Stray Kat
2008
Photo-Intaglio                                      

Jenna Kirkwood            
Residence: Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland
Birthplace: Belfast, County Down, Northern Ireland

Jenna Kirkwood’s work is an outward expression of her religious faith, and her prints portray ideas of contemplation, relaxation, and meditation.

“My work is an outward expression of my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and I seek to visually communicate his lordship and unfailing love.”

She is particularly inspired by the physicality, the sound, and the feel of water, using it as a metaphor to express the centrality that the Christian faith holds in her life.

“I am interested in the juxtaposition of structured marks and fluid abstract forms, and how they are enhanced by each other. Other imagery that inspires me is that of Islamic art and Moorish design. I love layering paper stencils over one another to see what different visual effects it makes, I am intrigued by cutting each paper stencil by hand and moving these drawings into the printmaking process.”

The main printmaking process that I use is called Photo-intaglio, and the word ‘intaglio’ comes from the Italian language, meaning ‘carved, or recessed’. In order for me to make my prints I have to first draw my image onto transparent or translucent film or paper, and then expose the drawing, using ultraviolet light onto a light sensitive sheet of steel or copper, also known as a ‘plate’. The emulsion on the plate hardens where it receives exposure, and the softer areas will be eaten away and become the recesses that hold the ink for printing.

A 2007 graduate from the University of Ulster, Belfast, receiving a BA Hons in Art & Design, specializing in Printmaking, and since 2007, Jenna Kirkwood has been a member of the Seacourt Print Workshop in Bangor, Northern Ireland. In 2007, she was a recipient of a prestigious Seacourt Graduate Programme Award, providing one year of support for a gifted artist making the transition to professional practice.

Education
BA [Hons] Art & Design [2:1, Specializing in Printmaking], University of Ulster, Belfast, Northern Ireland [2004–07]

2008
‘Unique Repetition’, Group Exhibition, Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick, Northern Ireland
‘Technique’, Seacourt Print Workshop Exhibition, Artzyard, Portaferry, Northern Ireland
‘Small Prints, Big Imagination’, Group Exhibtion, The Loft Gallery, Portaferry, Northern Ireland
‘Collection’, Group Exhibition, Seacourt Print Workshop Exhibition, The Yard Gallery, Holywood, Northern Ireland
‘LadyFest Cork’, Cork, Ireland
‘Be Still & Know’, Solo Exhibition, Ja Ja Gallery, Bangor, Northern Ireland
‘Star Prints’ [Selected by Dr. Tom Mason, MBE], Armagh Planetarium, Armagh, Northern Ireland
‘Long Remebered, Not Forgot….’ [Selected by Angela Darby], Group Exhibition, Ross’ Fine Art Galleries, Belfast, Northern Ireland

2007
Seacourt Annual Member Show, Bangor, Northeren Ireland
‘Unique Repetition’, Seacourt Print Workshop Exhibition, SpaceCRAFT, Belfast, Northern Ireland
‘Homebase to our Place’, Seacourt Print Workshop Exhibition, Homebase, Bangor, Northern Ireland
Seacourt Print Workshop Exhibition, Battletown Gallery, Newtownards, Northern Ireland
Final Year Exhibition, University of Ulster, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Belfast Print Workshop, Student Exhibition, University of Ulster, Belfast, Northern Ireland