The Work of Artist and photographer J.J. L'Heureux On View at Santa Monica Art Stuios!

Artist and photographer, J.J. L'Heureux has traveled the world. In addition to being part of yearly expeditions, her work has been featured in museums across the globe. Her travels include far off places such as Africa, South America, Russia, the Galapagos Islands, and North America.

This weekend, L’Heureux will be participating in the 9th annual Open Studios event at the Santa Monica Art Studios. She will be showing selections from her “Bags of Bones” series.

On her 2^nd expedition, she was deeply affected by the history of whales in the Southern Sea. She explains, “I became aware of bags that the whaling companies used for shipping the last parts of the rendered whales from the their stations,” says L’Heureux. “My Southern Ocean expeditions have taken me to South Georgia Island 7 or 8 times where there were a number of working whaling stations.”  

J.J. looks forward to returning to Antarctica every year, as there is always something new to see. “Each visit has given me the opportunity to explore some of the former whaling stations.  As the wildlife changes with the seasons each expedition gives me another view to capture with my photographs.”  

The environment has taken a direct hit due to the whaling industry. Many species have never returned. J.J. chooses to document both the beauty and the past destruction. “I cannot project the future deserts devoid of life like I have seen in Southern Ocean whale-birthing bays and other locations of slaughter and rendering, on this oil taking.”

L’Heureux’s work is scheduled to show at many museums, such as the Albany Museum of Art, Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, El Dorado Nature Center in Long Beach, CA and the Lafayette Science Museum in Louisiana, Goddard Center in Oklahoma and the International Wildlife Museum in Arizona.

J.J. L’Heureux’s “Bags of Bones” series will be on view through November 23^rd.

http://www.jjlheureux.com/    http://www.penguinspirit.com/

It will also be part of the 9^th annual Open Studios at the Santa Monica Art Studios. There will be a two day reception taking place this Saturday October 12^th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Sunday, October 13th, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. The Santa Monica Art Studios is located at 3026 Airport Ave., Santa Monica. 90405. 310.397.7449; http://www.santamonicaartstudios.com

By Guest Writer: Libby Lancaster