Everybody says JUMP
Stepping into Everybody Say JUMP, India Cruse-Griffin's latest exhibition in the Harrison Center's Lift Gallery, is like jumping into a vibrant, layered memory full of movement. Cruse-Griffin, a celebrated mixed-media artist, invites viewers to explore the rich textures of family, imagination, and play. Her collages, composed of layered magazine clippings and paint, offer more than just aesthetic beauty; they echo a deeper truth about how we live, remember, and belong.
This body of work is rooted in the joy of childhood games; those unscripted moments that just required a spark of creativity. "Old or young, there are games we played," Cruse-Griffin says. "No equipment needed, just our imagination." These works speak to each other across the gallery in a playful, reassuring tone: "Girl, our artist needs to relax… We got this." Through their bold textures and rhythmic composition, the pieces call us back to the open sidewalks and sun-soaked afternoons where community and joy were the only rules of the game.
Cruse-Griffin's studio at the Harrison Center plays a vital role in shaping her process. "Having a space you call your own where you can relax and think about what the art means to you; it means a lot," she shares. Her vibrant city, full of "personalities, possibilities, and attitudes," feeds her, while the energy of her neighborhood grounds her in the everyday stories that inspire her work. And if this show had a soundtrack? It would be soulful and full of groove: Chaka Khan, Earth, Wind & Fire, Lauryn Hill, Soul II Soul, and Prince, with Alanis Morissette's "These Are the Days" setting the tone for deep reflection and creative flow.
Cruse-Griffin's journey as an artist is also deeply personal. "I was very quiet as a young person, although I had so much to say," she explains. "My work represents this personality trait by not exposing everything at first glance." Much like a quiet soul with layers of insight, her art invites second and third looks, rewarding viewers with new discoveries each time.”
People continually come back to me after viewing my art and say, 'I loved your work at first glance, but the more I studied it, I loved and understood it even more.'" That ongoing dialogue, between viewer and artwork, artist and self, is part of the magic. Over time, art has become not only her language but also her voice. "I definitely talk more," she laughs. "It's fun to share the meanings behind the art."
In Everybody Say "JUMP", India Cruse-Griffin offers more than an exhibition. She offers a joyful invitation to revisit the stories that shaped us, to honor the families that held us, and to jump, once again, into the art of living.