Jane Medio

Artist Statement

I am excited to submit my concept for the exhibition More Than Touch, a Connection. While much of my artistic practice is visually representational, I have long been drawn to the tactile potential of art. This interest has led me to explore a wide range of sensory-driven materials and processes, including felting and wet felting, lampwork glass, and chalk pastel on sanded surfaces, among other tactile mediums. Alongside this material exploration, I have been eager for many years to participate in an interactive art exhibition that invites direct engagement from the viewer.

The idea of connection is central to both my personal work and my role as an educator. In an increasingly technology-driven world, students are often more disconnected from one another than ever before. The impulse to engage with a screen rather than the person beside them has become a constant challenge. Children are frequently offered devices in social settings as a form of distraction or convenience, but over time this has contributed to a broader disconnection from one another and from the physical world around them.

This exhibition seeks to counter that trend by encouraging participants to slow down, engage their senses, and experience art through touch and interaction. By activating multiple senses, the work supports a deeper relationship with the surrounding environment while also creating opportunities for human connection. While sensory experiences can draw viewers in, it is ultimately the shared experience, and the connections formed through it, that holds the greatest power.