JORDANNE RENNER
How did your love of art begin?
Since my early childhood years! I had incredible art teachers at the super rural elementary and secondary schools I attended. In elementary school, I used to visit the library and check out the same exact book every week- I have no idea (now) what the title was- but on the cover was this lovely pen and ink illustration of a cat (I am a crazy cat lady), and I used to practice drawing it until I nailed it. Then I moved on to pen and ink stippling of the 1969 Santana album cover, and other big cat portraits with ink. If I could stipple all day, every day, I would- it’s therapeutic and taxing in all the right ways.
I have a vivid memory of driving this desolate road in AZ with my dad, and I had a little camera that shot 110mm film… and the roadway was quiet and loaded with bleached white crosses which seemed to be abounding and everywhere. It was a back roadway to Vegas, and it was both sad and magical. I wish I knew where that film was today.
My sophomore year in high school, I started darkroom photography, and became and “art (dark)room rat” for the rest of my high school career.
I’ve always had an interest in people, and community, which continues today in my broad spectrum of work.
Since my early childhood years! I had incredible art teachers at the super rural elementary and secondary schools I attended. In elementary school, I used to visit the library and check out the same exact book every week- I have no idea (now) what the title was- but on the cover was this lovely pen and ink illustration of a cat (I am a crazy cat lady), and I used to practice drawing it until I nailed it. Then I moved on to pen and ink stippling of the 1969 Santana album cover, and other big cat portraits with ink. If I could stipple all day, every day, I would- it’s therapeutic and taxing in all the right ways.
I have a vivid memory of driving this desolate road in AZ with my dad, and I had a little camera that shot 110mm film… and the roadway was quiet and loaded with bleached white crosses which seemed to be abounding and everywhere. It was a back roadway to Vegas, and it was both sad and magical. I wish I knew where that film was today.
My sophomore year in high school, I started darkroom photography, and became and “art (dark)room rat” for the rest of my high school career.
I’ve always had an interest in people, and community, which continues today in my broad spectrum of work.
Me with all of my cameras - I shoot film, and I shoot medium and large format, especially when doing landscape or self-portraiture. Working with the notion of the post modern Self and what that is and how society and family reflections on the role of the female digest with that are typically what I am exploring in my (self) portraits.
Where you were born, raised, educated:
(southern) Ohio native, I ran off to RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) in 1999 (with many Italian studies courses at Brown), then moved to Italy, and didn’t rally back in the O-H until 2006, with grad school at The Ohio State University for my MFA (2008-2010).
(southern) Ohio native, I ran off to RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) in 1999 (with many Italian studies courses at Brown), then moved to Italy, and didn’t rally back in the O-H until 2006, with grad school at The Ohio State University for my MFA (2008-2010).
Please tell us about living in German Village – family, pets, favorite things to do here, favorite places to walk, that sort of thing.
I moved to GV in 2006 and lived in the same place for a baker’s dozen of years (748 City Park Ave)—unit A was the haus and unit B was my studio. Most folks know the abode from all the cats lounging in the upstairs window, all the plants and wild pink grow lights at night, the women’s torsos out front, and the hands/arms extending from the façade…and the occasional tootsie (foot) on the front steps. (I do a lot of body castings, haha.)
I moved to GV in 2006 and lived in the same place for a baker’s dozen of years (748 City Park Ave)—unit A was the haus and unit B was my studio. Most folks know the abode from all the cats lounging in the upstairs window, all the plants and wild pink grow lights at night, the women’s torsos out front, and the hands/arms extending from the façade…and the occasional tootsie (foot) on the front steps. (I do a lot of body castings, haha.)
<my youth apprentices that worked on the cincinnati mural>
What more can you tell us about your craft? Do you do this professionally? Or more as a hobby?
I am a professional artist. 95% of my income is from doing something with the arts (though many of you have witnessed me moonlighting behind the bar at the Sycamore). Freelance/contract work ranging from one-off projects for individual clients, to commercial works, plus public murals that I design/create solo along with the ones I work with youth apprentices on take up a lot of my time. Plus, I’ve been professing the arts to college students in Ohio since 2008- mostly photography and life drawing courses. I also lead advanced adventure photography courses abroad in the summer months, and I am a mentor for my alma mater (RISD), and working in leadership capacities with art/photo-centered national organizations.
I am a professional artist. 95% of my income is from doing something with the arts (though many of you have witnessed me moonlighting behind the bar at the Sycamore). Freelance/contract work ranging from one-off projects for individual clients, to commercial works, plus public murals that I design/create solo along with the ones I work with youth apprentices on take up a lot of my time. Plus, I’ve been professing the arts to college students in Ohio since 2008- mostly photography and life drawing courses. I also lead advanced adventure photography courses abroad in the summer months, and I am a mentor for my alma mater (RISD), and working in leadership capacities with art/photo-centered national organizations.
As a kid I was obsessed with the rowdy initiation of the Impressionists on art culture and how they obsessed with light and atmosphere, then I fell heavily in love with Egon Schiele in high school. It wasn’t until RISD that I realized I also had a love affair with the simplicity and directness of Richard Avedon, Mary Ellen Mark, Larry Clark, Sally Mann, Jock Sturges, Cindy Sherman, and Bill Owens (suburbia) photography. All of which still stick with me and my practice.
<volcano tube_iceland>
Did you have any influences?
Earlier this year I became a recipient of several grants- a Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) Individual Artist grant, plus a Big Ideas grant from GCAC that will go towards this juried exhibition I’ve organized and am curating here in Columbus that is also a part of the FotoFocus 2020 Biennial (where I also received a grant to make this exhibition possible). The exhibition is “WE, the Women’s Caucus” and the call for entries is currently live- so submit if you are a woman (or someone that identifies as) and are making work about women!!! This crazy strange time in our world with Covid-19 shutting everyone’s life down, rendered many of my upcoming freelance bids useless, so I applied and received the GCAC Covid-19 Artist Relief grant. 2020 is the year of grants for me it seems!
Earlier this year I became a recipient of several grants- a Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) Individual Artist grant, plus a Big Ideas grant from GCAC that will go towards this juried exhibition I’ve organized and am curating here in Columbus that is also a part of the FotoFocus 2020 Biennial (where I also received a grant to make this exhibition possible). The exhibition is “WE, the Women’s Caucus” and the call for entries is currently live- so submit if you are a woman (or someone that identifies as) and are making work about women!!! This crazy strange time in our world with Covid-19 shutting everyone’s life down, rendered many of my upcoming freelance bids useless, so I applied and received the GCAC Covid-19 Artist Relief grant. 2020 is the year of grants for me it seems!
I ride my bicycle everywhere- mostly for running errands, taking a looksies around the neighborhood, meeting friends for a caffe at Pistacia Vera, or cocktails at Lindey’s. I like to ride for leisure and green transportation purposes, and gussied up in heels, too! I hate running, but I do it. During these colder months you might see someone that from behind looks like Cousin It, that’s me- it feels better to run with my hair down, (I have a lot of it). I’m also that wild woman during the warmer months doing yoga by herself in Schiller, always facing the sun and typically near City Park and Reinhard.
The snap of me in three different cocktail dresses are all dresses I made in response to whatever exhibition was happening during the time of the Wexner Center annual gala— the one on the far right is made entirely from recycled newspaper and lace, the middle one is a dress I painted on after I made the dress, and the left one I made a 9yd painting and then cut/sewed it into a dress.
<light box and sculpture installation I made for the wexner center>
Until about three years ago, I was heavily involved with German Village Society, chairing community garden groups, and participating in other initiatives, helping rally support, and hosting two wild and wonderful Pre-Tour dinner extravaganzas! I am still a member of GVS (shoot! We had our bombastic wedding parade and reception there), but have redirected my energies to other local activities and organizations - it’s important to spread the cheer and support.
<the crew of a pre tour dinner>
<me painting hausfrau mural>
Where can we see your work?
I have a few public permanent installations of my work locally- the North Market (upstairs near Hot Chicken), Goodfellows Tonsorial Parlor (staircase to third floor), Hausfrau Haven (back wall to the right of the bar), and Goodwill Columbus HQ in Grandview in their Workforce Task development division.
In the fall I have a solo, interactive exhibition in Cincinnati, which is a part of the FotoFocus2020 Biennial, and I also have a few pieces in a group show in Indian Hill during the fall, which is also a part of the FotoFocus2020 Biennial. Other than, you’re stuck with my out-of-date mucked up website that I need to revamp- but totally give it a looksies, just don’t judge on it fully since it needs some love.
My Website www.jordannerenner.com and Instagram is @jordannerenner
I have a few public permanent installations of my work locally- the North Market (upstairs near Hot Chicken), Goodfellows Tonsorial Parlor (staircase to third floor), Hausfrau Haven (back wall to the right of the bar), and Goodwill Columbus HQ in Grandview in their Workforce Task development division.
In the fall I have a solo, interactive exhibition in Cincinnati, which is a part of the FotoFocus2020 Biennial, and I also have a few pieces in a group show in Indian Hill during the fall, which is also a part of the FotoFocus2020 Biennial. Other than, you’re stuck with my out-of-date mucked up website that I need to revamp- but totally give it a looksies, just don’t judge on it fully since it needs some love.
My Website www.jordannerenner.com and Instagram is @jordannerenner
<me painting the cincinnati mural>
<detail of north market mural>
I’m proud to be a working artist in Columbus. The slogan “Art Makes Columbus, Columbus Makes Art” couldn’t be more accurate. Such a supportive community we live in! With that in mind, even though I’m a struggling artist at moment due to the pandemic, I decided an act of kindness would serve my community and me personally quite well. With that, I started drive-by, pop-out-of-the-truck quickie shoots—bringing smiles to faces that I am familiar with and those that are new to me, absolutely elevated my spirits and energy. Twenty-nine homes participated on Easter Sunday, and I will absolutely rally to execute other drive-by home portraits again. Interested? Email me! [email protected]
CREATIVE of the MONTH Artist Jordanne Renner May 2020
RECIPE Wild Mushroom Pappardelle. Pair with an Italian wine and whisk away culinarily to Tuscany. |
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