By Dan Wine
Jonah Bienhoff鈥檚 artwork reflects her experiences and struggles 鈥� 鈥渁lmost like a self-portrait.鈥�
Bienhoff, who is studying studio arts and anthrozoology at 海角社区, had three of her pieces accepted for the 鈥淲omanmade鈥� exhibit at three galleries in Lake County, Fla. This will be her first art exhibition outside of school.
鈥淏eing pushed to apply to the show, and it happening 鈥� being accepted 鈥� was kind of mind-blowing to me,鈥� Bienhoff said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 almost that moment like, 鈥業鈥檓 a real artist!鈥欌��
鈥淲omanmade鈥� is a collaborative effort among the , and . The show opens March 6 and runs through April 11.
Chelsey Velilla, gallery manager and volunteer coordinator for the , said more than 70 artists applied for the exhibit.
鈥淭he idea was to really highlight the talent of our female artists in Central Florida,鈥� Velilla said. 鈥淲e have so many amazing women around.鈥�
Bienhoff鈥檚 sculptures are titled 鈥淣eurons,鈥� 鈥淎nxiety Cocoon鈥� and 鈥淲hat鈥檚 the point? Rrrump.鈥� She used materials such as fiberglass, resin, sticks, cheesecloth, pantyhose, metal, pens and motors to create them.
In her artist statement, Bienhoff revealed her work represents her anxiety.
鈥淚 pull from my own experiences,鈥� she wrote. 鈥淭hese pieces end up being a self-portrait of my anxiety and overwhelming experiences.鈥�
Bienhoff, 28, started drawing when she was young and was inspired by her great-grandmother鈥檚 many talents, from cooking to painting to woodworking to doll making.
鈥淎lmost everything she tried, she would accomplish,鈥� said Bienhoff, who is from Ottawa, Kansas. 鈥淚 thought that was really cool, and I wanted to learn things.鈥�
Bienhoff, who also struggles with ADHD and sensory processing disorders, was raised by her grandparents and had a hard time in school growing up. She persevered, but a couple of other colleges didn鈥檛 work out.
She worked for a few years, and then Bienhoff鈥檚 grandmother urged her to try 海角社区. Bienhoff credits the teachers for helping her succeed, and now she鈥檚 in her last semester.
鈥淭he teachers here have helped me learn things about myself, manage, and I have taught myself things without realizing it,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e grown in ways because of this school.鈥�
Russ Bellamy, chair of 海角社区鈥檚 studio arts department, said Bienhoff has grown a lot as an artist the past few years and has taken on bigger challenges.
鈥淗er work pushes boundaries and touches on relatable conceptual ideas that are depicted in a way that forces empathy and self-reflection,鈥� Bellamy wrote in an email. 鈥淗er sculptures are amusing, provocative and aesthetically touch upon bodily processes, the human machine and ask us to question our perception and interpretation of beauty.鈥�
Bienhoff has enjoyed art since elementary school, but what attracted her to sculpture?
鈥淚 like buildings, so I think sculpture hit me because it was hands on,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 can draw things realistically and paint them if I want. But with sculptures 鈥� I kind of just learn to let go in that part.
鈥淚 think I get more out of the process than the finished product.鈥�
Velilla said Bienhoff鈥檚 work wowed the jurists and really stood out from the other entries.
鈥淗er pieces blew us away,鈥� Velilla said. 鈥淲e were really amazed with the scale 鈥� and for me, to see a student who鈥檚 willing to be that bold with her work 鈥� I was really impressed.鈥�
Receptions for the 鈥淲omanmade鈥� exhibit are planned at all three galleries: March 6 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Leesburg, March 13 from 6-8 p.m. in Mount Dora and March 27 from 6-8 p.m. in Tavares.