MFA Printmaking, Room 260 F
Jess Santana
“If I Were a Fish,” 5.5" x 3" , Hand cut paper, marker, colored pencil, metal brads
Jess Santana’s works typically utilize animal imagery as motifs for mental and physical health issues and to emphasize the general lack of empathy for others and our environment that they see in our current world. A connection was formed between her own experiences and those of “disposable” animals such as birds, woodland creatures, and fish – specifically the goldfish. She draws her own empathy from her relationship with her pets and from having witnessed people brush off the lives of animals quickly in the same way they brush off others’ invisible ailments.
As they aim to bring to light this message of caring more for others, both human and animal, Santana uses campy, cute, humorous, and high contrasting imagery to best illustrate their thoughts. With her works, she hopes to create an opening for conversation to be had with people of all ages, especially younger children so they may be able to better appreciate the lives of animals and make friends with their own anxieties sooner, as she wishes she had been able to. Her interdisciplinary processes allow her to experiment with different materials and mediums to create varied tones of voice.
Jess Santana
Jess Santana is an interdisciplinary artist from northern New Jersey focusing largely on papermaking, printmaking, photography, and sculpture. Through her works, she strives to find the humor in less-than-ideal situations and aims to provide comfort within these uncomfortable topics.
Santana received their Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from William Paterson University and is currently pursuing an MFA in Printmaking from Tyler School of Art and Architecture within Temple University. Previously, she interned at EFA’s Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop as a teaching assistant and continues to do volunteer work with them. She has exhibited and had residencies at Wassaic Project as well as been part of Snowfarm: The New England Craft Program’s work study program. Their photographs have been used in articles for National Audubon Society and received awards from groups such as International Photography Awards.