We had the good fortune of connecting with Jael Hoffmann and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jael, what inspires you?
It depends on how polished my antennae are. When inner tensions are minimized, a plethora of things form into ideas. Much of my work is informed by psychological states of being.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I founded the Olancha Sculpture Garden in Olancha, CA. I started out in silversmithing, making jewelry. Then, miniature sculptures formed when ideas didn’t fit the format of pure aesthetics. When I learned how to work in metal, the size of my sculptures grew, due to more affordable material and the notion that a larger size could give vital ideas more space (physically and contemplatively). The difficulties I’ve encountered in my creative endeavors had to do with unresolved inner conflicts. The more I dealt with childhood trauma, the more receptive I became and continue to become to new skills and ideas. I have experimented with attaching glass to metal via the stained glass technique and discovered that it is as visually appealing as it is durable.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in the high desert, in a town of about 200 people. Hiking in the backcountry, and visiting the local sand dunes and hot springs is my understanding of a good time. My favorite space in Bishop, a town about 1 1/2 hours north of my place, is the C5 Studios Community Arts Center -an interactive space that offers art, workshops, open mic, yoga, square dancing, fencing, a gift shop, etc.
The Mountain Rambler Brewery is a fine place to dine, filled with local artwork and a casual ambiance.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My kid deserves a grand amount of credit for my story. They have encouraged and facilitated a process that can be gut-wrenching, at times, as art and living are intertwined. Their clear-mindedness and mostly gentle mirroring, along with the occasional foot massage, have often brought me back to balance.

Website: www.jsculpt.com

Image Credits
Judyth Greenburgh for ‘Gimme’, ‘Needy Demon’, and ‘Nullius in Verba’, ‘Only Connect’, ‘Tzu Jan’, When Sleeping Women Wake Mountains Move, and ‘Let the Bluebird Fly’.

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