visual arts vitae
Selected Solo and Group Exhibitions
2021
Cactus, Los Angeles "A Sappy Birthday Show"
Cactus, Los Angeles "Friendship"
2020
Cactus, Los Angeles "Tiny Treasures 15"
Bubble Pop, Bakersfield CA "Rise"
Pauly Friedman Art Gallery, Misericordia University, Dallas PA "The Patient-Artist Experience"
2019
Cactus, Los Angeles "Tiny Treasures 14"
Cactus, Los Angeles "Loteria! V"
University of Minnesota AHC, Minneapolis MN "Patient Art at the Nexus Summit"
Curly Tale Fine Art, Chicago IL "Just Bee ... Wonderfully Weird Wonders"
Contributing artist, Yoko Ono installation, 'Arising' shown with:
~Museum Der Bildenden Kunste, Leipzig Germany "Peace is Power"
~Foundation Phi Pour L' Art Contemporain, Montreal Canada "Liberte Conquerante"
~Ruskin Gallery, University of Cambridge, UK "Yoko Ono: Looking For ..."
~Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY "Yoko Ono: Remembering the Future"
Cactus, Los Angeles "Homes"
Cactus, Los Angeles "Cats"
2018
Cactus, Los Angeles "Tiny Treasures + One"
Cactus, Los Angeles "The Revival"
Cactus, Los Angeles "Glitter"
2017
Cactus, Los Angeles "Tiny Treasures XII" Featured Artist, 'Things with Wings' Installation
USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles"Pain2"
Cactus, Los Angeles "Pinocchio''s Follies"
Cactus, Los Angeles "The Love You Make"
Bunny Gunner, Pomona CA "All U Can Eat" at La Bomba Vintage/Metro Gallery
Cactus, Los Angeles "Something Wild in My Garden"
Cactus, Los Angeles "Bad Girls and Outcasts"
Cactus, Los Angeles "¡Loteria! iii"
2016
Cactus, Los Angeles "Tiny Treasures XI"
Cactus, Los Angeles "Water"
Cactus, Los Angeles "Symphony of Wings"
Cactus, Los Angeles "Beastly Beings"
2015
Cactus, Los Angeles "Tiny Treasures X"
Bunny Gunner, Claremont CA "All U Can Eat"at The Garner House
Loft Beats, Pomona "Ascension"
UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles "Forward Motion" Solo Exhibit
2014
The Empty Space, Bakersfield "Pas de Berlin" Four Artist Collaboration: Jen Raven; Todd Powers; Ande Castaneda; Berlin
UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles "PAIN"
Bunny Gunner, Claremont "All U Can Eat" at The Garner House
2013
dba256, Pomona CA "Go Big or Stay Home"
Bunny Gunner, Pomona CA "The Great Outdoors"
dba256, Pomona CA"Hero de Mayo"
Bunny Gunner, Pomona CA "All U Can Eat"
dba256, Pomona CA "Canopy"
2012
Bunny Gunner, Pomona CA "The Game Show"
dA Center for the Arts, Pomona CA "Simply Red"
2011
The Foundry, Bakersfield CA "Kitsch Exhibit" Juried Competition
The Empty Space, Bakersfield CA "Abstract Work of Jen Raven" Solo Exhibit
Bunny Gunner Gallery, Pomona CA "All U Can Eat"
The Foundry, Bakersfield CA "Dine In, Take Out" Solo Exhibit
2009
The Empty Space, Bakersfield CA "Muse" Curator. A SWAN Day event.
2008
The Empty Space, Bakersfield CA "Burn the Witch III" Curator
2007
The Empty Space, Bakersfield CA “Burn the Witch II” Curator
The Art Studio & 18th Street Gallery, Bakersfield CA “Watermarks”
2006
The Empty Space, Bakersfield CA “Burn the Witch” Curator.
The Empty Space, Bakersfield CA “Bakersfield: Life As It Should Be” Assistant Curator.
The Empty Space, Bakersfield CA “The Freak Show” Assistant Curator.
The Empty Space, Bakersfield CA “The Broken Heart Show”
2005
The Empty Space, Bakersfield CA “Monsters and Fairies” Duo exhibit, Jennifer Williams, Jen Raven.
Publications
2020
Art and Cake Magazine, artist survey “Living Through a Pandemic, Artists Experiment, Inspire, and Persevere” March 15, 2020 artandcakela.com
Awards
2011
First Place Award. 'Kitsch Exhibit' Juried Competition. The Foundry Gallery, Bakersfield CA.
2009
Arts in the Community Grant Awarded to Jen Raven, by The Arts Council of Kern. Bakersfield, CA.
Empty Space Award, "Best Gallery Exhibit, 2008" The 6th Annual Empty Space Awards, Bakersfield, CA.
2008
Empty Space Award, “Best Gallery Exhibit, 2007” The 5th Annual Empty Space Awards, Bakersfield, CA.
2007
Empty Space Award, “Best Gallery Exhibit, 2006” The 4th Annual Empty Space Awards, Bakersfield, CA.
Curator’s Pick Award 'Watermarks' exhibit; The Art Studio and 18th Street Gallery” Bakersfield, CA.
1993
Certificate of Recognition 6510th Component Repair Squadron, TMDE Branch, Edwards AFB, CA.
Selected Community Work:
2021-2020
Stitched Together California Masks for the community
2016
Artwork Donation: Bakersfield Burrito Project Olives, 20x16 acrylic painting on reclaimed wood
Property/Puppet Donation: Bakersfield Community Theatre, Alice In Wonderland Baby-to-Pig transforming puppet. Director: Tim Fromm. Bakersfield Community Theatre, Bakersfield, CA.
2012-2011
Volunteer Employee: Press Secretary, The Foundry Facilitated communications between the gallery and the community; drafted and sent press releases to members of the local press and members of the local arts community. Organized successful fund-raising efforts for gallery windows replacement, following vandalism. Mentored newly emerging artists.
2010
"A Grand Affair of the Heart" Fundraiser presented by San Joaquin Community Hospital Foundation and the Arts Council of Kern. Acrylic paint on aluminum heart maquette for auction at "A Grand Affair of the Heart" evening gala, The DoubleTree Hotel, Bakersfield, CA.
2010-2009
Volunteer Employee: Vice-President, Bakersfield Emerging Contemporary Artists Assisted creating and managing this non-profit organization dedicated to growing the Arts in Bakersfield, CA. Worked as bookkeeper, publicist for events, manager of web pages, coordinator of group meetings and fundraisers, teacher of classes, and speaker at seminar events. Selected events and assignments as Vice-President, Publicist, Teacher, Speaker, and Manager of BECA: Bakersfield Comic-Con; Burn the Witch IV; The Never-Ending Comedy Show; Artamentals; Band Razor; BECA Carnival (one and two); Fields and Foreclosures; Divine Fusion; Artuary, First Friday (monthly).
Volunteer Employee: The Basement Gallery Publicist and press secretary; press relations, public relations, press release, copy writing, scheduling.
2009-2007
Contributing Writer, Bakotopia Magazine Contributing copy writer, working with photographer Todd Powers, to cover local arts and culture events for Bakotopia Magazine.
2009-2005
Volunteer Guest Curator and assistant to the curator, The Empty Space Gallery, Bakersfield CA. Producer and curator, 'Muse' invitational exhibition, 2009. Founding member, "Burn the Witch" annual all-women's arts exhibit and workshops, producer and curator 2006, '07, '08. Assistant to the curator, A.S. Ashley, 'The Freak Show,' 2006, and 'Bakersfield, Life As It Should Be,' 2005.
2007
Volunteer Employee of The Art Studio and 18th Street Gallery, Bakersfield CA. Opening the gallery to customers and members; answering phones; general maintenance; press and promotions; assisting with gallery exhibits.
2006-2002
Activity Leader, paid position: Russo’s Books branch of ‘The American Girl’ book club for 2nd through 6th grade girls, Bakersfield CA. Teaching a wide variety of no-cost arts, crafts, sewing, and history lessons; research and creation of lesson plans and story-boards; organization of events and parties; and coordination of this group with other children’s events in the bookstore. Russo’s Books in the Marketplace, Bakersfield, CA.
2001-2000
Volunteer Employee of The Spotlight Theatre, Bakersfield, CA. Playwright, stage manager; lighting design; run of show; house manager; properties master; costumer; box office; cast; dancer and dance instructor; maintenance; kitchen; assisted in the remodel of the Historic Hayden Atrium Building into a found theatre space.
Biography:
Jen Raven is an artist in acrylics, mixed-media, assemblage, and more, with an academic background in literature and technical theatre. She is known for her work as a performance poet, for her award-winning arts community activism, and for her ongoing work as a concepts artist, in collaboration with photographer Todd Powers. She resides in Bakersfield, where she has helped to create and support theatre spaces, art galleries, arts publications, and arts-related non-profit organizations. She has most recently exhibited with Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles, Curly Tale Fine Art, Chicago IL, and the Pauly Friedman Art Gallery, Misericordia University, Dallas PA.
Jen Raven is an artist in acrylics, mixed-media, assemblage, and more, with an academic background in literature and technical theatre. She is known for her work as a performance poet, for her award-winning arts community activism, and for her ongoing work as a concepts artist, in collaboration with photographer Todd Powers. She resides in Bakersfield, where she has helped to create and support theatre spaces, art galleries, arts publications, and arts-related non-profit organizations. She has most recently exhibited with Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles, Curly Tale Fine Art, Chicago IL, and the Pauly Friedman Art Gallery, Misericordia University, Dallas PA.