Skewed North by Jolene Dames

Skewed North by Jolene Dames

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May 2026

The Things I Carry Home
On collecting objects, memories, and the parts of ourselves we leave behind
 • Jolene Dames
Safety Yellow
It's a thing
 • Jolene Dames
Making Things Look Like They’ve Always Been There
A behind-the-scenes look at scenic painting for film, from The Chair to transforming real spaces, and the art of making temporary worlds feel permanent.
 • Jolene Dames
I Missed the Story Because I Was Looking at the Paint
A scenic artist reflects on working in film and visiting Meow Wolf, exploring the difference between temporary sets and immersive art built to endure.
 • Jolene Dames
Doorways
I opened my refrigerator the other morning and thought about Santa Fe.
 • Jolene Dames
The Boy Behind the Glass
A childhood memory of the first time I understood what it meant to lose yourself
 • Jolene Dames
How to Make an Alien Feel Like It Belongs in a Toy Store
I spent years painting and designing worlds for film, television, and theater — places that had to feel real, even when they weren’t.
 • Jolene Dames
I Didn’t Need Acid
A personal essay on Meow Wolf Santa Fe, exploring art, altered reality, fear of acid, and how creativity lets us step outside the ordinary.
 • Jolene Dames
Field Note: Same Face, Different Color
Every once in a while, I take a photo and digitally play with it until it becomes something I didn’t know I needed.
 • Jolene Dames
Taos, New Mexico — Slammed Frames from the High Desert
A raw Taos, New Mexico photo essay capturing desert light, adobe textures, and fleeting moments through a cinematic lens by artist Jolene Dames.A raw…
 • Jolene Dames
Every Image Has a Location. This One Has a Ghost.
A reflective essay on returning to meaningful places, working as an on-set scenic artist on The Road, grief, memory, photography, and making art from…
 • Jolene Dames
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