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Jan Harrison facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Jan Harrison Portrait
Photo by Marlis Momber

Jan Harrison was born on December 18, 1944, in West Palm Beach, Florida. She is an American artist who creates paintings and sculptures. Her artwork often shows animals. She explores ideas about animal feelings, thoughts, and how they connect to people and our shared human experience.

Jan Harrison's art is inspired by a way of thinking called deep ecology. This idea suggests that all living things are connected and important. Her work helps us explore our inner thoughts and feelings. She has shown her art in many places across the United States and in other countries. Her art is also featured in a book called In The Making: Creative Options for Contemporary Art.

Jan Harrison also performs something unique called "Animal Tongues." She speaks and sings using special sounds, not regular words. She often performs this alongside her visual art. She has received six awards for her art. In 2019, she was the very first person to receive the Recharge Foundation Fellowship for New Surrealist Art from the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA). Today, Jan Harrison lives and works in New York’s Hudson Valley.

About Jan Harrison's Art

Jan Harrison's artwork is special because it focuses on animals. She believes animals have souls and their own ways of communicating. Her art helps people think about how animals fit into our lives. It also makes us consider our own inner thoughts and feelings.

Exploring Animal Themes

Harrison's paintings and sculptures often feature different kinds of animals. She uses these animal images to talk about bigger ideas. These ideas include how we connect with nature and the deeper parts of our minds. Her art can make you feel like you are looking into a dream world.

Deep Ecology and Art

The idea of deep ecology is very important to Jan Harrison's art. This philosophy teaches that humans are just one part of nature. It says that all living things, like animals and plants, have value. Harrison's art helps to share this message. It encourages us to respect and understand the natural world around us.

Unique Performances

Besides her visual art, Jan Harrison also performs "Animal Tongues." This is a unique way she expresses herself. She uses sounds and vocables, which are like musical sounds without specific words. She often performs "Animal Tongues" while her art is on display. This creates a full experience for people who see her work.

Awards and Recognition

Jan Harrison has received many awards for her artistic talent. These awards show how important and respected her work is in the art world.

Grants and Fellowships

She has been given six grants for her art projects. A grant is money given to an artist to help them create new work. In 2019, she received a very special award. It was the first-ever Recharge Foundation Fellowship for New Surrealist Art. This fellowship was given by the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA). It recognized her unique style of art, which is often called "surrealist." Surrealism is an art style that uses dream-like images and unexpected combinations.

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