Artist Statement
If I could, I would detach my head and paint with my body. A good mark is more about the body than the mind—it’s the embodiment of everything I have to say in painting.
A mark needs to be right. It has to be meaningful.
The urgency that a gestural mark communicates when I eschew premeditation or a conscious methodology is significant.
My abstract paintings are informed by the scale of my body and centered around a carefully designed visual grid. The grid forms a hard and soft boundary for the work that creates a mutable tension between geometry and gestural marks. It’s a similar structure to that of a rib cage, where the organs are contained, protected, and integrated within the body.
There is a tension and release; the grid consolidates the whole, snaps it together as a means of organization and rest, allowing my gestural mark to act as spontaneous response and movement. The duality is this tension between the two; one beseeches the other. A way to organize and comprehend the chaos. A way for chaos to come together yet propel itself in a forward movement.
The energy in my paintings is almost always in a state of conflict. That process of convergence is the closest to what it feels like to be alive.
BIO
Gretchen Durst Jacobs was born in Dayton, Ohio. She holds an MFA from The University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, OH, and a BFA from Wright State University in Dayton, OH. She attended The New York Studio School, Drawing and Painting Marathons and Summer Sessions, 2000 and 2003. Recent grants include the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District, and the Individual Artist Grant for 2023. I am presently President of the Dayton Printmakers Cooperative and was the primary grant writer for a 10,000.00 Special Projects Grant awarded in June of 2024.
Gretchen’s work has been featured in nine solo exhibitions. She has shown extensively throughout Ohio, the USA at large, and Canada. Highlighted exhibitions in Ohio include Manifest Gallery, Dana Wiley Gallery, University of Cincinnati, Morgan Conservatory, The Dayton/Kyoto Print Exchange, and Ohio Northern University. Top international exhibitions include the Lambton Heritage Museum in Canada and Alten Feuerwache Loschwitz, Grafikwerkstatt in Germany and The Dayton/Kyoto Print Exchange, Kyoto Japan. Her permanent public art installations can be viewed at the Dayton Metro Library and the Kettering Government Center.
She is represented by The Dana Wiley Gallery, Dayton, Ohio. Gretchen splits her full-time studio practice between Dayton, Ohio, and Ontario, Canada. Since 2017, she has been President of the Dayton Printmakers Cooperative.
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
2008 MFA-Painting, The College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP) at the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
2000 BFA-Painting, Wright State University, Magna cum laude, Bachelor of Fine Art, Dayton, OH
1994 BA, Capital University, Columbus, OH
2000/2003 The New York Studio School, Drawing and Painting Marathons & Summer Sessions, NY, NY
1978-1980 Kent State University, Kent, OH
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025 Upcoming…solo show at The Dana Wiley Gallery, Dayton, OH
2021 Nature/Nurture, The Dana Wiley Gallery, Dayton, OH
2020 New Work - The Winds Café, Yellow Springs, OH
2018 Line, Link, Shape, University of Cincinnati, Batavia, OH
2017 New work- Line, Link, Shape, Dutoit Gallery, Dayton, OH
2014 Works by Gretchen Durst Jacobs, Middletown Arts Center, Middletown, OH
2013 Gretchen Durst Jacobs, Paintings, River Road Gallery, Grand Bend, Ontario, Canada
2012 Lake Paintings, The Glen House, Yellow Springs, OH
2010 Then and Now; Drawings & Paintings, Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH
2007 MFA Thesis Exhibition, University Galleries on Sycamore, The University of Cincinnati, OH
2004 New Work, Drawings and Paintings, Riverbend Art Center, Dayton, OH
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 Works on paper 2024, Rosewood Arts Center, Kettering, OH
Future of Female, Dayton Society of Artists, Dayton, OH
2023 45thAnnual Whitewater Valley Art Competition, Indiana University East,
Richmond, IN
Momentum, Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2022 Virtual 2022 Alumni Exhibition, New York Studio School, (Artsy)
Paint Ontario, Grand Bend, Ontario (juried)
10th Annual, Cerulean Arts Gallery, Philadelphia, PA (juried)
Not Quite Seen, 1628 LTD, Cincinnati, OH (juried)
2020 Members Show, Springfield Museum of Art, Springfield, OH (juried)
What is Push/Pull, Artists Respond, Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill, Truro, MA (juried)
Dayton & Kyoto Print Exchange, Dayton, OH & Kyoto, Japan
2019 Fall 2019 Printmaking, 1628 ART, Cincinnati, OH (juried)
National Juried Exhibition, Morgan Conservatory, Cleveland, OH
Flat File Project, Zea Mays, Florence, MA
2018 Everyday life and Urban Situations, Alten Feuerwache Loschwitz, Grafikwerkstatt, Dresden, Germany
Dayton & Kyoto Print Exchange, Dayton, OH & Kyoto, Japan
Flat File Project, Zea Mays Printmaking, Florence, MA
Artist Mentorship Program, Zea Mays Printmaking, Florence, MA
2017 Working Green, Motherbrook Arts and Community Center, Dedham, MA, (juried)
2016 Dayton & Kyoto Print Exchange, Dayton, OH & Kyoto, Japan
Dayton & Kyoto Print Exchange, Dayton, OH & Kyoto, Japan
DVAC25, The Dayton Visual Arts Center, Dayton, OH
Inaugural Members Exhibition, Dutoit Cooperative Gallery Space, Dayton, OH
2015 10th Annual Print Show, Wittenberg University, Springfield, OH
2013 National Juried Exhibition, 64 ARTS, Buchanan Center for the Arts, Monmouth, IL
Prints for Peace, The Art Academy of Cincinnati, OH (juried)
Five Rivers Metro Parks 50th Anniversary, Dayton, OH
2011 Go Figure: Drawings from the Tuesday Night Drawing Group, Robert and Elaine Stein Galleries, Wright State University, Dayton, OH
Transformation, Upper Arlington Cultural Arts Commission, Upper Arlington, OH
2010 Works on Paper 21st Annual, Rosewood Gallery, Dayton, OH (juried)
2009 The View, Rosewood Gallery, Dayton, OH
The Ohio Annual, The Zanesville Art Center, Zanesville, OH (juried)
Bicentennial Exhibition, Miami University Art Museum, Oxford, OH
2008 Works on Paper 18th Annual Dayton Area, Rosewood Gallery, Dayton, OH (juried)
2006 Invitational Salon Exhibition of Small Works, Lehigh Valley and Berks, PA (juried)
2005 Paint the Huron Shores 8th Annual Exhibition, Grand Bend, Ontario, Canada (juried)
2003 Border-to-Border 9, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN (juried)
Realism 2003, Cultural Center of Fine Arts, Parkersburg, West Virginia (juried)
2002 Small Paintings, Franklin Street Gallery, Centerville, OH, (juried)
The Still Life, The Dayton Visual Arts Center, 11th Annual Members Exhibition, Dayton, OH (juried)
2001 Ohio State Fair, Columbus, OH (juried)
Art About Town, Dayton, OH (juried)
2000 Senior Exhibition, Wright State University, Dayton, OH
1999 The View, Rosewood Gallery, Kettering, OH (juried)
Art About Town, Dayton, OH (juried)
GRANTS/AWARDS
2023 Montgomery County Arts & Cultural District, Individual Artist Opportunity Grant
2022 Mercedes Matter Award, New York Studio School, Virtual 2022 Alumni Exhibition
2020 Honorable Mention, Springfield Museum of Art Members Show, Springfield, OH
2022 Third place, Cerulean Arts Gallery, 10th Annual Juried Exhibition, Philadelphia, PA
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2016, Dayton Daily News, Connie Post, Dayton.com: http://www.dayton.com/news/entertainment/personalities/daytonian-week-gretchen-jacobs/nrJPT/
2013, Dayton City Paper, Jud Yalkut, “If a Tree Falls short show at DVAC,” Vol. 10, No. 25, June 18-24
2013, Dayton Daily News, Meredith Moss, “Metro Parks kicks off 50th anniversary with ‘Treasurers’, The Exhibit will open at the Schuster, then travel,” April 6, Visual Arts
2010, Ohio Northern, flickr, http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Gretchen+Durst+Jacobs, "Gretchen Durst Jacobs’ Exhibit," October 18 – November 14
2007, Dayton Daily News, Pamela Dillon, “Wright State alumni exhibit marks 40 years,” July 5, Z1-13
2007, Dayton Daily News, Pamela Dillon, “Gov. Strickland exhibiting work of locals,” August 5, D23
2004, Dayton Daily News, Pamela Dillon, “Artist’s work brings the outdoors indoors,” December 12, Arts & Entertainment, F3.
2004, Dayton Daily News, Pamela Dillon, “DVAC Annual Auction an Artsy Affair,”
April 20, E1
2004, Dayton City Paper, Jud Yalkut, “From Valleys to Lowlands, The art of Gretchen Durst Jacobs,” Vol. 2, no. 38 Dec. 22, Arts and Culture.
2002, Dayton Daily News, Pamela Dillon, “STILL LIFE,” July 21, C3
1996, Dayton Daily News, Kathy Whyde Jesse, “ART: Museum plans gallery,” May 27, Metro Today 1B
1996, Dayton Daily News, Anne Kallas, “The Art Source Gallery showcases area talent,” August 21, Z3
RESIDENCIES
2022 Brown Pink Studio, R&F Handmade Paints, Kingston, NY
2020/2021 The Yellow Chair Virtual Art Salons & Lecture Series with Michael David, Brooklyn, NY
2018 Grafikwerkstatt, Dresden, Germany
2018 Zygote Press, Cleveland, OH
2016 Zea Mays Printmaking, Florence, MA
2013 The Jentel Artist Residency Program, Banner, WY
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
2023-2019 and 2012-2016 President, Dayton Printmakers Cooperative, Dayton, OH
2019-2017 Vice President, Dayton Printmakers Cooperative, Dayton, OH
2003-2008 Dayton Visual Arts Center, Board of Trustees-Secretary, Dayton, OH,
2003 DVAC Art Auction Chair, 2002 - Art Auction Co-Chair
LECTURES / WORKSHOPS / CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2023 Artist talk, C2C Artist Collective
2020 Painting Workshop, Dana Wiley Gallery, Dayton, OH
2018 Presentation/Workshop, University of Cincinnati, Batavia, OH
2016 Workshop, Taft Museum Art, Cincinnati, OH
2016 DVAC 25, Dayton, OH, (co-host print blitz with The Dayton Printmakers Cooperative and the Dayton Visual Arts Center)
2013 If a Tree Falls, The Dayton Visual Arts Center, Dayton, OH, (co-curated exhibition and poetry with poet Aimee Noel)
2013 Workshop, Dayton Metro Parks, Dayton, OH
2011 Presentation, University of Cincinnati, Batavia, OH
2010 Lecture/Presentation, Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH
2009 Lecture/Presentation, Miami University Art Museum, Oxford, OH
COMMISSIONS/COLLECTIONS
2017-2018 Zea Mays Printmaking Archive and Flat File, Florence, MA
2016 Commissioned Painting for The Dayton Metro Library/Re-Imagining Works,
Dayton, OH
2010 Kettering Government Center, CitiSites Collection, Kettering, OH
2008 Ohio Governor’s Residence, Columbus, OH
Various private collections
TEACHING
2008-2014 Adjunct Professor, Wright State University, Dayton, OH
2007-2008 Adjunct Professor, Miami University, Oxford, OH
2006-2007 Adjunct Professor, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
2001-2003 Adjunct faculty, Stivers School for the Arts, Dayton, OH