Jessica Rehfield

Jessica Rehfield is a visual artist and teacher whose work explores language, intolerance and social justice in a variety of mediums and formats including charcoal, oil, graphite, printmaking, social engagement works and interdisciplinary pieces with fabric, multi-modal construction and project coordination.  They live and work in the unceded homelands of the Confederated Tribes of the Grande Ronde and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. Their current work explores intersections of grief and queerness in Jewish diasporic and national contexts, and yiddishkeit.

Rehfield has work in Evolution of Practice, an upcoming exhibit at The Arts Center, running April 6-May 13, 2023.

They were a recent Artist-In-Residence at Salem Art Association, with work on queer representation in The Annex from September 6 to October 1, and exhibiting October 6-November 5 in The Focus Gallery at SAA. Their work stitched together a giant Pride flag from 12 individual pride flags and collected the work of 10 Queer artists in the zine, Queer MIS/representation. They gave an artist’s talk about queer and trans rights, here.

Rehfield was a Fellow with Art/Lab in Portland in 2021-22, Artist-in-Residence at Eastside Jewish Commons, and an Artist in Residence at The Arts Center in Corvallis where they explored Yiddish as a heritage language, and wrote and illustrated a primer for learning Yiddish, with English transliteration. At present, Rehfield’s art invites audiences to consider loss and suffering in the midst of pandemic, assaults on the rights of transgender people, and the resurgence of antisemitism. She contributed to the Artist’s Grief Deck and is featured in the online exhibition, Solo_Show: Behind the Times.

Born in Dzánti K’ihéeni and Juneau, Alaska, Rehfield earned their BA in Art from the University of Alaska Southeast (2006) and MFA in Craft in Drawing and Painting from Oregon College of Art and Craft in 2019. Their master’s thesis considers, in charcoal drawings, Jewish and American identities in light of the resurgence of anti-Semitism enabled and emboldened by the Trump administration. The work highlights the similarities between the current political moment and the historical example of the-once-democratic Weimar Germany’s descent into fascism. 

Rehfield imagines social engagement projects, most notably My Own Flag to Raise (2022), Language World (2016) and Jamaica People Project (2014) in which they create work with participants, engage together in a process of inquiry and reflection, and render the international and historical forces that inform and shape both artist and participants’ world views and identities. Rehfield has commissions and murals in Alaska, Oregon, California, North Carolina and Jamaica, and has received awards in group and individual exhibitions. An artist talk about their most recent project, My Own Flag to Raise, can be seen here.

They served as the Arts Education Program Coordinator for the Fairbanks Arts Association from 2008-2009, managing the Artists-In-Schools program, a national program that expands opportunities to have teaching artists in classrooms across school districts in Alaska. The pandemic curtailed their spring 2020 classes for adults on critical theory and material processes but in 2022, they returned to teaching drawing foundations in Portland Public Schools and will teach in Corvallis, Salem and other spaces in 2023. They created and curate the Queer Artist Series: 2SLGBTQIAP In Focus for Salem Art Association, a series created to highlight the work and accomplishments of queer artists across the Pacific Northwest and neighboring states in 2023-2024.

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2019 MFA in Craft in Drawing & Painting, Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR. Commitment to Excellence Scholarship 2017-2019

2006 BLA Art, University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, AK. Dean's List, 2005

2005 Teaching Artist Residency and Workshops, Alaska School System, Juneau, AK

2003 International Student Exchange, Charles-de-Gaulle Université de Lille 3, Lille, France

2000 Rising Star Participant, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA

Workshops & Special Training

2022 Artists In Schools Training with Benjamin Mefford, Salem Art Association

2020 Intaglio processes with Jane Pagliarulo, Atelier Meridian Fine Art Print Studio, Portland, OR

2018 Mold-making with Chanda Zea, Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR

2017-2019 LASER rastering and etching, vinyl-plotting and 3-D printing with Benny Hill, OCAC, Portland, OR

Residencies

2023 Upcoming Artist-in-Residence, Studio, Salem Art Association, Salem, OR

2022 Artist-in-Residence, My Own Flag to Raise, Studio and Exhibition at Salem Art Association, Salem, OR

2022 Artist-in-Residence, Eastside Jewish Commons, Portland, OR

2021-22 Fellowship with Co/Lab: Art/Lab, Portland, OR

2021-22 Artist-in-Residence, AAP, The Arts Center, Corvallis, OR

2020 Artist-In-Residence, Atelier Meridian Fine Art Print Studio, Portland, OR

2018 October Painting and Ceramics Residency, Mudshark LLC/Eutectic Gallery, Portland, OR

Exhibitions

Solo

2022 My Own Flag to Raise, Focus Gallery, Salem Art Association, Salem, OR

2022 Mayn Kneydl Illustrations, Family House, Portland, OR

2017 Monotypes & Prints Aria Gin Tasting Room, Portland, OR

2016 Certificate of AWkward Oregon College of Art and Craft, OR

2014 The Jamaica People Project Buncombe County Public Library, Asheville, NC

2005 Jessica Rehfield: New Works The Friendly Planet Loft, Juneau, AK

Group

2023 Upcoming, Evolution of Practice, The Arts Center, Corvallis, OR

2022 Queer MIS/representation, Focus Gallery, Salem Art Association, Salem, OR

2022 From the Ground Up, Art/Lab Fellows Exhibition, Eastside Jewish Commons, Portland, OR

2022 Artists-in-Residence Exhibition, Corrine Woodman Gallery, The Arts Center, Corvallis, OR

2021 Art Social Group Show, The Geode, Portland, OR

2020 Artists’ Grief Deck virtual exhibit, Artists’ Literacies Institute

2020 Solo_Show: Behind the Times virtual exhibition, Alyssa Davis Gallery, NYC

2019 Re|Solve MFA in Craft Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR

2018 Impetus Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR

2017 Winter Artists Showcase Erickson Gallery, Portland, OR

2017 Graduate MFA Student Showcase Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR

2016 Printmaking Portfolio Exhibit Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR

2014-2015 Open Studios Phil Mechanic Arts Bldg., River Arts District, Asheville, NC

2013 Members Show Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts League, Swannanoa, NC

2007 Fear, The Ruby Room, Juneau, AK

Awards

2021-22 Arts Fellowship with Co/Lab: Art/Lab, Portland, OR

2017-2019 Commitment to Excellence Scholarship, Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR

2008 Juror's Choice, Bear Gallery, Fairbanks Arts Association Juried Art Show, Fairbanks, AK

2005 People's Choice, UAS Student Art Show, University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, AK

2004 Juror's Choice Award, UAS Student Art Show, University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, AK

2000 Partial Tuition Waiver, University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, AK

2000 Full Honors 4-Year Scholarship, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA

2000 Rising Star Illustration Student Award, SCAD, Savannah, GA 

Teaching and Volunteering

2022 Write and Draw Your Story, Artist, Portland Public Schools

2022 Storyboarding, Arts Alive! Instructor, The Arts Center, Corvallis, OR

2022 Draw Your Story workshop with Mayn Kneydl reading, Friendly House, Portland, OR

2022 Mayn Kneydl, Evening book talk and reading, Friendly House, Portland, OR

2021 ABC Community Nights Workshop Host (online), Friendly House, Portland, OR

2021-22 Judge, Bi Book Awards, virtual

2020 Classes postponed due to COVID-19, True North Studios

(Visual Literacy: Propaganda, Art and Advertising; Sketchbook and Writing Practices; Matisse and The Line)

2019 Visual Artist, Portland Art Social, Portland, OR

2018-2019 Judge, Portland Metro Scholastic Art Awards, Portland, OR

2017 Demo Artist, Lake Oswego Arts Festival, Lake Oswego, OR

2016 Curator of Art, Asheville Percussion Festival, Asheville, NC

2014 Art and Literacy Tutor, Trenchtown Reading Centre, Kingston, Jamaica

2013-2014 Arts For Life Instructor, Mission Hospital, Asheville, NC

2012 Drawing, Residential Boarding Facility, Hendersonville, NC

2011 1,000 Easels Artist, Regional Area Arts Council & City of Asheville, Asheville, NC

2008 Drawing, Private Instruction, Fairbanks, AK

2009 Artist, UAF Art in the Park, Fairbanks, AK

2008 Artist, Creamer’s Field Art Walk, Fairbanks, AK

2005-2006 Teaching Artist Workshop Facilitator, Basic Arts Institute, Alaska Arts Education Consortium, Juneau, AK

Publications

Salem Art Association

https://salemart.org/

https://salemart.org/events/artist-in-residence-my-own-flag-to-raise-jessica-rehfield/

https://www.salemreporter.com/2022/10/31/a-pride-flag-display-prompts-conversation-backlash-at-salem-art-association/

https://salemart.org/events/artist-in-residence-my-own-flag-to-raise-jessica-rehfield/

https://salemart.org/events/open-studio-hours-with-artist-in-resident-jessica-rehfield/

https://salemart.org/events-exhibitions/

https://www.facebook.com/salem.art.association/photos/a.101326474823/10160599522119824/?type=3

Artist Talk

https://youtu.be/Kv1mDRCtinY

Co/Lab Art/Lab Fellowship

https://www.orartswatch.org/news-notes-stapletons-on-sale-bartow-at-the-whitney-zz-top-dolly-parton-esperanza-does-blake-jewish-art/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CeC1N3qtUrl/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cej3MJ4uWC8/

https://colabpdx.org/events/

https://colabpdx.org/artlab/

Jewish Review of Portland

https://cdn.fedweb.org/fed-29/2/JR0511.pdf

https://www.jewishportland.org/jewishreview/jr-stories?page=6

Eastside Jewish Commons

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdvounNBPYn/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CeO_WGzMJkM/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cej6j_lu227/

Friendly House

https://fhpdx.org/event/artist-lecture-showing-in-person/

The Arts Center, Corvallis

https://theartscenter.net/artists-in-residence-2/

https://theartscenter.net/artists-residence-exhibit-2022/

Exhibit preview

https://youtu.be/4n4aNhxX7aA

Artist talk

https://youtu.be/zRn-YLQFo18

2017-2018

Julia.Jean Journal, Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR

2014

The Laurel: http://www.thelaurelofasheville.com/jamaica-people.html

Asheville Citizen Times: http://blogs2.citizen-times.com/photography/2014/04/29/go-look-asheville-photography-exhibits/

Mountain Xpress: http://mountainx.com/arts/state-of-the-arts/

AshVegas Blog: http://www.ashvegas.com/tag/jessica-rehfield

2005

First Friday Solo Exhibition

http://juneauempire.com/stories/010605/thi_20050106031.shtml

Contact:

@alenereh

jessicarehfieldart @ gmail dot com

Shevat 5783/Jan 2023