Recalling the publicity that surrounded the astronauts’ initial landing on the moon in 1969, we may understand the world as being in a different place today. This is true whether it be in the application of the physical sciences or in the racial injustices on city streets. From either perspective, it would appear the spatial enterprises of the past are still in the process of defining their purpose in terms of a future enterprise. For the artist, Josephine W. H.-- who's art has taken her into a realm of creativity that exceeds the interstices of both art and science. For her, art and science belong together, not apart from one another. They exist as a unity, as a totality within the universe of time and space. She works with Lenticular materials in order to create the illusion of three-dimensional effects. This happens by adhering them precisely to a two dimensional surface, which constitutes a relatively complex process. Initially she draws an image that will transfer on to a computer. This requires a “touching up” process whereby she prepares the image for printing. The precision of the Lenticular medium is an essential aspect of her work. Her goal as an artist is to ensure the abstract geometric images in her work contain the illusion of three-dimensional depth for the viewer.
Prior to working with this relatively complex method of spatial art, Josephine began her career assisting another more experienced artist, before striking out on her own as a painter for which she obtained serious attention in art fairs from New York, Los Angeles, and Paris. Her talent became a noticeable reality. As a child, Josephine continued each night to observe the infinite sky and stars while having countless dreams focused on the mysteries of outer-space. These dreams have continued from childhood into her mature life as an artist. She continues to lose herself in her work, while she attends to the sparkling stars or dreams of leaping across planets. Josephine is an artist who lives inside her art as her forms and dynamic use of colors live within her. Regardless of what direction or scale her work moves as an artist, her highly regarded Central Circular Forms continue to change in the process. At the moment, she works with a square format with a circular inset: the smaller works being 60cm x 60 cm and the larger ones measuring 105 cm x 105 cm. As her work progresses, the forms, colors, and scale will also change. Josephine is a unique artist who understands her position as if she were living somewhere between inner and outer space from one day to the next. In addition, she recognizes the value of working between science and art as a means toward giving her forms and ideas a more significant credibility. Finally, she is unafraid to recognize the position of others in an ever-changing art world, where, most of all, she is free to welcome change. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Robert C. Morgan Holds an MFA and Ph.D. and is Professor Emeritus in Art History at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Author of several books, including The End of the Art World (NY: Allworth Press, 1998) and Art into Ideas (Cambridge University Press, 1998), he writes regularly for The Brooklyn Rail and various our publications.
Artist's Statement
Astronauts finally landed on the moon in 1969 and ever since,she was eager to leave. Josephine made a promise to herself one day leave the Earth and explore the skies. With an expansive imagination She continued to observe the sky and its stars. The countless images and dreams she had of space as a child becomes alive through her work as an adult. She thinks back to when all she could see were sparkling stars and loves to lose herself within her works, leaping across planets, and exploring to where anything is possible
