Many of us who remember Judy in her various roles as a counselor, instructor, and staff development coordinator will not be surprised that her passion for art making also includes a strong commitment to building bridges in this time of “Them and Us.”
As Judy puts it in her webpage www.judyrookstoolart.com “On the canvas I want to convey the history and essence of the scenes I paint; I see art-making as a way to reduce this sense of “otherness,” in order to encourage viewers to see and respect what others may experience and to engender more empathy for the human journey.”
A glance at Judy’s webpage and recent museum and gallery exhibits reveal bold, colorful, examples of how she translates her deeply felt commitments into compelling images designed to raise questions and challenge assumptions.
Fellow artist and SJCC retiree Jim Potterton recently had a chance to pose some questions for Judy. Here are her responses.
1. Show a piece that recently has been exhibited in a museum, gallery etc. What makes showing this piece meaningful to you?
Handmaids Tell (The Triton Museum of Art Statewide Art Competition and Exhibition) Beyond the recognition of being selected in a statewide competition for the 1st time, I enjoyed exhibiting a painting with nuances of messages. I probed a popular image and placed characteristic figures on a tell – an architectural feature with buried layers of civilization – to represent layers of knowledge acquired by these archetypal women. They are three figures who are in close community within a society that tries to negate them. These handmaids (also called crones, witches or bitches) tell of those who would stifle women (and others). For me this piece is both a warning about suppression and a hope that collective knowledge and wisdom will prevail.
2. What are you currently working on? Please offer your thoughts regarding your interests and intentions in this new work.
I am working on the series, In Her Element. People play the essential part of my life: who they are, what they think and believe, how they relate to others, and what are their hopes and plans. In this series I show female figures embodying emotions and attitudes that feel very personal but also characterize many women/people. For In Her Element, I’ll continue to explore a number of ways of being – an inexhaustible source of inspiration.
3. What inspires your work? Has this changed much since retirement?
Images for possible paintings are entwined in my daily activities and they have been for a long time. Retirement has given me the precious and joyful time to focus and clarify these images and to try different styles and media to push boundaries and to depict subjects in a conversation with paint and other materials. Time has given me the opportunity to examine and clarify the origins of my expression, and I have begun to focus more on essential elements.
4. Making satisfying art means riding the risky roller coaster of joy, anguish, frustration, disappointment and excitement. How do you sustain yourself on this bumpy ride?
Some days I don’t (sustain myself). Occasionally I fall victim to self-doubt, fearing I don’t know what I’m doing and how can I possibly call myself an artist? I remind myself that art is self-expression. My work is for myself primarily: it is experimentation, problem solving, possibility, and play. While I am gratified when others like and even purchase my work because it speaks to them, I mostly enjoy a feeling of sharing. To the extent others enjoy my paintings, I encourage them to see and respect what others may experience in order to engender empathy.
If you’d like to get up-to-date on Judy’s latest art happenings, including news about her latest work and gallery exhibits, you can connect with her on her website with this link: https://www.judyrookstoolart.com/contact
Judy has an upcoming solo show titled, The Women, at Phantom Gallery at The Pierce in Downtown San Jose, which will open with a reception November 1, 2024, 5-9 pm and continue through January 11, 2025.
The Gallery is located at 2 Pierce Ave, at the 500 block of First St.