Julia Jacquette's Exhibition and Graphic Narrative Explore Design, Feminism, and Playground History

Julia Jacquette's exhibition 'Unrequited and Acts of Play' ran from September 22, 2017 to January 14, 2018 at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey in Summit. The show featured oil paintings alongside a 2017 graphic narrative titled 'Playground of My Mind', published by the Wellin Museum at Hamilton College. Jacquette's photorealistic paintings zoom in on luxury items like fashion, jewels, and cosmetics, with works such as 'Reclining' (2014), 'Actress, Gold Dress' (2015), and 'Heidi Klum Throws Glitter' (2012). Her text-image gouaches incorporate feminist dissent, seen in pieces like 'Thirty-six Sofas' (2014) and 'Your Every Word' (2014). The graphic narrative details her design-centric upbringing, influenced by her mother's minimalist ethos and her father's landscape architecture during New York City's playground innovation era under parks commissioner Thomas Hoving. It highlights playgrounds like Richard Dattner's 1966 Adventure Playground and Ross Ryan Jacquette's 1973 Discovery Playpark in Central Park. Jacquette's work references influences from artists like Rosenquist, Richter, and Ruscha while maintaining a disciplined, cool aesthetic. The exhibition originated at Hamilton College before moving to New Jersey.