Cory Jaeger's pastel and paper work is titled "The Making of Little Ladies"."Pressed Beneath a Heavy Sky"--new pastel works by Billings artist Cory Jaeger--will be featured at the Toucan Gallery on Montana Avenue through June and July.
In these personal pieces, Jaeger explores repression in women's lives.
"Not long ago, when I visited my great-aunt in North Dakota to celebrate her 80th birthday, I came to realize that that vast, flat and open landscape had undoubtedly shaped my life--even though I was born and raised in Billings," said Jaeger. "I realized that the harsh practicality of that farming culture rubbed my spirit raw. But I realized, too, that same harshness had given me my sense of integrity and an iron-clad work ethic."
In addition, Jaeger noted, "that same environment had also convinced me that my creativity was somehow a disfiguring, shameful flaw. This show is for all those women, who are sorting through all the 'shoulds' and striving valiantly to reclaim who they truly were before they were made into nice little ladies."
Jaeger conducts a variety of workshops and classes in the region. In addition to the Toucan Gallery, Sutton West in Missoula, the Danforth Gallery in Livingston and iTheo.com of San Francisco represent her.
Her work has been selected for nationally juried competitions.
"Pressed Beneath a Heavy Sky" shows through June and July at the Toucan Gallery, 2505 Montana Avenue. The public is invited to meet the artist at the opening night reception at the Downtown Artwalk tonight from 5 to 9 pm. For more information, call the Toucan Gallery at 252-0122.
