Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Hereth.
Jennifer, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have been a painter in Chicago for 40 years. I taught for 17 years at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and ran Oxbow Summer School for SAIC for five years. I also taught their Mexico Program for four years. I transferred to The College of DuPage where I have taught Painting for the last 24 years. I have also taught for The University of Creation and Spirituality over 20 years, Art as Meditation.
My own paintings consist of portraits and political works and have for over 40 years. I also have spearheaded many community-based projects with my students from illustrating homeless poets’ poems and having joint poetry and art openings in downtown Chicago to teaching teachers in Sri Lanka who were denied a formal art education because of 30 years of civil war.
I have had over 50 exhibitions, four museum exhibitions including in Sao Paulo, Brazil where I was on a three-year fellowship and think tank. I have taught in over 15 situations abroad.
I am the inventor of The Teenage Archetype Carddeck, a therapeutic tool used by therapists, teachers and counselors across the globe and also published in Russia.
Has it been a smooth road?
I have been very fortunate that I have enjoyed teaching so much and have been able to make a living. I enjoyed my time at SAIC, teaching at a major art school with wonderful students and colleagues. But I was ahead of my time in my interest in art and community and I was not always seen as cool. My move to a community college worked well for me because I was able to influence a great deal of young artists to enjoy service and art together and I have had remarkably generous students as well. I have enjoyed teaching Art as Meditation as it is on a Doctoral level in Spirituality and feel very privileged. I have applied and won many international grants to teach and study abroad from Encaustic in Egypt to Fresco in Italy to community work in Brazil to Sri Lanka. I am in awe of being able to invent a therapeutic tool now sold through Amazon across the world which came out of my concern for teens especially the rash of shooters in the last 7 years.
I have not had a lot of recognition on the Chicago art scene in terms of local grants and commercial success but have enjoyed a relationship with a professional gallery at several points in my career and 4 museum exhibition along with over 50 openings. Having a recent exhibition raising funds for Chicago’s Syrian refugee families interests me more now than some past venues.
I have worked hard at being an artist first, a full-time teacher also.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with your art – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I have made art to heighten awareness about contemporary political and humanitarian issues because I sincerely believe art is powerful. I taught my students this belief as well.
The Teenage Archetype Carddeck which is part of my business recently was taught as part of an English as a second language program at the American Embassy in Sri Lanka and is published now in Russia for a growing field there in Art Therapy. I have taught it in China, and it can be viewed on YouTube under The Archetype Deck, and The Archetype Deck, China. All funds raised by over 3000 sales now, 100% goes to teen causes. Managing it is one of my big volunteer efforts.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love people. I love living right downtown, the diversity, the craziness, the art which is experienced on every corner.
I hate the violence especially among the teen population and try to do anything I can to keep up awareness of this terrible problem.
I march, I make posters, I volunteer The Teenage Archetype workshop at YMCAs and after-school programs for teens at risk every opportunity I get. I volunteer in art programs in Chicago Public Schools to try to support overworked and underpaid teachers.
I try to keep my energies up through my art and my teaching to stay awake politically.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1143 S. Plymouth Court #123
Chicago, IL 60605 - Website: www.jenniferhereth.com
- Phone: 312 671 1656
- Email: jennyhereth@gmail.com
- Instagram: jennifer hereth
- Facebook: jennifer hereth
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
