th, Galerie Tangerine hosted the opening reception for its 4th Annual Holiday Salon Show—a collection featuring over 200 works of art by 60 artists, both local and from around the country. Just a week ahead of Thanksgiving, Nashville artists and patrons gathered at the venue to socialize, appreciate, and celebrate the beginning of the holiday season together. I was pleased to be among the guests in attendance and had the opportunity to meet and speak with Jennifer Ingala, one of the featured artists, to discuss her work.
The energy at Galerie Tangerine was electric. As soon as I stepped into the gallery, I was thrust into a living, breathing creative whirlwind; artists (and their family members) and patrons conversed, live music from A Charlie Brown Christmas played, and art filled the walls. Each work is 12” by 12” and ranges from acrylic/oil on canvas to mixed media sculptures, and so on. Anne Daigh Hare, owner of Galerie Tangerine, answered a few questions about the history of the show and Nashville as an environment for aspiring and thriving artists.
Some of the first works that stand out to me were those of Paulette Licitra. Her Picnic at the Artichoke Farm and At the Cantina feature full brushstrokes and deep greens and reds, both accentuating the subject and providing stark contrast, elements evocative of Impressionist art. Licitra is a chef and New York native who resides in Nashville and has been teaching Italian cooking classes here since 2009. On her website, she describes how her art is heavily influenced by trips to Italy and Italian folk culture. In Hot Chocolate con Panna, the colorful, very dreamy essence that one often associates with the picturesque scenes of Italian countryside and city life is especially present. On the same wall lies the work of Dustin Bancroft. His pieces are titled Consumption, Communication, Relaxation, Recreation, and Contemplation. The landscape of each painting is distinct, and each subject confronts the shared circumstance of being a painting, yet they bear expressions unique from one another. In Consumption, the subject has its left leg kicked up and out of the frame; we feel confined. Not quite to the point of bringing us to our knees, defeated, as in Communication, but there is a claustrophobic aura that we feel is impending. Relaxation is quite different, in that the subject has its legs pressed up against the sides of the canvas. However, thanks to the warm blues, dark cherry reds, and tan skin, along with the beachy atmosphere, we feel almost at ease with the situation we find ourselves in.
Around the corner, you will find the work of Leslie Wade. American Mythos and Limerence presents subjects of popular folklore through a hyper-surreal lens, utilizing vibrant, cool tones against jet-black backgrounds. Each of her works featured is painted in oil on wood panels and is such a sight to see in person. I should also note the impressionistic styles of Leslie Lachance and Kate Ferrell, as well as the textile work of Amy Garten. The show has a wide variety of art, which I was very impressed with.
Before entering the final space, I looked with admiration at six encaustic paintings, all depicting the backs of female figures. After a few moments, a voice behind me said, “Touch them!” It was Jennifer Ingala, the artist and creator of the collection. Titled the I Am… series, Ingala passionately described the encaustic process, its history, and why she chooses to portray these figures. Her women are portraits that convey strength and poise. The elegance and sophistication associated with the image of a woman’s backside provide a precise translation for the moments that Ingala is capturing. These are stories of growth and acceptance, and the encaustic medium is a perfect vessel for that. As I felt the smooth, raw edges of each I Am Grace, I began to understand just how refined her style is. She also shared with me the details of an upcoming project titled “Oh Romeo,” a collection/cartoon featuring two cats, Romeo and Rose, and their adventures. My conversation with Ingala was delightful, and she was even gracious enough to answer a few questions for me over email, which you can find below:
R.D.: How did you become involved with Galerie Tangerine/their annual holiday art show?
J.I.: I had just created this collection of beautiful, sculptured women, my “I Am…” series and I was looking for the right gallery to show them. Galerie Tangerine had an artists call for the exact size I had just created and I knew I had been guided here. Allison Wanberg’s communication, attention to detail and beautiful curation was top notch. This was one of my favorite shows of the year.
R.D.: As a non-Nashvillean, what about Nashville’s art scene and community interests you/do you find unique?
J.I.: Nashville is as Jackson Pollack once described “a symphony of colors converging and colliding, creating a visually arresting and emotionally charged composition “. Once I started digging into the Nashville culture I was swept up by the passion of the pulse of the arts community. The colors, lights and sounds create a depth and texture that has captivated me. It immediately inspired my creative spirit to flow in new directions. To illustrate, I’m currently in the process of creating a Calvin & Hobbes-esque comic collection called “Oh Romeo!” And currently have a couple dozen Nashville themed pieces to celebrate this iconic city and culture.
R.D.: Your “I Am…” series is a beautiful collection and story of realization and becoming, perfectly suited for encaustic painting. What initially attracted you to the medium and how does the process of creating encaustic works influence your approach?
J.I.: I’ve been working in the encaustic medium for more than 10 years. There’s nothing else like it. Simply put, it’s the process of painting with pigmented beeswax and a torch. But it’s so much more than that for me. I am a storyteller and it’s my life’s mission to find fresh new and often quirky ways to translate the thoughts, feelings and visions that flow through me. The encaustic medium allows me to carve and sculpt the wax literally forming my visions into multidimensional, highly textural pieces of art. Each piece is a snapshot of a moment in time and its own unique story.
With over 60 artists and 200 works featured, there is no way that one review could even cover the surface of what Galerie Tangerine’s Holiday Show has to offer. So, check it out! It is a seriously unique experience for the Nashville community and should not be missed! And again, thank you to Jennifer Ingala for the conversation.
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Rian Dennis is a recent BA in Music and Spanish graduate from MTSU. He enjoys listening to music and watching movies, in his free time, and also has an interest in fashion. He is excited to document contemporary art and music history for the Music City Review!
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