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About Studio 23 Studio 23 was founded after the Shermans moved to Santa Fe New Mexico from Connecticut. It houses a fine art studio where Jovan works and shows.  Jovan Sherman has been producing art for the past thirty years. She obtained her Bachelors degree in art from Central Connecticut State University and did her Masters work at the University of Hartford Art School. She has worked as a graphic artist, jewelry designer and fine artist. Truth is relative in the world and in the imagination. Approaching unusual ideas, spaces and environments urge us to question the truth of what we think we know. The revealing of truth is a constant undercurrent in her work, defining her need to explore it through visual means. Jovan's work has been investigative and somewhat didactic with prescribed content and metaphoric imagery. The medium used is defined by the suggestion of the content including acrylic paint, collage, and found objects. Language is used to some degree in many pieces giving hints to Jovan's intentions and sometimes words that obscure her intentions in order to urge the viewer to question what is seen. This work was very stimulating for her, allowing her to sift through ideas and issues that were confusing and conflicting.
Through a deep interest in anthropology, She became aware of the part “play” has in developing a culture, both primitive and contemporary. The basic elements of play are also the same in “ritual” . Those elements are: a prescribed starting and ending point, a specific site or location; (location can be temporary such as kick ball or hopscotch) prescribed rules of play, often includes music or rhymes/chanting and also has the ability to transform the individual into part of a group identity, if only temporarily.
These elements in the context of both play and ritual have tremendous richness in imagery for her as an artist.
Games and ritual reinforce what we think we already know. What we think we know usually goes unquestioned and when we are confronted with another reality an uncomfortable tension arises. This tension or discomfort is the source of my investigation. It is serious in its intent but is so fun. The unearthing of a point of tension is like finding a diamond in the rough. It will take work to see the clarity in it but will eventually create a new awareness. The measure of success to her is, first, that ah-ha moment of new clarity and secondly, hopefully communicating that insight through the art-making process.
The opposite end of the investigative process is the compelling need for a simple more direct approach: a semi-automatic and intuitive way of communicating through art.
She isalways caught in amazement when encounterng something that has been worn and damaged but reveals hidden layers of color or textures. That bit of something “revealed” is still connected to that result of investigation but it is her intention to work more directly in the future.
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