The Project Room at JB Studio presents Upon a Time, a group exhibition curated by Sophia Ballesteros, featuring artists Corinne Bernard, Jeanne Jaffe, Joyce Billet, and Randi Renate. This exhibition explores our innate connection to nature through ecological and cognitive symbols. Each artist offers a unique perspective of time and place, reflecting on our evolving experiences on the planet and within our own consciousness.

Jeanne Jaffe’s work examines how identity is shaped by early, preverbal experiences, blending animate and inanimate elements to create pieces that are both familiar and uncanny. Fragments of the body and microscopic life intertwine, resulting in transformative objects that invite emotional and psychological responses. Joyce Billet's work similarly encourages projection, using textures found in nature to explore symmetry and organic shapes. Her abstract imagery, much like a Rorschach inkblot, allows viewers to find personal meaning, evoking a sense of recognition while remaining open to interpretation.

The symmetry, repetition, and organic shapes found within both Billet and Randi Renate’s work align with the geometric principles that inform our understanding of existence. Corinne Bernard wonders: How does the humble mollusk create perfect geometry but I can not make peace with my lack of understanding? How is truth concurrently lost and found? In an attempt to better understand tenets of philosophy and logic, perhaps the answers are best left undetermined—encouraging us to reflect on our evolving identities and continue the quest for meaning amid complexity.

Upon a Time is on view October 8 through November 18, 2024 at 4858 NW 2 Ave, Miami, FL 33127 and available for viewing by appointment. Please contact Sophia for more details: elisa@sophiaballesteros.com