Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Rose.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jen. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was once asked, “As an artist, where do you get your ideas from? Do you get them off of Pinterest?” This question seemed so odd that it took me a while to answer, “No, I have spent my life training my brain to come up with creative solutions.” It’s true, pursuing a MFA in in Ceramics from the University of North Texas and maintaining an active exhibition schedule has kept my creativity sharp, but I try to find the most innovative solutions in everyday life. In addition to being a studio artist, I teach at Richland College and love dreaming up new ways to teach art curriculum to my students. It’s not just about design and composition, it’s about idea generation and how to sustain your well of ideas as an artist.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
One of the biggest struggles as an artist is how to pay the bills while allowing yourself time to make innovative work. In 2002 when my friends and I were graduating with our MFAs we naively thought that tenure-track jobs and galleries were going to beat down our doors. We soon realized that being poor is not romantic and that thriving means flexibility and hard work. In order to make ends meet I had a paper route, was a nanny, opened a hula hoop business, and worked the reception desk at the Nasher Sculpture Center, all while I was adjunct teaching at multiple college districts in North Texas.
My career began to light up about the time my daughter was born. Suddenly I had a toddler, a full-time teaching position, and shows at several galleries and an exhibition at the Dallas Contemporary. It was all a bit too much and I had to sacrifice studio time to secure a stable future for my family. Those were tough decisions to make but in 2013 my life stabilized and I found myself in the studio several days a week. It’s fulfilling now to look back at my career and see progress through the ups and downs of life.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Jen Rose story. Tell us more about the business.
My most recent work was shown at Carneal Simmons gallery this spring in a solo exhibition titled, Invasive Species. It featured porcelain installation art displayed on the wall or hanging from the ceiling. I work in multiples and sometimes I hand- make thousands of similar objects. This way of working began in 2014 when I created 1,000 porcelain octopus tentacles that stuck in the wall like push pins. My father had just died and I needed time to meditate and process some emotions. It was a year-long process but creating each tentacle formed a structure to my art-making that set up a disciplined work schedule.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I have had my share of what some might call “bad luck” involving personal tragedies throughout my life. Navigating sudden loss in my childhood and young adult life left me with resilience that serves me well as an artist. I see the beauty and quirkiness in situations and it seeps into my artwork. I pay attention to things, I notice more, and I have some amazing stories.
Contact Info:
- Address: All artwork inquires can be directed to:
Carneal Simmons Gallery
1415 Slocum Street, Suite 105, Dallas, TX 75207-3807 - Website: www.jenroseart.com
- Phone: 214-745-2526
- Instagram: @onethousandjens
- Other: https://www.carnealsimmons.com
Image Credit:
All image credits except the portrait are credited to Kevin Todora.
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