It would be difficult to find a more culturally rich environment to grow an artist than the south Bronx in the 1950s. These early sensory impressions were akin to living in a John Sloan painting; with fire escapes, clothes lines and stick ball. But it was later, going to school in the Chicago area, that the commitment to art was set. Exploring the Art Institute of Chicago and The Field Museum JoAnn developed a mutual admiration for contemporary artists and ancient artisans.
Both would come into play while designing textiles, murals and faux finishes for the interior design trade. As the 15 year resident artist for Twist Nightclub of Miami JoAnn payed tribute to them. Her annual transformations of the South Beach hot spot included Pompeii, Picasso, Pollack, Tibetan temple, the Audubon Room and ancient Greek pottery painting. The combination of studying these many masters and the years spent restoring and reproducing milk paint finishes for 18th century Swedish furniture heavily influenced materials used in her contemporary art. Her pallette and application are instantly recognizable.
In Nava’s first solo exhibition, Cookies & Milk, the familiar images are simplified and oversized. The next series, Happy Birthday to You and You, continues the theme of life affirming innocence with large paintings of candle lit cakes and a sculptural installation of children celebrating together. Whether you are seeing Nava’s long necked people in Chinatown or her new portrait series of older vital Americans, you can recognize the language by use of materials and intent. Milk paints, house paints and varnishes used in furniture painting and murals give the work an old world pallette. House paint as a medium brings a harmony to the eye of what we see in our environment.
"My art is an appreciation of the simple daily experience and the rituals we create to celebrate and validate our existence."
