Mystic Country, Connecticut

The Silver Circle Gallery in Putnam, CT is proud to announce the upcoming exhibit No Rules: A Collaborative Show with Works by Jean-Paul Jacquet and Bud Cook. Both talented painters in their own right, JP and Bud have combined creative forces and pushed the envelope in a show that conceptually redefines the individual creative process through artistic collaboration. The exhibit is about much more than creating decorative pieces to be hung on a gallery wall and has certainly become greater than the sum of its parts. The artists, in conjunction with gallery owner Carly Martin, felt that authenticity of the work and integrity of the concept was key in producing a compelling and meaningful display to challenge the norm and serve as an exploration in creative inspiration.

As fellow colleagues who admire and respect each other's work, the catalyst for the show was a casual suggestion to do a collaborative piece.  That singular idea quickly evolved into a cohesive exhibit about the exploration of mutual trust and the creative process. Because each artist had complete faith in one another's skill and style, they were willing to "let go of the solitude and safety of (the) studio" to reap the benefits and grow from the experience of "letting another artist in," states Jacquet.

The concept was simple: each artist would generate a painting based on musical inspiration that would be handed to the other to freely interpret and develop over the existing painting. Both JP and Bud knew from the beginning that the idea of letting another alter personal work would present many challenges. They so agreed that the only rule from the beginning was that there were no rules. As the project evolved, so did the process and theme.  As new pieces were started, the theme widened to be based on a 'moment of inspiration', rather than being confined to only music - so literature, photography, films or real-life experiences served as the muse. A conversation developed between the artists as they shared their own experiences, and as more pieces were handed back and forth so began a defined and unique creative process for each piece or series of pieces.

"The initial excitement was great.  As we progressed there were moments of frustration, doubt, fear.  What offset these experiences was the respect I had for JP's creativity and the quality of his work - how he constantly surprised me with his choices of where to take a piece, challenging me to think harder and more seriously about what the next step was for me.  I started pieces with less attachment... it is no longer mine, nor his.  It belongs to neither of us and both of us at the same time." As Jacquet states "This collaborative project has been one of the greatest challenges that I have faced as an artist.  In turn, it has been one of the most rewarding.   We challenged one another, we helped one another, and we created a body of work that we had never anticipated. "   As artists are constantly seeking inspiration and new ways of expression, this collaboration illustrates how unexpected and great things happen with an open mind and raw passion for seeking challenges in doing what you love.

Jean-Paul Jacquet is a painter and a sculptor who is an artist-in-residence at Pomfret School in Pomfret, CT. His sculptures have been prominently displayed at the Convergence Arts Festival in Providence RI, on the Madison Mile in Madison CT, the Walchem Corporation in Holliston, MA, as well as in countless private collections throughout New England. He spent time working for the band PHISH, creating large-scale sculptures for a number of their national tours. His paintings are in numerous private collections and can be seen locally in a number of venues, including the Vanilla Bean Café in Pomfret, CT, 85 Main Restaurant in Putnam, CT, and annually at the Silver Circle Gallery in Putnam, CT.

Bud Cook is a painter and illustrator living in Northeast Connecticut.  Bud has a BFA in painting/printmaking from Rhode Island College.  Bud's fine art endeavors consist primarily of drawing and painting the figure.  "The process of how a piece evolves is important to me.  The way a previous layer helps to define what comes next, yet still shows through in the final piece.  I enjoy seeing the visual remnants of those elements that helped the final piece come to be."  As an illustrator, some of Bud's past clients include Wizards of the Coast, Dark Horse Comics and Image Comics

Visit www.silvercirclegallery.com for more information.