Expressing Joy with Creativity & Jacques Dorier!
When I am feeling blue, one thing I can count on to cheer me up is to visit the website of Jacques Dorier!
There you can see the beautiful sculptural art by Jacques. You can hear his jaunty music. And, you can see fun photos of exuberant Jacques.
Describing his creative life, he states that he is a “Jacques of all trades” in creativity.
He writes:
I alternate between different ways of expressing my creativity.
At times I will be a musician, a sculptor, a mixed media artist (paper and fabric), a milliner, a cloth designer, an upholsterer. I have been a circus performer too in the past.
All these experiences molded me into who I am today...
But deep inside, I am foremost a musician singer songwriter, and then a mixed media artist.
—Jacques Dorier, email to Mary Dezember
Sharing Joy
If I were to sum up in one word Jacques’ art, music and creative vision, this word would be JOY.
Joy. What a wonderful word to ponder. I think creativity should be joyful. Of course, there is the angst that can accompany the process of creating art to “be” what it is to “be.” And there can be frustration with not being recognized for one’s art. For the creative soul, it seems to me that recognition of one’s creativity ranks high.
As I stated in my blog post “Creative Spirit and the Value of Audience” of May 21, 2020:
If you are given the gift of creation, if the Muse visits you, you might need to perform your gift, your art, to your community. Sharing your “visions” could be advantageous for your own health as well as for the health of community.
—Mary Dezember, “Creative Spirit and the Value of Audience” blog post
Jacques art and music transcends the lows of the creative process and reception, gracing us with expressions of beauty and connection. While Jacques’s art and music exudes joy, he also addresses the human condition, which can at times not feel so joyful.
For example, one of his songs from 2014 speaks to us maybe now more than ever. Entitled “Hold Me Now (I’m Lonely),” I listen to this song and wonder: Who can we hold during the pandemic? Isolated, we can certainly feel lonely.
But the beat is so upbeat, I find myself starting to sway, and soon I am dancing!
You can find a video of “Hold Me Now (I’m Lonely)” on Jacques website.
Or go here, to his video on youtube.
One of Jacques’ most recent songs, “Flare From the Sun” of July 30, 2020, speaks to us of the devastation to which most can relate—that of unrequited love. But the melody and lyrics are so lovely, I am glad to find this kindred connection.
You can enjoy hearing and seeing Jacques perform “Flare From the Sun” here.
Artful Whimsy and the Resilience of the Human Spirit
Jacques’ skillful sculptural ability results from years of training and extensive hours of studio time. With an appearance of fragility, his sculptures speak of the resilience of the human spirit, as each is “a paper sculpture that is solid as a rock and non crushable” (Jacques Dorier website).
As stated on his website:
He studied the Japanese art of Washi Paper Dollmaking, also called Washi Ningyo with a Japanese Master. These dolls were entirely made of handmade papers. The foremost ambassador of Washi Ningyo is Mrs Kyoko Nakanishi in Japan.
After completing his apprenticeship, Jacques started sculpting his own characters but still dressed in Washi papers with a technique that he developed to stiffen the folds and add more flow to the sculptures. The result is a paper sculpture that is solid as a rock and non crushable.
When times are tough, which lately seems frequent, Jacques’ music and art express the joy and love of life—and are only a click away on your electronic device.
And, on Wednesday, September 2, you can hear Jacques perform, see his sculptures, and speak with him at Creatives in Conversation!
Jacques Dorier
will perform a mini-concert and will share with a display of his sculpture
at Creatives in Conversation.
Join us for musical and sculptural displays of joy and life
by Jacques Dorier!
Wednesday, September 2, 2020, 5:30 pm to 6:45 pm MT.
Note: If you already receive my newsletter, then you are on my email list, and you do not need to sign up again.
By being a newsletter subscriber, you are automatically registered for this event—you will receive the zoom link and password that provides entrance to this event via an email sent at 3:30 pm MDT the day of the event.
Musician singer song writer and mixed media artist Jacques Dorier.
Sculpture by Jacques Dorier. Photo credit: George Post
Jacques Dorier Art Gallery of Paper Sculptures and Wearable Art showcases his many talents. From creating Paper Sculpture Masterpieces to designing Wearable Art.
Jacques Dorier Paper Sculptures combine figurative sculpting, resin casting, Washi paper manipulation techniques, fine acrylic painting and a fearless imagination! This unusual combination lends itself to the creation of intricate paper sculptures with rich textural qualities.
Enjoy a fun evening of creative works and conversation with Jacques Dorier
at Creatives in Conversation!
Jacques Dorier bio from his website:
Jacques Dorier, The Musician
Jacques is a singer/songwriter who writes emotionally charged songs. His songs reflect the different emotions associated with love and relationships. He is also a storyteller who uses the song format to talk about fictitious and real characters.
A concert with Jacques is like a roller coaster of music styles, mixing uplifting songs with more intimate and reflective ballads. His European upbringing is obvious in his melodic approach to song writing, while integrating harmonies and rhythm from the New World and adding a touch of folk and bluegrass rhythm. His passion for acoustic string instruments is obvious as he brings on stage various guitars, mandolins and Irish bouzoukis.
Jacques Dorier, The Sculptor
Jacques Dorier is also a sculptor. He studied the Japanese art of Washi Paper Dollmaking, also called Washi Ningyo with a Japanese Master. These dolls were entirely made of handmade papers. The foremost ambassador of Washi Ningyo is Mrs Kyoko Nakanishi in Japan.
After completing his apprenticeship, Jacques started sculpting his own characters but still dressed in Washi papers with a technique that he developed to stiffen the folds and add more flow to the sculptures. The result is a paper sculpture that is solid as a rock and non crushable.
Blog author
Mary Dezember, PhD, is a poet and author of fiction and non-fiction. She earned her PhD in Comparative Literature, specialization in Comparative Arts, from Indiana University in 2000, with PhD minors in Art History and Performance Studies.
Professor of English, she teaches Comparative Arts, Art History, Creative Writing and Literature at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Her publications include several non-fiction essays and articles and two books of poetry: Earth-Marked Like You (Sunstone Press) and Still Howling (CreateSpace Independent Publishing). Her novel, Wild Conviction, is in the works toward publication.
As seen here, like Jacques Dorier, Mary donned a fun hat, adding a bit of whimsy to her joyful life of creativity.