Upper Lake >> Over the course of 20 years, Jackie Farley has taken every art class offered at Mendocino College — twice.
“I’ve been an endless student of art,” said the Lake County Wine Studio’s artist of the month.
And it’s not just the visual arts. Farley was originally a dancer and she holds a Bachelors in dance. But she wasn’t interested in becoming a professional dancer. Instead, Farley wanted to study the therapeutic application of the arts, and the ways in which they can be of benefit to society.
That prompted her to attend graduate school, where she pursued Dramatherapy, Psychology and Education.
A native of the United Kingdom, Farley spent many years teaching theatre and arts around London. She traveled to the United States to work as an intern in a therapeutic setting, with the intention of becoming a psychologist, but then when she moved to Lake County two decades ago, her first job had her working as part of an after hours crisis team. After that experience she realized she’d rather focus on teaching and arts, both to children and adults.
“I like to see what comes out of people,” she said. “That’s much more interesting to me than making a living as an artist.”
In 2009 Farley earned her MA in Buddhist Education and today she works as an art teacher at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. She’s also been teaching English and performing and visual arts at Instilling Goodness and Developing Virtue Schools in Ukiah since 2001.
Farley’s focus remains in using art as a way to better the world around her.
“I’m not interested in making a living at it, I just love doing it,” she said. “I love the idea of art being of use to society in some way.”
It was the same with dance. When she was younger, she scored a few jobs as a professional dancer. She didn’t enjoy it. “The arts are very personal and when they become commercialized it changes them totally,” she explained.
Which is why Farley has never had her own show before — she creates art for herself, and as gifts for friends and family. But over the years she’s amassed so much work, it was time to free up some space in her home. She came up with the idea to hang her art at the Lake County Wine Studio, with one caveat — all the proceeds from her sales would go to the Lake County Rising Fire Relief Fund.
“I wouldn’t have done it otherwise. I’ve been wanting to do something for so many people who lost their homes,” she said. “I thought this would be a nice way of using art to benefit society.”
While Farley may not show her work, or have any desire to sell it, she’s not lacking for motivation, not when the beauty of Lake County provides an endless well of inspiration. And though she’s been studying art for years, she insists she’s still not finished. At any time she can be found looking to the masters, and learning how they worked. The only thing Farley is missing is her own studio space.
“I could quite honestly keep painting for the rest of my life,” she said.
Farley’s work at the wine studio features a wide range of media — oils, acrylics, chalk, pastels, and graphite — and it all leans toward a more realistic style than the abstract. She’s especially interested in portraiture. She has framed pieces available for purchase, but she’s also selling work in folders to make it more affordable.
“I hope that any money raised will help the people that have lost so much during this terrible year of fires we’ve had,” said Farley.
There is a reception for Farley from 4-7 p.m. today at the Lake County Wine Studio in Upper Lake. Wines from Sol Rouge will be served with food pairings by Fresh and Bangin’ Eatery at $15 for the public and $12 for wine studio club members. The wine studio is located at 9505 Main St.
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019.
