The art of Bridgette Meinhold asks us to simply sit and pay attention. In a fast-paced world where there never seems to be a break in sight, the act of noticing, especially in nature, is more powerful than ever. This is the driving force behind Meinhold’s newest body of tranquil, at times melancholic, landscapes, which will be shown during an upcoming show at Gallery Wild.
The Way Out is Through, encaustic and milk paint, 36 x 54 in.
“I adore nature, for a zillion reasons honestly, but lately I am really drawn to the healing quality of being present in any environment,” she says. “I realized that even though I do spend a lot of time outdoors, it wasn’t always quality time. I was often distracted, and so I am trying to be more grounded in my approach to being outside and practicing where I place my attention. Observing, sitting, being still, not trying to do anything except be.
Terrain, encaustic and casein, 36 x 54 in.
“For me, art has a similar effect—can we just sit with it? Can we notice what we are experiencing? Can we pay attention to what is bubbling up within us and consider it? Like in nature, there is no right or wrong answer; there are a multitude of answers, and it’s all just about directing our attention to what we need or want. Art has always been subjective; the meaning is in the eye of the beholder.”
The artist isn’t intending to enforce a specific meaning or experience on her viewers, but rather, to create a restful space where each person can discover their own meaning.
Deeply Ingrained, encaustic and milk paint, 30 x 30 in.
Meinhold works with less common mediums like wax-based encaustic and milk-based casein. Encaustic is known for its enamel-like luminosity, while casein typically dries with a velvety matte finish, but can be buffed to achieve a shinier texture.
“Long ago, I fell in love with encaustic because there was so much you could do with it, and it gave me so many directions to experiment with and possibilities to explore,” Meinhold explains. “I eventually settled into a groove with the encaustic and casein creating my atmospheric landscapes, for which I am known for. But I always have experimented, either with watercolor, living inks that I made, forest fire charcoal, and now with cold wax and oil. I am excited by all the possibilities, and my mind is usually playing around with at least a few ideas.”
Rewilding, oil and cold wax on panel, 25 x 40 in.
Attention is Devotion will hang at Gallery Wild from March 12 to 22, with an artist reception on opening day from 5 to 8 p.m. —
Gallery Wild 80 W. Broadway » Jackson Hole, WY 83001 » (307) 203-2322 » www.gallerywild.com
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