| At Home with Janine Kelleher |
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| Tuesday, 02 November 2004 | |
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by Kristin Hahn I had the distinct pleasure to sit down with world traveler, and accomplished artist, Janine Kelleher. I did not want it to be a formal and constrained interview, but rather a conversation of viewpoints, experiences, outlooks, and artistic expression. Although I did have to ask some of those oh so predictable questions here is what I took away from our conversation......
She started formal schooling at the Art Institute of Chicago, but never did pick one particular art form or major and graduated with a degree in Fine Art. She was hungry to absorb anything and everything and took classes from bookbinding, photography, welding, and even spent a summer working at a glass blowing studio. Because of this Janine has an exceptionally eclectic and unique background. She is able to draw from so many mediums that it brings richness and depth to all of her art. She sees her path as one big creation and pulls from life experiences to have that reflect in her work. She has traveled to India, Italy, and throughout Mexico and says that all of these show through, not only in her work, but in her life as well. Using life, creation, and unity to channel her own creative expression, she shares a bit of artistic advice, “Embrace it. You can control your own motivation, but you have to nurture your art form and develop it like a baby. If you pay attention and change when you need it to change, there is no end to the possibilities ."
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Originally from New York City Janine was trained as a formal ballet dancer from the age of 4. By the time she was 16 years old she had over 12 years of dancing experience, and discipline, but as she reflects back on it, not much of a social life. Due to an injury she had to take some time off and realized she liked having the freedom of being a “regular” teenager. Because of her training as a dancer she was always part of, and inspired by, the visual arts, and after she decided to take a break from dancing her art form transformed into an incredible life path.
She loved the pulse of New York City and drew inspiration from museums, and galleries getting lost in the streets and taking it all in to create and experience herself as an artist. Eleven years ago she started coming to Playa del Carmen and has now called it home for the last 6 years. She now pulls from a different form of inspiration, where New York had the constant pulse of a huge city; she feels that Mexico has something quite different to offer her as an artist “There is a different type of pulse here in Mexico, one of nature and history”, Janine claims, and she uses it to create dynamic imagery showcasing unique environments. Although one art form that has come through strongly with Janine is furniture design, she says that it has now taken on a life of its own. Through growing and “….creating my own sanctuary, a womb where I can be, and get lost in, my own internal lighting source, I can now help develop the same for other people as well.” Janine states. 
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