Meet Jordi Rowe | Visual Artist & Pathologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jordi Rowe and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jordi, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Actually, I didn’t originally pursue an artistic career. Back in the day I chose a career in medicine. Art was always important to me but never seemed readily attainable. I felt I never had the background, the depth, or the skills to successfully practice painting as something other than a hobby. In 1993, when I applied to university, my mother was dying from breast cancer. At that time, I made a promise to her to succeed in medicine. I continued painting but without any real forward momentum or depth to my work. Years later, when I was working as a breast pathologist at the Cleveland Clinic, I decided to follow through with my dream of gathering skills and knowledge in the visual arts. It all came full circle as having a foundation in a rigorous field such as medicine really gives me the freedom to be the type of abstract painter I need to be. As a pathologist, errors are potentially life altering, defining moments between survival and death. With paint, errors do not exist; they are as intended, and any mark can be wiped away or painted over and incorporated without major consequence. Recognizing this gives me the joy and freedom to paint without the corollary of heavy responsibility.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Being an immigrant to America doesn’t necessarily set me apart but it definitely influences how I create my art and what inspires me to paint. As an abstract painter, I am interested in the voids of nature- deep bodies of water and endless horizons. This fascination began where I grew up, in the Canadian Rockies, which are a staggering sight, all grays and blues set against a boundless sky. The rivers there are this unbelievable turquoise as they wind through this harsh and beautiful backcountry. I get a feeling when I think about this wilderness that inspires me. This sensation is what I attempt to paint, so that others may experience this emotion through my art. As for challenges, I mean everyone undergoes difficulties and has ups and downs during their lifetime. What I would say to that is just accept the challenges for what they are, a persistent component of living, and embrace them and move on to what you were going to do anyway. Don’t let anyone hold you back or tell you you’re too old or too set in your ways. Only you get to determine where you stand and what you’re capable of. Believe in yourself, I mean really believe and you can accomplish your wildest dreams. To be honest, I never thought that I would simultaneously survive the pandemic as a physician, manage an undergraduate student workload and parent two children, to get where I am today. But I did. I just believed. And of course, make sure you have friends, hot tea, and chocolate in fresh supply to get you through each day.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Hands down, a visit to University Circle. I invariably take visitors to the Cleveland Museum of Art, because not only do they have a fantastic collection, but their exhibitions are top tier. You can spend days and days in their galleries. It also doesn’t hurt that the museum is free to all. I hope we can keep it that way so that anyone who visits our city can access great art. As an alumnus of the Cleveland Institute of Art I would go tour through their gallery spaces too as they strive to have a nice balance between visiting exhibitions and cutting edge student and faculty work. I’m also a big fan of our lakefront, and Edgewater Park unfailingly seems like a good place to flaunt the beauty of our city. I’m really quite uninitiated when it comes to eating out because I seriously prefer desserts, so homegrown Mitchell’s ice cream is a must.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am no exception to the idea that personal accomplishments are never a solo effort. My family has always been there to encourage me without judgment. This freedom allowed me to consider a new avenue in my life, that of a painter. I am well aware that by putting the time in to pursue a career in art, on top of a career in medicine, was a big ask. As all artists know making takes time and, when you have a family, that time needs to be balanced. My lovely spouse Dave, and two boys, Iain and Cameron, gave me the gift of time. There are many others whose words of support and encouragement I hear running through my mind as I consider my response. To all who supported me in adding art on top of medicine, know that not only did you help me achieve a lifelong dream but gave me permission to fulfill a vocation. You know who you are. Thank you for your belief in me and for the gift of continued mentorship.

Website: https://www.jordirowe.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j.jrowe/

Image Credits
Jordi Rowe