“#204“ by Jesse Blake Hay

Jesse Blake Hay has had a full circle odyssey. After growing up in Eau Claire (NHS '01), he left in 2009 for what would become a 14-year lap around the US as a working musician, spending time in Portland (OR), NYC, Seattle, Eureka (CA), and Austin (TX). Now, after pivoting to mixed-media canvas work during the Covid shutdown, he finds himself back in his hometown, art in hand, alongside his wife, India (India Hay Handmade). Both thrilled to contribute to the Chippewa Valley's exceptional creative scene.

“#204” (2024) • 36" x 48" • Mixed Media (acrylic, gouache, oil pastel, market) • About the artwork, from the artist: “My work depicts the dreamscape within me. Through a meditative process, I blend geometric themes with the stuff of my subconscious, using bold colors and texture. As with all of my works, "#204" does not have any decriptors in its title. This is done with intention, so the viewer isn't restricted, or swayed by my own thoughts on subjectivity. Ultimately, I want everyone to find their own personal meaning in the menagerie of gouache, acrylic, oil pastel, and marker on canvas. With each individual taking ownership of the narrative, defining the piece for themselves, naming its power by their own felt resonance.”