It literally fell from the sky. I received an email from an artist friend looking for artists who are struggling to do their personal work because they have had a child. After having Mo, I spend all of my energy working on my maternity photography and my family photography because this is the work that pays my bills, and I love it. But my personal work is what informs my maternity and family work, making my professional work stronger and keeping my vision evolving and unique. It is hard to justify finding the time to dedicate to it, particularly if I had to pay child care. And then I was asked to apply for this gift from an amazing woman named Phyllis Hatfield. Apparently she had seen many artist friends of hers struggle to maintain their creative work after they have had children and she decided to do something about it. Wow. What an amazing gift to be able to do that for women. Thank you Phyllis! Here is what I wrote in my application for what it is worth....

Jennifer Loomis, Fell From the Sky Application. So would you describe yourself as a self-taught artist?

I am a self-taught artist. It was my dream to go to art school, but didn’t. I couldn’t justify it. My single mother sacrificed a lot so I could go to college. So I needed a degree that would enable me to get a job fast, and art school seemed like a luxury. After I graduated, I worked for a few years and then I put myself through graduate school and earned Masters of Photojournalism. I got a job working for a newspaper. I could shoot pictures and still use my heart and be creative. But the artist in me was not happy so I did my own thing on the side, photographing nudes of pregnant women. This was in the early 90’s; I was in my late 20’s. I didn’t have any children yet, I was just drawn to the shape of the pregnant woman. I wanted to challenged society’s definition of beauty with this body shape. It was so mysterious and unique, but was it? Or why was it? We have all come from a pregnant woman. I wanted to expose this body form to mainstream society and provoke discussion.

Fast forward to my early 40’s. I had a robust business photographing pregnant women. I published my first book. I was making money on my personal artwork except it wasn’t personal anymore. Private clients were calling from all over the country wanting specific photos of themselves. TV, magazines, newspapers were interested in interviewing me about this new genre of photography. But when your art becomes your work, what becomes your art?

In 2012, I was accepted to the Edge Program for visual artists and was beginning to work on a project centering on the landscape of the pregnant belly, using the abstraction of it to lure in the viewer and open up discussion about the body of a mother. I was just beginning to experiment with scale and medium. Then I got pregnant.

I switched the focus of the camera to myself, using images of me to discuss infertility. You see, I got pregnant but with the help of science. And while this is confidential information to protect my small son until we are able to explain his story to him, it is relevant because so many women like me are choosing this option because they waited until later to start their family. But fertility treatments have emotional, political and social implications and impacts. I was hoping to start a project delving into this topic.

Now I am 46. I have an amazing baby boy who is 5 months old and a boyfriend who is awesome. The artist in me is still here, and she has even more to say.

Also where were you born? Your age?

I was born in Hartford, Connecticut but have moved several times. My mother’s job took us to Kansas City and Nashville. I later moved to Virginia, San Francisco, Japan, and Kenya before moving to Seattle 15 years ago. Puget Sound is the longest place I have lived anywhere. It is my home. I am now 46.

Can you tell me one thing that you're doing with your art now? Some idea, some technique, what do you think the future of your artwork will be?

Currently I am caring for my five-month-old son and trying to do some photography or working at a part-time job in order to support us and cover expenses. In addition, I have been saving articles on infertility and researching the topics surrounding that to inform my next project. When I find the time, my goal is to get back into the studio and try using my 4x5 to do more of my landscape work. I want to see microscopic details in the shapes. I also plan to continue to explore my self-portrait project using the bodies of my son and me.

What might this opportunity mean?

I perceive this opportunity as a sign not to give up – not to give up on myself as an artist. Raising a child has forced me to change my priorities, as I am struggling (albeit happily) to get enough rest, earn enough to cover expenses, be a good mother, a loving partner, conscious friend and caring daughter. I think of what I want to say with my work often. I have a good feeling that my next work will percolate and come through me when I can find the time. This opportunity will afford me some additional childcare, so that I may focus on these works in progress. It has always been my dream to simultaneously be a successful working artist and mother. Thank you so much for making this amazing gift to and investment in women artists in the Seattle area.

Jennifer Loomis, Fell From The Sky Application, Captions

1-Loomis_Jordan_2004Lizabeth Jordan, 8x10, Polapan film print, 2004 2-Loomis_Lost_2010From the series, Lost, photographed on the Camino de Santiago, 16x4, Giclee print, 2010 3-Loomis_Lost_2010From the series, Lost, photographed on the Camino de Santiago, 16x4, Giclee print, 2010 4-Loomis_Landscape_34weeksFrom the landscape series taken between 2011-2013. 20x16, Silver Gelatin fiber print, 2011. 5- Loomis_Landscape_32weeks_BeazleyFrom the landscape series taken between 2011-2013. 20x14, Silver Gelatin fiber print, 2011. 6-Loomis_Landscape_38weeks_BesettFrom the landscape series taken between 2011-2013. 5’x3.5’, Digital print, 2013. 7-Loomis_Landscape_KofodFrom the landscape series taken between 2011-2013. 8’x5.5, Digital print, 2012. 8-Loomis_Fertility_BeforeSeries taken as I was preparing to get pregnant, 13x4, Digital print, 2012. 9-Loomis_Fertility_FourTrimestersThe four trimesters of my pregnancy. 4’x6’, Digital print, 2013-2014. 10-Loomis_10WeeksPostPartum10 weeks post partum, 20x24, Digital Giclee, 2014.

Jennifer receives a Fell From the Sky financial gift for three years