Rogoway's

 Jennifer Zingg

About the Artist I was raised in the small farming town of Rome, Indiana along the Ohio River. My childhood days were spent climbing trees, playing in the creek and fishing. I have always felt inspired by the natural world. My sister and I would make little clay pots out of clay from the creek and weave baskets from honeysuckle. Throughout my life I have always looked to nature for color, texture and form. I moved to Kentucky in 1992 to study art at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro. While there, my grandfather gave me a box of gourds he had grown. He was hoping I would paint and make birdhouses out of them. I considered myself a very serious art student at the time and dismissed them as being no real medium for art. I stored the box of gourds away in the closet, later forgetting about them. When I left school a few years later, I came across the box while packing. I opened the lid and peered inside at the jumble of gourds. The image that immediately came to mind was a sentimental one of Grandpa in the garden with his straw hat on, tending to his plants. He had since passed away, so I closed the lid deciding that they would make the trip with me to Lexington. Upon arrival to my new home, I again stored the box away, unable to part with the gift I had been given and the memories they conjured of my grandfather. For the next several years I struggled to find my niche as an artist. I painted, I sculpted, yet nothing felt 'right'. I was becoming very discouraged, then I remembered the box of gourds! I grabbed my markers, pulled out a gourd and began doodling. I was immediately 'hooked' and since that day, gourds have become my niche! Sadly, my grandfather never got to see them, but I know he was watching out for me and he would have loved them. I have learned a lot about gourds since then; how to clean them, how to grow them and how they are indeed a wonderful medium for making art. I am also very intrigued and inspired by the symbolism and reverence held by the gourd in many ancient cultures all over the world. I am especially interested in gourds as they relate to motherhood, fertility and the natural world. For me, gourds are a very versatile and challenging art material. Just as a canvas is only a cloth until it is painted, a stone is only a stone until it is carved, the same holds true for the humble gourd. It is the heart and hand of the creator that can transform any medium into art. In the fall of 2007, I opened the Jennifer Zingg Studio & Gallery in downtown Frankfort. From there, I create zoological and figurative gourd sculpture and continue to research the cultural significance of gourds. I also teach a variety of art classes to children as well as host special art exhibits and sales featuring the art-work of several Kentucky artists. Frankfort is a beautiful small town with a very supportive arts community. Living and working downtown has been a wonderful experience. I look forward to this new year as I continue to add new events and classes and meet many more new friends and neighbors!