Nostalgia rolled into the historic Rondeau School this month as Inwood artist Jodi McGill unveiled Road Trip 9.1, her first solo exhibition — a series of works inspired by family photographs, personal memories and the genealogical research that ties them together.
Each piece in McGill’s collection was inspired by her genealogical research. This one is titled Learning to Drive
From Aug. 1 to 3, McGill displayed nine original pieces that took viewers on a journey through scenes of vehicles in landscapes, reflecting pivotal moments from her life and that of her family.
McGill discovered her love for creating at a young age, encouraged by her parents, grandparents and teachers. In high school, however, she drifted away from her passion.
“Once I became a parent, it came back to me through my children in the form of Halloween costumes or helping with crafts in their class,” said McGill. “Art has always been inside me and has resurfaced in glimpses as my life has changed.”
Over the years, McGill has explored a wide range of mediums, including acrylic pencils, ink, oils, textiles, weaving, crochet, micro macramé and air-dry clay. Most recently, she has focused on watercolour.
She draws inspiration from her environment, other artists and the art community. “At the base, it could be a song, scent, colour, memory or feeling in thought of the day. As an example, a movie could trigger the love of a certain colour palette, mood or memory, and an idea is born,” she said.
The ten works displayed were created using a variety of materials, including watercolour, ink, mixed-media acrylics, pan pastel, oil, bone and wood sculpture, mixed-media collage, and charcoal painting with acrylics on fabric. All were started during McGill’s 12-week online course with the Vancouver Island School of Art in early 2024. Her studies often focused on photo references from her family’s collection and her own photography, linking back to the genealogical theme.
One piece was inspired by a photograph of her great-grandfather teaching her uncle to drive along a rural road in an old motor vehicle. Seeing such memories come alive in her work — and again in conversations during the show — was especially meaningful.
“My hope was that three people who had never seen my art in person would attend and experience the show. As an artist, the biggest challenge has been putting myself out there,” she said. “Including a private reception to celebrate the end of the show, the guest book was filled.”
In preparing for the exhibition, McGill mapped out the Rondeau School to ensure it would work as a display space. While she has previously exhibited at the Gwen Fox Gallery in Selkirk, this was her first time creating a venue entirely for her own work.
“This was a goal achieved from a dream I initially didn’t know I had. I’ve enjoyed the entire process, from the beginning of my daily practice to now, and tried to keep that as the focus once I was able to answer the question of why I make art,” she said. “Fulfilling does not describe it. The closest I can get is feeling contentment and peace — seeing the enjoyment of others as they experienced the venue and the art, people sharing stories in a comfortable space and honouring the history behind it.”
