Pieces of My Heart: Artist Madia Jamgochian
By Julie Horner
Artist Madia Jamgochian draws creative inspiration from her life experiences. “It was kind of a strange year for everybody,” she said. During the health crisis, she said it was like, “Pick the four people you’re going to talk to, and that’s it.” Physical touch was looked down upon or forbidden, especially for those who didn’t have a dedicated partner. In limbo with the pandemic, she moved away from her Zayante neighborhood and returned to her roots in Mendocino for a refresher. Like treading water, she allowed herself to go sideways during an unfathomable time.
Largely self-taught, Jamgochian switched her preferred medium from colored pencil to watercolor. “I love how watercolor creates an organic fluidity, helps convey feelings. Especially with people hugging, I love how the colors run into each other.” It is through liquidy lines of color that blur and blend in passionate commingling that Jamgochian renders the urgency of connection in her new show, Pieces of My Heart, on display at lille aeske arthouse in downtown Boulder Creek through the months of July and August. The artwork illuminates the idiosyncrasies of dating and what it was like to be single during the pandemic. A fist clutching a bouquet of red flags represents those awkward yet hopeful first dates. A heart-shaped cactus tells of guarded love. Poems and plays on words accompany the visual, some wistful and thought-provoking, some prickly.
Jamgochian is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist and was for many years Community Education Coordinator for New Leaf Community Markets in Santa Cruz. In Mendocino, she has more time to work on her dream of creating a cookbook. “I do nutrition; the art is very much a hobby, my therapy, and outlet.” Like many, she has pulled through a long, dark year by working the creative. “Now that I’m less depressed, I’m less inclined to write or do art. It was flowing through me at that time. I don’t have that same kind of energy anymore, which is great but kind of funny.” It has been cathartic.
Opening reception for Pieces of My Heart takes place on First Friday, July 2 at 5:00 pm at lille aeske arthouse, 13160 Central Avenue, Boulder Creek.
Connect with Madia Jamgochian through her personal consulting business, My Healing Habits, online at myhealinghabits.com and Instagram @tiny_tarweed
Sometimes I take
The long way home
So I can feel
The curve of the road
And think of you.
By Madia Jamgochian
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