Artist Statement

"As the world's population reaches 7 billion, raw wilderness is quickly
disappearing and being replaced by human development. It has become
increasingly difficult to experience the natural world without being reminded of man's impact upon the environment. Water and land once plentiful and pristine is becoming more and more precious.

My concept for this project came to me while struggling to find a vista in South Florida unaffected by human impact. I yearned to find an expanse of pristine wilderness amid the congestion of Broward County. We have a complex and diverse landscape encompassing ocean, beach, hardwood hammock and Everglade environments. Within these habitats live countless numbers of fish, insects, plants and animals. All these creatures are competing with humans for their share of water and space. Through this project I wanted to depict a Florida yet untouched by man. To imagine a place stretched out from ocean to everglade abundant with land and water, plants and animals. I imagined the viewer drawn to the sculpture and by closer observation finding hidden birds, insects, animals and indigenous creatures buried within the landscape.

We enjoy in Florida a unique and precious location. I strive to create work that reveals the magnificent complexity of Florida's nature. I would also like the viewer to imagine a Florida wild, abundant and pristine and come to love it as I do."

Jan Kolenda

Imagine Florida

Located on the Museum's Lakeside Terrace Jan will be constructing and carving the ceramic sculpture, Imagine Florida.

The Imagine Florida sculpture will be a ceramic structure 5' tall x 11' long and approximately 9"wide. (6" at the top widening to 12" at the bottom). It will resemble a scroll placed on its long edge with a fold on one end and rolled edges on the other. The scroll will depict a panoramic view of Broward County from ocean reef to beach on one side and hardwood hammock to Everglades on the other side. The surface of the sculpture will be in relief and it will also contain countless hidden creatures buried in the design.

The ceramic material will be high fired stoneware: the surface will be heavily textured and carved. I plan to use ceramic stains to create a stone like appearance using an earth tone palette of colors. The sculpture will be cut into sections, fired and later reassembled. The infrastructure will be steel and the base textured concrete for outdoor installation. The base would be wood if an indoor installation is desired.

During the project I will be working with and mentoring AP Art high school students from the schools in the Coral Springs community. They will be working with me 6 hours each week during the 10 week project learning to conceptualize, verbalize, plan, measure, implement, market and produce pieces of the sculpture.

Special AIR Ceramics Assistant: Ry Nielsen and Bob Bagley

Student Participants: Taylor Daum, Sasha Gregg, Rebecca Lowy
and Brianna Sopourn

2012 Artist-in-Residence Program Sponsors
Broward Cty Cultural Council	Funding Arts Broward
The Fresh Market	Coral Springs Festival of the Arts