JAKE WATLINGBIO Jake Watling spent his early childhood in central Florida, Ohio, and Minnesota. Having lived in many different places, he became interested in documenting his environment. He records his daily ideas and experiences through drawing, painting, photography, and writing. Watling is concerned about showing and experiencing life from different perspectives. He uses the different perspectives to open his eyes and the viewersÕ eyes to new ideas about the world that we live in. He forms his imagery by combining his recorded ideas and experiences with a personal language of signs and symbols. The signs and symbols take many forms, including: architecture, signage, people, animals, etc. His recent work investigates subjects such as fear, money, myth, and religion. Watling utilizes a graphic style with a bright color palette that is formed by simplifying the given imagery and extracting colors used within the urban environment. STATEMENT 4 Directions: International Blvd. Oakland-based artist Jake Watling chose the prominent International Boulevard for the subject of his new mutlimedia installation in Swarm's project space, 4 Directions: International Blvd. The title is inspired by the Native American spiritual belief in the power of the four cardinal directions: North, South, East and West. The belief is that each direction offers its own lessons and powers to guide one to their true self. Since Jake moved to Oakland in the late 1990's he has been drawn to International Boulevard out of visual interest. As he spent more time and did more research on the boulevard he became equally interested in capturing its spirit. Jake built a roof mount for his car so he could take moving footage. He also walked many blocks of the boulevard with his camera, engaging with people and documenting street life, the architecture, signage, and businesses. The project space at Swarm Gallery will be transformed into a space that metaphorically transports the viewer to International Boulevard and possibly reveals something to the viewer about themselves while they interact with the installation. This project has informed Jake's own perspective of his life and future. PRESS JAKE WATLING, East Bay Express, 2011 JAKE WATLING, Diablo Magazine, Aug 18, 2008 Copyright © 2011 Swarm
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