"Prairie Guard" Sculpture

New Mexico natives, Jo and Jan Moore,are among those rare lifetime studio artists able to cross boundary lines, working in multi-dimensional disciplines. Their compelling sculpture draws on inspiration from nature, displaying uniquely rich surfaces, exploring the inherent tension of the elemental forces contained within the stone. Listening to the spirit of the stone, the song of the stone, Jan and Jo typically allow the stone to suggest its sculptural form, often “daring” it to an extreme, if it will allow. For more than forty years, Jan and Jo have explored artistic themes in Stone, Bronze and Oil on Canvas. Sought after both nationally and internationally, their work graces such collections as that of Spain’s The Duke of Albuquerque; multiple public installations within the collection of the Albuquerque Bio Park, including the Bronze Entry Gateway, “Deserts that Bloom in Fragrance and Flower” depicting more than 1000 cast Bronze Botanic elements. A lifetime of works round out numerous Public Installations, among them The University of New Mexico, with multiple two and three dimensional installations, and The College of Santa Fe Outdoor Sculpture Collection.
---“We share a deep bond with Mother Nature and have been interpreting her landscapes and culture through sculpture and painting for more than 40 years. There exists no separation between the creative process and daily life. For us, they are one. Our work is our solace, our meditation, our serenity. When we are working, with a clear mind, we are still. We are the vessel quietly relaying a stoic energy, lightly, effortlessly. It is a visual language, employing a visual vocabulary.Our gestures remain constant with our perceptions. We believe you must not only see a painting, a sculpture, you must feel it as well. Even when working on a canvas, first we sculpt the image…then paint it. Life-long studio artists, our recent concentration is on three-dimensional (textured) canvases with a brilliant color palette that creates an emotional response for the viewer. With contemporary and abstracted themes at the foundation, we use countless layers of texture and impasto with potent hues to create a sculpted surface exuding raw energy. The canvases are in effect relief sculptures, adding depth, casting shadows over the sculpted surfaces within the composition. All works are gallery wrapped or museum profile with painted edges, sealed, acid-free, and archival.