Glenna Gannon

“I was born and raised in Alaska. I am deeply rooted and connected to this land. I continue to nurture my connection through backcountry hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, and boating, as well as living a partial subsistence lifestyle. In doing so, I meet many of Alaska’s residents. Few things excite the imagination like the presence of wild animals. Here in Alaska we are exceptionally lucky in that they live not just near us, but among us. I create art as a way to re-explore my own interpretations of the landscape and its inhabitants. I am interested in how these species are integrated into their environments and the seasonal changes they are so intimately tied to. My art is not always inspired directly from a specific place or event, but rather from dreamed experiences of places I have been. For me this is sometimes a better and more lucid way to interpret my feelings or impressions from a certain location or experience. In my art I am trying to discover what makes a particular place or moment unique and special to me and to then convey some aspect of that visually for others.”

PROCESS and MATERIALS

“I prefer woodcuts because so much is left to chance due to the nature, and grain of the wood used. I enjoy using the natural grain of the wood to enhance the texture and atmosphere in my prints, it adds an unexpected, organic quality to the work that could not otherwise be achieved. For the same reasons, I use handmade Japanese paper for printing. It often incorporates irregular elements that I find fascinating, and proves to be the best medium for further enhancing the wood’s grain and achieving layers of translucence. Due to the aforementioned choices in materials, each print has slight variations that make it unique. I create art as a way to re-explore my own interpretations of the landscape and its inhabitants. I am interested in how these species are integrated into their environments and the seasonal changes they are so intimately tied to.”