The following is a translation of the above review from the German newspaper “Die Rheinische Post”, dated 28 June 2014, of one of Adrienne Kelly-Jackson’s exhibitions in the Monchengladbach Theatre:
“Adrienne Jackson’s Musical Pictures
"It's incredibly moving, the pull of the name 'Jackson', and it's a particularly emotional moment to attend the opening of this exhibition." With heartfelt words general manager Michael Grosse welcomes the artist Adrienne Jackson and about 100 guests, theatre people, companions and culturati. Adrienne Jackson, a true friend to the house for many years as wife and now widow of the late music director Graham Jackson, was recruited this season as "artist in residence" at Theatre Krefeld in Mönchengladbach.
The result of her months of work can be seen in the foyer on the first floor of the theatre. She has produced twelve large picture and numerous small ones: large-scale colour images, "orchestra pictures" and portraits in the form of sketched studies. Twice a month Adrienne Jackson attended rehearsals for symphony concerts - "The power of the images comes from the music," she recalls. And in so doing she beats time with an imaginary brush, as if to coat a canvas in colour.
The "orchestra pictures" are created in several layers. "Just as in rehearsal the music breaks off when it is interrupted, and then is put back together." The oil paint is stippled, so that the images live and create a dynamic scene, realistically capturing the mood. One picture is devoted to the "beauty of sound" of the viola alone. Equally vibrant are the portraits, drawn in ink or chalk, partly painted in watercolours. Orchestra players and dancers are easy to recognize, and the drawings catch exactly the characteristic body language of each one. The large-scale colour images succeed impressively. Jackson writes herself on the image of Mahler's 5th Symphony: "The beauty of the slow movements followed me. It is perfect in its simplicity." Therefore, the image is in only two colours - red and blue-black. The landscape painting of Britten's "Peter Grimes" combines the tranquility of nature with its threatening unpredictability and destructive power.
[picture] Adrienne Jackson in front of a cello painting in the theatre with general manager Michael Grosse.”
Exhibitions and awards:
Artist in Residence with three solo exhibitions
Royal Northern College of Music, 1991
Public's Prize Winner
Royal West of England Autumn Exhibition, 1998
Winner of the Hunting Award
Royal College of Art. 2000
Bremen Kunst Germany 2002
Crossing the bridges
Solo Exhibition, Mönchengladbach MusikSchule 2006
Art for All Exhibition
NATO JHQ Rheindahlen, 2008
Der Insel ist erfüllt von Stimmen (The island is filled with voices)
Theater Krefeld, Mönchengladbach, June-July 2014