visual arts vitae
Selected Solo and Group Exhibitions
2018
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 "All U Can Eat" at La Bomba Vintage/Metro Gallery, Pomona CA
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 "All U Can Eat"at The Garner House, Claremont CA
Loft Beats, Pomona CA "Ascension"
UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles "Forward Motion" (Solo Exhibit)
2014
The Empty Space, Bakersfield CA "Pas de Berlin" Jen Raven; Todd Powers; Ande Castaneda; Cheyenne Berlin (Four Person Collaboration)
UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles "PAIN"
Bunny Gunner "All U Can Eat" at The Garner House, Claremont CA
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
"The Game Show" Bunny Gunner Gallery, Pomona, CA.
"Simply Red" The dA Center for the Arts, Pomona, CA.
2011
The Foundry Gallery, Bakersfield, CA"Kitsch Exhibit" (First Place Award) Juried Competition
The Empty Space Gallery, Bakersfield, CA "Abstract Work of Jen Raven" (Solo Exhibit)
Bunny Gunner Gallery, Pomona, CA "All U Can Eat"
The Foundry Gallery, Bakersfield, CA "Dine In, Take Out" (Solo Exhibit)
2009
"Muse" Curated by Jen Raven. A SWAN Day event. The Empty Space Gallery, Bakersfield, CA.
2008
"Burn the Witch III" Curated by Jen Raven. The Empty Space Gallery, Bakersfield, CA.
2007
“Burn the Witch II” Curated by Jen Raven. The Empty Space Gallery, Bakersfield, CA.
“Watermarks” (Curator's Pick Award) The Art Studio and 18th Street Gallery, Bakersfield, CA.
2006
“Burn the Witch” Curated by Jen Raven. The Empty Space Gallery, Bakersfield, CA.
“Bakersfield: Life As It Should Be” Assistant to the Curator. The Empty Space Gallery, Bakersfield, CA.
“The Freak Show” Assistant to the Curator. The Empty Space Gallery, Bakersfield, CA.
2005
“Monsters and Fairies” Duo exhibit, Jennifer Williams, Jen Raven. The Empty Space Gallery, Bakersfield, CA.
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:
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 sculpture, and the performance arts, with an academic background in literature and technical theatre. She holds an Associate of Arts degree in English Literature from Bakersfield College; her awards include an Arts in the Community Grant from the Arts Council of Kern.
Raven is known for her work as a performance poet, for her award-winning arts community leadership, and for her ongoing work as a concept 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 in Los Angeles, Bunny Gunner Gallery in Claremont, and the LRC Gallery, UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, in Los Angeles.
Jen Raven is an artist in acrylics, mixed-media/assemblage sculpture, and the performance arts, with an academic background in literature and technical theatre. She holds an Associate of Arts degree in English Literature from Bakersfield College; her awards include an Arts in the Community Grant from the Arts Council of Kern.
Raven is known for her work as a performance poet, for her award-winning arts community leadership, and for her ongoing work as a concept 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 in Los Angeles, Bunny Gunner Gallery in Claremont, and the LRC Gallery, UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, in Los Angeles.