Artwork copyright Janet Essley. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Janet Essley. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Spider Woman's Dreams, 1998

Janet Essley
(American, born 1949)

Location: Forks High School, Forks

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

'Spider Woman’s Dreams' is a richly detailed painting by artist Janet Essley. The composition and imagery references many multicultural influences. In some West African mythology, spiders bring dreams to the world. Argentinean author Manuel Puig wrote a novel called “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” which inspired Essley’s central figure. Broken glass and shotgun shells may point to danger. Young plant shoots and wasps grow out of dried leaves, suggesting rebirth. The artist notes, “Viewers bring to a painting their own set of visual images and social information and so many have a very different interpretation of a painting than the artist… Conversations created by art are one of its essential contributions to human culture.”

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Quillayute Valley School District.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Northwest artist Janet Essley creates paintings and public murals. Her imagery is influenced by her work in forestry and biological research, as well as the diverse cultures she encounters while traveling.

Essley earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Oregon and a Master of Fine Arts degreerts in painting and drawing from California State University, Chico.