- Story by David Wyle Photography by Darren Hull

Perhaps art and science are more closely linked than we think. Both help us peer into the mysteries of existence and wrestle with the deeper questions and meanings of life.

Artist Jolene Mackie found herself at the crux of the two. Born and raised in Kelowna, Jolene had earned a full scholarship to the University of British Columbia to study the sciences 香蕉视频直播� but she was also drawn to art.

香蕉视频直播淒o I have a career that is more linear, and maybe makes more sense, or do I go to art school?香蕉视频直播� she wondered at the time.

Mackie applied to in Vancouver, where some 300 students would be accepted out of 3,000 applications.

香蕉视频直播淚 had a one in 10 chance,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚 was just hoping more than anything to get some feedback.香蕉视频直播�

When she found out she香蕉视频直播檇 been accepted to art school, Mackie felt the decision had been made for her. Yet that love of science has remained part of her art.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e always loved anatomy and biology 香蕉视频直播� how all these parts come together and make things work,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淎 lot of my earlier work was bridging biology, anatomy and fine arts.香蕉视频直播�

Jolene is in good company. History is filled with the alchemy of art and anatomy, like Leonardo da Vinci香蕉视频直播檚 ground-breaking sketches of the human body.

Jolene, 31, graduated from Emily Carr in 2009. She hit the ground running, quickly building up an impressive and diverse portfolio, including high-profile murals, one-of-a-kind painted instruments and myriad oil paintings.

香蕉视频直播淚 love working on canvas. My fascination with working on a flat surface has to do with depth 香蕉视频直播� transforming a flat surface and pigments into something that evokes a sense of place or depth,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Jolene describes her style as illustrative and whimsical, filled with dreamscapes; although her art pulls from the very literal world around her, like the shape of a leaf or a colour palette in the sky.

香蕉视频直播淚 love that painting is a language I can use to talk about dreams and the subconscious and other worlds and other places that you can香蕉视频直播檛 do with any other medium,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Jolene has been a catalyst in bringing the local art community together. For the past five years, she香蕉视频直播檚 been on the board of directors for Art Walk in Lake Country, the biggest art event in the Valley. She wanted to bring a similar event to Kelowna and organized the first ever Discover Art in the Valley at the Kelowna Curling Club.

About 45 artists participated in the first year, including graffiti artists and fire spinners.

It香蕉视频直播檚 an exciting time in Kelowna with a thriving cultural community, encouraged, in part by the creative tech community.

Jolene sees art as uplifting, something she thinks is in dire need these days.

香蕉视频直播淎rt-making encourages me to be present because there香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of bigger things, and more complex things in the world, and art should be something that brings me back to the present moment. There香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of serious things in the world. It香蕉视频直播檚 nice for art to be light,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淧ainting is my meditation. It香蕉视频直播檚 a time I香蕉视频直播檓 not thinking about anything but what香蕉视频直播檚 right in front of me.香蕉视频直播�

While Jolene香蕉视频直播檚 work has often been inspired by nature, ships and whimsical skies, she has ventured in a new direction. She香蕉视频直播檚 been delving into science-fiction-inspired art 香蕉视频直播� a genre that hadn香蕉视频直播檛 interested her until recently. She was captured by some of the masters of sci-fi, including Ray Bradbury.

香蕉视频直播淢aking art is very much an evolution. I香蕉视频直播檒l still be influenced by those thoughts and ideas and inspirations, but I香蕉视频直播檝e built a different level on top of it,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淢y work has taken a hard right into something completely different.香蕉视频直播�

The seeds of sci-fi have been there in the form of a tiny robot she has drawn or painted hundreds of times.

The robot first appeared in her work in her university days. She was replicating very traditional works, and found humour in injecting a little robot into them. The robot continued to spring up over the years in her sketch book.

Embracing a new direction has been teaching her to be open to inspiration and to be true to what speaks to her the loudest.

She said she sees the robot as a self-portrait in a lot of ways 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渁 curious little investigator.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚 thought this little guy has somewhere to take me, he香蕉视频直播檚 got something to show me,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚f you香蕉视频直播檙e vulnerable enough to put it out there, people connect with that vulnerability, with the honesty and that little weird part of yourself.香蕉视频直播�

Existential questioning is at the root of a lot of her art, as she tries to make sense of what existence means for her.

Asked what she香蕉视频直播檚 learned so far, she said, 香蕉视频直播淪trive for happiness and joy more than anything. It香蕉视频直播檚 a strange and confusing and interesting time to be alive. We grapple with why we are here.香蕉视频直播�

Mackie香蕉视频直播檚 work can be found at .