Meet Jennifer Basile

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Basile and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
As an artist there is no choice, there is no “giving up” there is only moving forward. It has not been an easy road trying to balance a successful art career and a teaching career. None the less, I have been driven to be a successful artist since high school when my father told me I needed a “real job” because he said, “You’ll never make it.” That was all I needed to hear to know I could never give up, I am who I am which was born an artist. I have much to share with the art world about our environments and hope that my artworks make an impact on the public to make change to save our planet Often I feel like I have become an irrelevant middle aged female artist that gets passed up for opportunities I deserve, but then somehow in those very moments, I get awarded a grant or a residency, or a showing opportunity that is meaningful. These types of moments are my proof that I should never give up, especially since I have such an important message within my work. It has always been the consistent hard work I put into my art career and my perseverance that keeps me going.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What sets me apart from most here in south Florida is that my primary discipline for creating my work is printmaking. I strive to make exceptionally large scale works on paper which is not as common in printmaking. I use a traditional process of relief printmaking with contemporary aesthetics. Works on paper are a lot more difficult to sell than paintings, but this has not deterred me or my mission of breaking traditional boundaries with prints. I am most proud of the work I created in my last solo show where I created a 10′ x 28′ hand cut, hand printed work of a cypress dome in Everglades National park. This artwork is one of my biggest accomplishments. It was incredibly difficult working on the type of paper that I use which is a traditional Japanese rice paper, it was physically and mentally exhausting, and there were times that I wasn’t sure I would be able to make it in time for my show, but the result for me was well worth all of the hard work and effort it took to pull off a print at that scale without the help of a master printer. What I learned in this process is that I am an immersive artist, I want viewers to be enveloped by my landscape images. I want the public to be more sensitive to their natural surroundings and understand their importance in our everyday life. I am working hard to bring topics of climate change and environmental awareness to all through aesthetically beautiful images of south Florida that has undertones of environmental demise by using silhouettes of endangered species animals and balancing empty negative space against the ornate beauty of our landscape.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If its my friend then they know they will be doing activities in nature. First stop Buffalo Tiger for an airboat ride with the Miccosukee for a trip through the Everglades and an education on how natives lived on and own Islands in the Everglades. Then the last tram ride through SharK Valley, because either early or late is when you see wildlife, to see all of the different birds that are a part of our eco system and most importantly lots of alligators. Dinner on the way back would be at Finka because I love the food/drinks and I love chef Eileen Andrade’s creativity. Day Two, Key Biscayne for a day of beach and snorkeling at Bear cut where there is a fossilized reef and lots of small sea life to encounter, after either The Cleat, or Gramps getaway. Visiting with me also means you will be going to the Perez art Museum and the Frost Science museum, followed by any number of great restaurants, Verde is pretty wonderful specially the view but I am into supporting women so I would probably take my friend to Maty’s in midtown because not only is the food outstanding but Chef Valerie Chang won the James Beard award for the south, the only woman nominated in that category and a Miami girl that is having great success in her hometown. I would also be taking my guest to Everglades National Park to hike some of the trails, maybe a tour of the Nike missal sight, drive down to Flamingo for either kayaking, biking, or hiking. On the way to and from the park, we will stop at Robert is Here for fresh fruit, produce, and a strawberry key lime shake. If in season we must stop at Knaus Berry Farm for there famous cinnamon rolls and baked goods. Biscayne National Park would also be on the list, the Biscayne National Park Institute has a guide lead boat trip to paddle and snorkel protected reef areas in the bay, it is a wonderful day of education and marine life experiences, After a shower and change of clothes we would go to my favorite iconic Italian restaurant in Coral Gables, Caffe Abbracci, as an American Italian it never disappoints me. We would definitely be visiting my studio in the bird road arts district followed by beers at Lincolns Beard and dinner at the BEST Chinese restaurant in Miami, Kon Chau. If is a friend that is really into art then I would be taking them to my alma mater the University of Miami’s Lowe Art Museum and after the Rubell Museum followed by a trip through Wynwood for the walls, the Bakehouse Art Complex(had a studio there for 7 years). For food and drinking hard to mention just one place in that area but I always find myself getting drinks at Gramps and a slice, and I do love the food at Red Rooster. I always take guests to Coconut Grove, a visit to my gallery, LnS Gallery, then floating around for a drink with a view at Bellini’s and dinner at any of the numerous restaurants, I am a Los Felix fan. So many places that are great that I didn’t mention but as you can see my itinerary is nature and art heavy.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are many people that have helped me get to where I am today. The foundation starts in High School with Daniel Christoffel my high school art teacher that let me know what I was capable of and he still mentors me to this day. In college it was my female professors that mentored me. Professor of Printmaking, Lise Drost at University of Miami in undergrad school and in grad school my painting professor Jane Barrow at Southern Illinois University. They were never dismissive, always there for me and helped me grow as a young artist by always believing in me. At this point in my career Luisa and Sergio Cernuda have played a huge roll in advancing my art career and prominence in Miami through their gallery, LnS Gallery in Coconut Grove. They have believed in me and my work from day one, which I am grateful for everyday. However, the most important person is my life partner Mary Gonzalez, she is my rock, she is there for me when I doubt myself, always cheering me on, always and unconditionally loving me and supporting me and my art career. She makes all things possible for me.

Website: www.jenniferbasile.com

Instagram: jbasile40

Twitter: @BASILEJ1973

Facebook: Jennifer Ann Basile

Yelp: Jennifer B.

Image Credits
Carolina Porras Monroy Remember A Day Photography, Richard