Jackson Junge Gallery is pleased to present their second group exhibition of the year, TACTILE TERRAIN, featuring the artwork of thirty-two artists. The exhibition celebrates techniques passed down by artists and craftspeople for generations, with handcrafted work made from fiber, textiles, weaving, woodwork, pottery, ceramics and more.

TACTILE TERRAIN brings together artists whose work draws directly from the earth, composed of natural elements and inspired by organic textures and forms. The mediums represented are either found in nature or derived from natural materials. Imagination facilitated by the human hand spins these materials into works of art, a collaboration between artist and nature. The exhibition is filled with beautiful earth tones and varied textures, providing an experience that invites viewers to slow down and reconnect.

Local artist Pamela Penney exemplifies this connection with nature in her piece “Outside In”. Framed in a salvaged window, the work features twigs, seed pods, grasses, and flowers gathered on walks with her dogs. Her process of composing a piece begins out in the wild, where she curates and composes her finds before bringing the chosen pieces home and weaving them together with hand-spun yarns. Penney uses the terrain surrounding her as both inspiration and medium, resulting in work that feels as if it were grown, not made - nature woven through the artist’s hands. 

Capturing that moment of inspiration in nature is Karen Remsen’s “Sylvan”. The mixed media painting replicates the immersive feeling of walking down a lush forest path. Remsen used thousands of strung beads to bring texture and shine to the leaves framing the painted subject, a portrait of a woman peeking through the leaves, as well as crushed green stone that you might imagine crunching under your feet as you walk. “Sylvan” represents the sensory experience of losing oneself in nature, and the magic of being fully in the moment.

Shelly Brucar’s fiber collage asks us to take advantage of the moments we have left. “While There is Still Time” focuses on the beauty of the life found within our coral reefs, while stressing the need to protect them from the devastating effects of climate change. The collage is bursting with color, in contrast to the bleached white corals lining our coasts. The piece is both beautiful and sobering, a reminder of what is at stake if we fail to protect our fragile ecosystems.

Chicago-based ceramicist Drew Reynolds brings movement into the gallery with interactive sculptures like “Nebulous”, a ceramic piece designed to rotate freely when engaged by the viewer. “Nebulous” is an undefined form intended to be viewed from any angle, rather than having a fixed orientation. The result is a sculpture that feels dynamic, alive, and ever-changing, while including the viewer in the process. His piece is joined by other organic, abstract sculptures in the exhibition, like Celia Greiner's wood sculpture “Cells”. Greiner’s stacked sculpture places just as much importance on the empty space within the forms as the forms themselves. The grain of maple wood adds a beautiful element of texture and line to the interiors of the piece, inviting the viewer to experience the space between them.

Kelly McKaig’s “The Sum and the Parts” pays homage to the tradition of stitching - one of the oldest textile arts. The piece is composed of corks sewn together with vintage cotton thread to create a curtain-like installation. McKaig places importance on the social aspect of stitching, saying, “For me, stitching is a companion activity. It’s something taught and practiced among the women in my family, taking place in and around the goings-on of everyday life. Indeed, it is an endeavor that brings and binds people together…” “The Sum and the Parts” emphasizes the communal and generational nature of textile work.

 In TACTILE TERRAIN, Jackson Junge offers a group exhibition featuring artwork that takes us back to our roots and celebrates the oldest forms of making. Whether it be ceramics, textiles, wood or stone, each piece highlights the beauty and versatility of natural materials.

TACTILE TERRAIN will be on view at Jackson Junge Gallery May 12th – June 29th, 2025. The gallery will be holding the exhibition’s opening reception on Friday, May 16th, from 6 pm - 10 pm, free and open to the public. It is curated by Owner Chris Jackson, Gallery Director Kaitlyn Miller and Gallery Assistant Maddie Kirmse.