In many aspects it is impossible to separate Julia Jalowiec from her art. Like cast iron sinks broken into tortilla-chip-sized pieces, Julia was shattered by her cancer diagnosis. Likewise, the searing pain of chemotherapy is reminiscent of the extreme heat iron endures in a fiery furnace. But at the crucial point where the iridescent, yellowish-liquid iron is transformed into something new, Julia and the ubiquitous metal took divergent paths. For while iron is poured into a mold it does not select, Julia intentionally chose to forge an artistic future.
“I was lying in bed when life changed for me. I was so sick from the chemo. I finished round 16, but it had ravaged my body. I decided that I was either going to lie there and die or I was going to do something to change the trajectory of my life. I decided to attend Collin College. I poured all of these experiences into art. It has been such a healing pool for me. It is my Zen place,” Julia said.
Bursting forth from the confines of a former life
Many people staring uncertainty in the face would do everything they could to keep stability in other areas of their lives. However, Josh saw his wife’s attempt at an art education as an opportunity to spend as much time as possible with the love of his life. He decided to quit his corporate job and follow her lead to build a new, promising future together. The decision was not easy, but the couple’s dedication paid off. They worked several part time jobs and received scholarships.
“Collin College is a pretty rare place. Most four-year colleges don’t pour iron. The iron pour is like a show—melting iron glows like the center of the earth,” Julia said.
“The iron pour sparked something in me. I want to share what I’ve learned and teach art. It is an incredible privilege to be able to attend college. Collin offers an amazing education,” Josh said.
As a high school student, Josh was offered a scholarship to attend The Art Institute of Chicago, but he could not afford the remaining tuition. According to Julia, he did not create art again until he attended Collin College, where he learned how to weld. She says his sculptures are in demand, and he has a waiting list of clients. Featured in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Josh showcased his work in the Cudahy Historical Society’s “Mile Posts” art show in Wisconsin. He plans to graduate from Collin in 2017 and earn a bachelor of fine arts degree from Southern Methodist University (SMU).
Julia earned her associate degree from Collin College this summer and is currently pursuing a bachelor of fine arts degree at SMU. Enamored with the lines in people’s faces, she believes the bumps, bruises and scars of living are what make a person exquisitely beautiful. During her time at Collin, one of her iron pieces, Nancy, was selected by Leigh Arnold, assistant curator of the Nasher Sculpture Center, for a juried art show and was on display at the Amarillo Museum of Art.
“The more lines in a person’s face, the more special they are. It speaks to my very being. I create casts of people who look like they have had a lot of life. I have had a lot of life. These are people I’d like to get to know,” she said.
Art runs in the family
Julia and Josh’s four children, Josiah (21), Emily (19), Samuel (17) and Abby Lane (10), also love art. Sam creates videos and aspires to be the next Stephen Spielberg, while Abby Lane wants to build her own robot.
An artist in his own right, Josiah sings and plays drums, piano, guitar, trombone and harmonica. He hopes to mix audio engineering with behavior analysis. He earned an associate degree from Collin College in 2016 and plans to transfer to The University of North Texas to earn masters and doctoral degrees in behavior analysis.
“Sound and film can make an audience excited or squeamish. I want to take the extra step and create my own sound. At Collin, I learned how sound refracts and reflects and that it can be cylindrical. You can go from a booming to an airy sound just like that. It’s an art,” Josiah said.
With a love of theater and plans to become a dental hygienist, Emily says Collin College feels like a second home.
“I grew up in a homeschooling environment, and the college offered dual credit for us lucky homeschool students. When I am not at home, I am at Collin. All my professors show their love for their disciplines. I am very thankful for my experience so far,” Emily said.
The answer is yes
Julia is still fighting cancer, but she and Josh are optimistic. They hope to own a studio and create art together in the near future.
Josh says it was almost as if a switch was flipped the day Julia told him she had cancer.
“You have to step up your game. I keep a hard check on negative feelings and emotions because she needs my positivity. You can go to a very dark place when you think of death, and she doesn’t need that from me,” Josh said.
Julia says she did not know what she was missing before the diagnosis. Today, she says she lives her life like the lead character in the movie Yes Man.
“We just keep saying yes. We got to change everything. We got a redo,” she said, grinning.
For more information about Collin College, visit Collin.edu .
Reprinted with permission of Allen Image