Show Pony at RE:View Contemporary Gallery

Jaclyn Schanes

Detroit is poor in a number of respects, but no one can fault this town for the wealth it possesses in youthful talent. Convincing proof of that assertion will be submitted on July 31 with "Show Pony" - a one-night stand with the art of Jaclyn Schanes taking place at RE:View Contemporary Gallery. The occasion will likely mark the beginning of a long-term relationship between you and she - especially since interest in this painter and musician is growing with every passing week.

Jaclyn Schanes is 26, an alumna of the College for Creative Studies, and the only woman we know who can cite fashion design and glassblowing on the same page of her resume. Actually, fashion design is on the second (or third?) page along with such equally eclectic pursuits as photography and songwriting. Of that latter talent, it may be worth noting that an appearance at the 2008 Detroit Fringe Festival prompted one critic to describe her music as "Captain Beefheart meets Edith Piaf." We double-checked that one carefully and yes, it was meant to be a compliment.

And by the way, if any of this is conjuring up a picture in your mind of an energized, focused, and funny(!) woman, great - that means we're succeeding. But if you still haven't grasped the remarkable spirit that truly animates this woman, you owe it to yourself to meet Schanes in person. The words here will pale in comparison.

At CCS you worked with glass which seems to be 180 degrees opposite from painting. But "Show Pony" is mostly paintings, right? Why the change in medium?
My dear sir, BOTH happen to be a liquid that one has to control. Thus, in both mediums I am the dominate party and the liquid is submissive to me. In life, people do not have control over everything. So, when it comes to art, I choose a material I can master and (for the most part) bend to my will.

When was the first time in your life that art or culture moved you?
At age five, four feet away from a television set. “Enjoy the Silence” by Depeche Mode came on MTV. Images of a king walking through foothills and sounds so sad Lamb Chops would have gone on Prozac ... these burned in my eyes till tears fell. The way that video made life and land so gigantic and humans so tiny in comparison scared me. I remember it was the first time I felt a pain from a sadness prompted by mere sight and sound. There was no outside source affecting me - just the music and that particular video.

Did you find expressionism or did it find you?
For some time I considered myself a 3D artist with a brush in hand. I had less education in 2D than 3D. When it came to watercolors, I knew I wanted to paint with a brutal hand. Watercolor is such a dainty, delicate medium. Combining a harsh hand with soft color became an exquisite game for me. When I presented my paintings to the public at earlier group shows, I was given the label neo-expressionist. Now, I accept that statement and I certainly think it's complimentary but I was originally more interested in people who "take over" space. Matthew Barney, for instance. As it turns out, I have found a new love in Egon Schiele and others like him.

Bet you were the most popular girl in school, someone that everyone wanted to be friends with. Class president?
Quite the contrary, I was taunted and teased. I was called names this publication cannot print for simply wearing attire that suited me. I was always a lone wolf and dug my half-shaved head inside sketchbooks. There, I fought the outside world with my pen as my weapon, but it truly was a private battle. "Show Pony" is my surrender to the public, hands up, weapons down, ready for whatever may come…

There is in fact a surprising amount of secrecy surrounding this performance/exhibit. Without giving too much away, can you summarize what "Show Pony" will reveal visually and through sound?
Mystery is the machine I am using to excite the public. "Show Pony" is everything I am at present - wrapped up in one two-hour performance. I want to create a versatile mood through sight and sound and give the viewer/listener a chance to experience the naked pockets of my brain. My best ideas come from transcendental meditation or just showering or whatever busy work I happen to be engaged in at the moment. So, if one attends the show, they just might hear what my washing machine sounds like with me crying over it. "Show Pony" will be a test of both my mental and physical strength.