As a milliner, felt-maker and educator, Jean uses lightly processed fibers to create both theatrical and functional headwear. She has exhibited her hats in the Ukraine, Finland, Italy, Scotland, Portugal and the Netherlands. Nationally, Jean has shown at the prestigious Smithsonian Craft Show, Smithsonian Craft2wear and Philadelphia Museum Show and at the Salt Lake Art Center. Jean has exhibited locally at Bellevue Arts Museum, Whatcom Museum, and the Tacoma Art Museum. She has designed and fabricated for Teatro Zinzanni, Maureen Whiting dance company, and New City Theater productions. She has also taught hundreds of kids in the Northwest how to create headwear through Coyote Central, Powerful Schools, Tacoma Art Museum, Bellevue Art Museum and Seattle Public Schools. As per adult education; Jean has taught at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Haystack School of Craft, Penland School of Arts and Crafts, Antioch University and Pratt Fine Art Center Seattle. She has worked as an assistant to performance/fiber artists Nick Cave and Joan Livingstone. Jean has received national and international fellowships; NEA, Warhol Family Foundation, Windgate Family Foundation and in Washington state; Artist Trust, Poncho and 4culture. Jean most recently participated in a fellowship at the Niausi Institute Fellowship in Civita di Bagnoreggio, Italy.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Making Our Mark; Pratt fine arts center instructors. BAM 2017-18 (2 months)
Smithsonian Craft2wear show; National Building Museum, Washington DC. 2016 and 2017 (1st weekend of October)
International Textile Art-Scythia Exhibition. Kherson, Ukraine, 2015 (2months)
Hats-Sculptural form/Artistic Function. BAM 2013-2014 (2months)
Crowning Glory; IFA hat exhibit. 2008-2009 (1 year) Europe and Scandinavia.
Material Culture; modern fiber arts. Salt Lake Arts Center, 2006
Education
MA Ed. 1992 Antioch University, Seattle, WA.
BA Liberal Arts. 1988 TESC, Olympia WA.
Teaching-kids
After-school Enrichment Teacher, Powerful Schools, Seattle, WA. 2010-2012
Middle School Enrichment Teacher, Coyote Central, Seattle WA.. 1993-2001
Middle School Arts Specialist, Seattle Public Schools 1992-1997
Teaching-Adults
Felt hat workshop. 1998, 2006,2014. Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gattlinburg, TN.
Felt hat workshop. 2004, 2013, Shakerag Workshops. Sewanee, TN
Felt hat workshop. 2010 Haystack Mountain School of Crafts
Felt hat workshop. 2010 Jyvaskyla Insitute, Jyvaskyla Finland
Felt hat workshop. 2009,2010. Maiwa School of Textiles, Vancouver, Canada.
Felt hat workshop. 1998, 2000, 2002, Penland School of Crafts. Penland N.C.
artist statement
As a milliner, I balance transformation and function.
As a fiber artist, I focus on not settling for easy, but rather, simple.
As a maker, I practice by doing each day doing something in the studio. As a teacher, I learn as more from my students than from any other source. And, as an artist, I am curious because I choose to be with others who are curious too.