Jenna Ritter Studio
Earth. Water. Air. Fire. Space.
Nature has Her own flow, power, rhythm, resilience and depth — she holds a strong, raw beauty in her vulnerable fragility.
One can work with this or against this.
Nature is infinitely intelligent and abundantly generous. To find synchrony in my creative collaborations with earth, water, air, fire and space I need to listen well. In my art-making I discover a deepening respect for what it means to harmonize with internal/external tension points such as contrast, asymmetry, edges, boundaries, texture and diversity.
My finished pieces seek to engage the viewer in such a way to entice a deepening of one’s personal connection to Nature and in turn, with one’s own self. My work offers contemplation and connection in this increasingly fragmented and chaotic world.
How it Began
I was born and raised in NYC where it was essential to find a healthy balance between Nature and the man-made. I found the arts and the natural environment to be vital aspects to my upbringing.
In 2003 while on silent retreat in South India I was directed to take a nature walk and observe the fire, water, air, earth, and space elements around me and reflect on where in my own self I discovered these to be. Being with Nature has always held and healed me. To awaken to the awareness that the elements are not simply in front of me but also inside of me was exhilarating. Realizing the deep connection that exists between the external world and my own self provided a deep healing and expanded knowing: we are all interconnected, each a small part of the larger whole. I began to understand that to know Nature is to know the Self.
On my first visit to Santa Fe in 2012 I found "home" and in 2015 I called it so; in 2017 I began to seriously work my own art. I have discovered the intimacy of natural, hand-gathered materials to be a rich resource that resonate and expand my spiritual understandings. Today I gratefully continue disciplined study with various esteemed teachers and artists in clay and paint.
