SFR Picks: Healing Powers

Local artist creates beauty from trauma

Therapeutic storytelling is the focus of Jodie Herrera’s work, and her paintings feature photorealistic women in the foreground, symbols and geometric shapes painted in petal and earth tones behind them. “All of the women who are a part of the project have a story that is carried through the painting,” Herrera says of Thrice, which opens at Van Loon Gallery on Saturday, June 25, at 5 pm.

The artist creates the works on wood with oil paint and leaves much of the naked canvas exposed behind the women, whose bodies are depicted in black. The contrast pulls your eye to the women; it makes you feel their presence. Each of the women Herrera paints is a survivor. "They have gone through traumatic experiences," she says, "from heroin addiction to a woman who has had cancer twice. All these things we may see as taboo or not want to talk about. I want to bring those up in these paintings." The symbols crown and crest behind Herrera's female figures and are directly related to their own paths to recovery. Herrera says the paintings become a part of that process for them, as well. "It gives them power over something that once had power over them," she says. "We talk about their struggles, their past, their heritage—they are very much a part of the process."

She speaks about one piece in particular that features a Diné woman, the one who had cancer twice. "She used a lot of traditional medicine in her healing," Herrera notes, "so there is a feather in her hand. Her sister gave it to her."

Over 20 women have been featured thus far, most of whom have been friends, or friends of friends, in their 20s and 30s. But as her project, now in its third year, has gained recognition, she has seen interest from a more diverse group of women; one of her future subjects, for example, is 65 years old.

"Women are resilient and multidimensional beings," the Herrera says. "I am trying to humanize the female and tell the story—it's part of their beauty." (Maria Egolf-Romero)

Thrice Opening Reception:
5-8 pm Saturday, June 25. Free.
Van Loon Gallery,
612 Agua Fría St.
670-6234

Jazz Bros

“We’ve played together for, oh, 18 years, and we’ll keep doing it until we do it right,” jazz pianist Bert Dalton jokes of his long partnership with bassist Milo Jaramillo. The pair plays an upcoming evening of Latin and Brazilian jazz at El Mesón. “It’s such an intimate space where the musicians and audiences can connect,” Dalton (sitting, at left) adds, “and we’ve been very fortunate that they provide a space for music.” Dalton says that Jaramillo will sing a few songs and adds that while the pair is professional, they’re not above a few novelty songs now and again. Sounds fun. (Alex De Vore)

Bert Dalton and Milo Jaramillo:
7 pm Thursday, June 23. Free.
El Mesón,
213 Washington Ave.,
983-6756

Silk Worm

The smallest piece in weaver Polly Barton’s upcoming show, opening at the William Siegal Gallery on Friday, is about 30 inches wide and 40 inches long, and it took quite some time to complete. “I would say there is at least three months from design, to dyeing, to weaving,” Barton, who weaves on a traditional Japanese loom designed to make kimonos says. She dyes her silk personally and is best known for the

ikat

process she employs. With her latest weavings, Barton enters new material territory. “Three of the pieces have a new fiber that’s made in Japan that is silk wrapped around a metal or copper coil,” she says. (MER)

Gardens:
5-7 pm Friday June 24.
William Siegal Gallery,
540 S Guadalupe St.,
820-3300

Intimate Settings

Brock Scott, lead singer of Little Tybee, says the members of his folk-ish band have an easy time writing together. Hell, they’ve been doing it for 12 years. “It’s almost stream-of-consciousness writing,” Scott tells SFR. “It’s a style of music that never lets you get too comfortable, but it’s accessible.” The group played GiG two years ago, and Scott says they are excited to be back. “It’s more of a listening room,” he says of the small venue. The group usually plays to audiences of anywhere between 300 and 2,000 people, so, he says, “it’s a unique experience to see us in that setting.” (MER)

Little Tybee:
7:30 pm Tuesday, June 28. $20.
GiG Performance Space,
1808 Second St.

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