Jan Wright's story
Jan grew up in Austin and graduated with a BFA in Art Education All Level from the University of Texas in 1970. Because her father's job was university oriented, summers were spent camping all over the West with her family. She remembers as a child feeling transformed by a strange familiarity when visiting Mesa Verde, Taos Pueblo, Zion, and the Grand Canyon. Little did she know one day she would be drawn to living near these magical places in the Southwest.
Upon moving to Salt Lake City with her husband, many hikes, explores, backpacks, and ski adventures became so available in the surrounding country. After doing an exhibit of intricate macrame and weaving, and as a result developing tendonitis in both wrists, Jan began her watercolor career. In spite of doing major remodeling and selling of homes, Jan managed to produce two one woman shows of her watercolors as well as participate in several invitational exhibits under the name of Jan Burke. Two gifted and beautiful daughters came from the marriage that would end after twenty-four years.
In her subsequent self discovery, Jan found herself more and more in the deserts of southern Utah, exploring rock art and ruins with fellow artist friends, becoming close to a Dine (Navajo) family, and studying on and off with a Hopi trained shaman. She created paintings for two more exhibits of southwest landscapes, one of which toured four galleries and museums in southern Utah, and "A Return to Texas" exhibit of oversized watercolors that showed in two venues in Austin, Texas.
Perdernal from the Kiva entrance, Abiquiu NM
Drawn to the heart of the Southwest, Jan then moved to fifty-two acres on the edge of wilderness in the shadow of Cerro Pedernal in northern New Mexico, camped out on her land for five months, and supervised the construction of her straw bale home and an underground Kiva (a round, ceremonial chamber of pueblo origin representing the womb of Mother Earth) in which to do pipe ceremony and healing work. She also created a large Chartres~like Labyrinth, a fire circle, and two Medicine Wheels. Jan played Native flute for a wedding, funeral, meditation group, a Labyrinth walk for 9-11, and journeys into the underworld she facilitated.
In spite of teaching workshops, having nine more one woman shows of her watercolors and being in several exhibits, shops, galleries, and art and metaphysical fairs, Jan could not seem to break into the art scene of Santa Fe or Taos. Eight years later in 2007, with funds dwindling, she turned to selling her beautiful home and land and relocating in southwestern Colorado. Thirty-five acres of old growth pinon and juniper overlooking the Mesa Verde range, her passive solar, partially underground home needed massive remodeling.
Sunset on Mesa Verde Range from Jan's portal, Mancos CO
"Nesting" now nearing an end, Jan joined Artisans of Mancos, a cooperative gallery in the heart of the little artist community nearest Mesa Verde, and was then asked to provide an exhibit of watercolors of dwellings and ancient pueblos as well as Mesa Verde scenes for the Far View Lounge at Mesa Verde National Park. Expected to remain throughout the 2009 season, this exhibit is ever growing and changing.
Jan looks forward to concentrating on enlarging and printing her revised 'Hands of the Ancients' Medicine Cards, creating paintings for 'Native Wisdom Cards ~ A Childs Connection to Nature through Native Stories' and the accompanying book, and completing her short story collection 'Animal Encounters ~ A Spiritual Awakening Quest.' Life is full, and Jan is happier than she has ever been. One who visits her land will no doubt hear the lilting strains from her Native flute, blessing the landscape, its animals, and the Ancient Ones who once resided there.