In a mingling of underwater and space realms, Jennybird Alcantara’s “Swooning at the River of Oblivion” depicts characters positioned between the waking world and the world of sleep, and a continued exploration of dual nature, created with oil on wood, acrylic on paper and mixed media dolls. The works are inspired in part by the mythology of Nyx, the primordial goddess of nighttime, Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams as well as a quote from a Nick Cave song that reads:
“You jump into the Abyss to find it only goes up to your knees”.

Alcantara’s work has at its core a narrative; She explores the complex interconnectedness of opposites as seen through the prism of myth, fable and fantasy using the symbolism of duality to explore the connection of life and death, as well as the relationship between the beauty and cruelness of nature, that of the natural world as well as human and animal nature. The anthropomorphic qualities in her characters show the relationship of the central figure to the world she inhabits. Her inspirations come from a wide variety of sources including fairytales and fables, mythology, the flora and fauna of the natural world and freaks of nature, melancholy and classical music, Victorian customs, folk art, costuming, creepy religious statues and paintings, Symbolism, carnivals, trips down memory lane, broken dolls and objects out of place, as well as all the beautiful and sad things that could not exist one without the other, life and death and the veil in between. Alcantara attended the San Francisco Art Institute where she earned her BFA, and currently lives and works in San Francisco.

"Swooning at the River of Oblivion"
Oil on wood
35" x 45"
$12,000.00

"Nyx"
Oil on wood, antique frame
16.5" x 28"
$4,500.00

"Night Vision"
Oil on wood
21" x 36"
$4,200.00

"She Leapt Into the Abyss to Find It Only Went Up to Her Knees (Nick Cave)"
Oil on wood, antique hand-carved frame
15" x 22"
$3,200.00

"Love Spell"
Oil on wood, antique frame
16" x 21"
$3,200.00

"More Mischief in the Thicket"
Oil on wood
9.5" x 17"
$2,800.00

"Her Hands Weren't Meant for Holdin'"
Acrylic on paper
17" x 25"
$850.00
SOLD

"Into the Soup"
Acrylic on paper
25" x 17"
$850.00
SOLD

"Diving for Pearls"
Acrylic on paper
17" x 25"
$850.00

"Duel I"
Acrylic on paper
17" x 25"
$850.00

"Duel II"
Acrylic on paper
17" x 25"
$850.00
Sold

"Dream Time"
Oil on wood
6" x 7"
$750.00
Sold

"The Ink Eater"
Oil on wood
6" x 7"
$650.00
Sold

"Watch Your Tongue II"
Acrylic on paper
12 " x5"
$525.00

"The Soothsayer"
Oil on wood
5" x 7"
$525.00

"The Ink Eater" (Doll)
Oil & acrylic on cotton duct,
new & vintage fabrics, ribbon thread,
fiber wool, wood, felt & clay
23" tall
$1,200.00

"The Secret Keeper" (Doll)
Oil & acrylic on cotton duct,
new & vintage fabrics, ribbon thread,
fiber wool, wood, felt & clay
23" tall
$1,200.00
Sold

"Daughter of Hypnos" (Doll)
Oil & acrylic on cotton duct,
new & vintage fabrics, ribbon thread,
fiber wool, wood, felt & clay
21" tall
$1,200.00

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