Biography
Joan Erickson
February 2024
Joan Erickson was born and raised in southern Alberta but has lived all over Alberta. She is in her 4th year of a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Studio at the University of Lethbridge. After a fourteen-year hiatus from her B.F.A. due to chronic illness, Joan returned to the program to explore themes of healing, metamorphosis, transformation, renewal, and growth. She has a B. Sc. in Neuroscience from U of L and worked as a Behavior Therapist working often with violent individuals with special needs. She is a visual artist using painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, performance, and installation. Joan’s work often has an autobiographical narrative exploring symbolism and colouration. In 2023 Joan was part of group exhibitions including “Life After” at the Penny Gallery, “Fever, Dream, Blast” at U of L and “Making it Big” at CASA. Joan has also been on the Board of Director for Trap/Door ARC since March 2023.
Artist Statement
Joan Erickson
Feb 2024
In my practice I use textiles, painting, drawing, sculpture, sound, and performance to research the healing process. Engaging with symbolism of transformation and change including wings, fire, and metamorphosis. Wing imagery represents freedom, growth, and the ability to change, alleviating pain and trauma. My grandfather had a profound influence on me as an artist with trauma of his own. He grew up during the Great Depression and had a Scholarship to Art School. His cousin died in Pearl Harbour so at 17 he decided to join the Navy instead of pursuing Art. As a Navy Pilot he flew bombers in Europe. Memory of which haunted him on his deathbed. He came back to art later in life considering himself a Whimsical Dabler. I have fond memories of his studio as a child. He always made sure I had art supplies. In some of my work, I honor him and heal some of the intergenerational trauma that comes from detouring a life due to external forces.
I honor defiance against trauma.
Healing. Symbolism of transformation and change. Growth and healing are very messy and painful but can turn into something beautiful. Healing is not linear, sometimes we must open a wound to clean out an infection. Healing can leave scars. Scars can be beautiful. Pain can be beautiful. Pain can also be ugly and emotional. Find humour. Find joy. Without them pain is insurmountable. The nightmare of chronic illness. My work is about resolving who I was before Chronic illness with who I am now. What parts did I keep and what has changed? Grief. Who I wanted to be will never be. There is joy in rebirth. In change. I will always be too much for some and not enough for others. I must listen to my own voice and the creative goblins in my brain. From the depths of my subconscious. Ideas surface and tell me to create. No explanation. Just vision. So clear if I allow it.
I honor those forces that tried to take away the ability to create and see beauty in this world. There is beauty in the lesson. Performance has come naturally to me to embody a different persona, a way of painting emotion through motion. The persona varies, embodying a feeling, a memory, or mythical qualities. One is called “Joan the Wad” a mythical creature that is both benevolent and helpful. Referencing the Queen of the Cornish Pixies. I have also been researching the effects of art making as a healing process. Automatic drawing with oil pastels and repeatedly exploring a subject that speaks to me has been very therapeutic. Oil pastels smell like creativity and peace. I also enjoy using found materials and upcycling them, transforming them into something new through art. Giving cast away objects a new life. Everything deserves a chance for a new life. Everything deserves a chance to transform. To rise from the ashes of the past. I allow the materials to speak to me about what they want to become. I play. I create installations to express all the things I see in my mind. To give sensorial experiences about my firsthand experiences.
CV
Joan Erickson
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
On Instagram @joan.erickson3
Education
University of Lethbridge (2000-2008, 2022 to present)
2000-Present B. F. A. Art Studio
2000-2007 B. Sc. Neuroscience
Group Exhibitions
April 6-June 1, 2024 “Trajectories”, BFA student exhibition, CASA, Lethbridge.
March 8-15, 2024 “Fluidity”, Student Exhibition, Dr. Foster James Penny Building, Lethbridge.
June 15-Aug 19, 2024 “Making it Big in Lethbridge” Group exhibition, CASA Lethbridge.
April 6, 2023 “Fever, Dream, Blast” Senior Studio Open Studio, University of Lethbridge.
March 6-10, 2023 “Life After”, Student Exhibition, Dr. Foster James Penny Building, Lethbridge.
Spring 2000 Arts Alive and Well in the Schools, SAAG, Lethbridge.
Memberships
2023-Present. Trap Door ARC, Board member, Lethbridge, Alberta.
September 2022-present. Art Society, University of Lethbridge.
Catalogues
2023 “Fever, Dream, Blast”, University of Lethbridge.
Grants and Awards
2000 2D Award, Arts Alive and Well in the Schools, SAAG, Lethbridge.
Images
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