I explore the world of the Ancients in my approach to creating art. Mixing natural earth minerals into paints, I integrate the mysteries surrounding their art, techniques and early language roots in style, signs and pictographs. The images that emerge on canvas, I also create in clay sculptures, using natural minerals and pit fires.
Education:
Master’s Degree: Initiatives in Educational Transformation, George Mason University
Thesis: Multi-modal Approaches to Education to Include Art, Graduated with Honors
BLS in Art and Languages, Mary Washington University, Graduated with Honors
Teacher Certification: Primary Education, Mary Washington University, Graduated with Honors
CESMA Formazione e Cultura – College with Canavese Archaeological Museum and Art Restoration, Cuorgne’, Italy: Study of gold leaf application, fresco painting, and illuminated writing and symbolism – http://www.cesmaonline.org/cesma-formazione-corsi-gratuiti-torino-chi-siamo/
Current: Artworks in Public Places
Piper J Gallery, 10250 Donner Pass Rd. Truckee, CA 96161
Rigdgeline Gallery, 10104 Donnor Pass Road, Truckee, CA 96161
Art Experience:
2025 July: Cal Expo State Fair, Sacramento CA, “Imagination’s Light” 48×60″ natural paints with charcoal, chalks and gold leaf on handmade papers over wood painting
2025 June: “Spirit of Ochre” solo Art Exhibition and Talk, Piper J Gallery, Truckee CA
2025 May-June: “Feats of Clay” ceramic show, “Ochre Rest”, Merit Award (People’s Choice), Art League of Lincoln, Lincoln, CA
2025 March-April: “Off Center” ceramic show, “Dragonfly Dreams”, Blue Line Arts, Roseville, CA
2025 February: Wild and Scenic Film Festival and Art Exhibition, “Best in Theme” Award, “In a Purple Universe” 46×48″ mineral paints and charcoal painting on wood panel
2024 October 12, 13, 19 & 20 Open Studios Tour Nevada County West; Reception October 10 Center for the Arts, Grass Valley, CA
2024 September: “Echoes of Wonder” Ceramic sculpture Installation; Piper J Gallery, Opening Sept 6
2024 July: Martis Camp Truckee CA, Natural Mineral Workshop
2024 July: Cal Expo State Fair “Chasing Whispers” 46×48″ painting, Award of Excellence, Sacramento CA
2024 June: Natural Mineral Paint Workshop, Private Gathering
2024 May – June Crocker Art Auction “Wonder” Small Works 12×12 $1200, Sacramento CA
2024 April: Natural Mineral Paint Workshop, Piper J Gallery, Truckee CA
2024 March: Natural Mineral Paint Workshop, Blue Line Arts, Roseville CA
2024 March : Solo Art Exhibition, Talk and Workshop at Piper J Gallery, Truckee, CA
2024 February: Wild n Scenic Film Festival & Art Exhibition, Best in show 2-d “Chasing Whispers” 46×48″ painting, Nevada City CA
2024 January – April: “Wild Women” Art Exhibition (6 Women Artists), Truckee Airport, CA
2024 January – February: Martis Camp, Truckee, CA Solo Show
2023 November: 57th National Mother Lode Art Exhibition, Mills Station Arts and Culture Center (MACC), Rancho Cordova CA “Spirit of Blue” 48×24″ painting
2023 October: Cover of “Inside Sacramento” Arden Issue, “Whispers of Ochre” 30×40″ painting
2023 October: Nevada County West CA “Open Studio Tour” Talks and demonstrations Oct. 14, 15, 21 & 22
October 2023: Bold X Art Exhibition, Sacramento Fine Arts “Under the Crackle Moon” Oct. 3-28
2023 August 5: Art Opening and Exhibition, Piper J Gallery, 8/17 Art Talk, 8/19 Art Workshop, Truckee CA
2023 July: Cal Expo State Fair Fine Art, Award of Merit, “Wind Whisperers” painting, Sacramento CA
2023 March: Susan Cooley Gilliom Artist in Residence and Teaching Program implemented by Placer Community Foundation and hosted by Blue Line Arts in Roseville, CA.
2023 March: Lecture at Blue Line Arts, “Processes and Influences in my Art”
2023 March: Elementary school visits to the Art Studio, talk, demonstrations and questions, Blue Line Arts
2023 March: Two workshops – Making and mixing minerals into paints and clay slips on clay, Blue Line Arts, Roseville, CA.
March 2023: Interview with Jason Segundo “Good Day Sacramento” https://drive.google.com/file/d/102plgQaFD2pRhIQIndKWvmhfrZNNodle/view
2023 February: Wild & Scenic Film Festival & Art Exhibition – First Place in 2-d Painting, “Whispers Over the Land: Here We Are” Nevada City CA
2022-23 November-January: One Woman Exhibition, Nevada City Winery-Art Gallery
2022 September-October: Center for the Arts Exhibition, Grass Valley CA
2022 October: Open Studios Tour Nevada County West CA
2022 July-September: “Off Center” Ceramic Art, Blue Line Arts, Roseville CA
2022 June: Crocker Art Museum Auction, Big Names, Small Works 12×12″ “The Crossing” $1200
2022 March: NCECA-Ceramic Exhibition, Sierra Foothills Clay Arts at Blue Line Arts, Roseville CA
2022 March: Sun City Artists Group talk and Demonstration: Earth Artist Processes, Lincoln CA
2022 March: Blue Line Arts Talk on Mineral Paints in Painting and on Sculpture, Roseville CA
2022 January: Wild and Scenic Film Festival Art Exhibition, Grass Valley/Nevada City, Jurors Award
2021 November-December: ASIF Small Works Show, Grass Valley CA
2021 September-October: Center for the Arts Exhibition, Grass Valley CA
2021 October: Open Studios Tour Nevada County West, CA
2021 October: Nisenan Heritage Days Art Exhibition “Art through Visibility” & Commission Grass Valley CA
2021 August: Workshop for Nisenan tribe, Natural Mineral Paints, Nevada City CA
2021 June-July: Nevada City Winery Art Exhibition, One Woman Show
2021 July: Art through Visibility Exhibition (Nisenan), Talk Art Processes Nevada City CA.
2021 August: Blue Line Arts Talk on Earth Artist Processes in Painting, Roseville CA
2021 January: Wild and Scenic Film Festival Art Exhibition, Grass Valley/Nevada City, Jurors Award
2020-21 December-March: Manhattan Arts Online Art Exhibition “HerStory”
2020 October: Open Studios Tour Nevada County West CA
2020 October: Nisenan Heritage Days Art Exhibition “Art through Visibility Nevada City CA
2020 August-September: Nevada City Winery Art Exhibition, One Woman Show
2020 June: Earth Art Workshop, Cascina Rodiani, Italy – Cancelled (COVID)
2020 May: From My Studio (Stay at Home) “Chalkin’ It Up!” Across the USA
2020 April: Chalk Art “From My Street to Yours” Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
2020 April: Osborn Woods Gallery: Home Project Nevada City CA
2020 March: “Out From the Fire:” Pit Firing
2020 January-February: Two Day Workshops, Natural Mineral Paints, Nevada City CA
2019 Year “I Am” Project Art Exhibition Nevada County Arts Council (Belonging Project)
2019 September: Nevada City School of the Arts Talk and Demonstration
2019 September: Nisenan Tribal members Talk/Symposium, Grass Valley CA
2019 September: Hat Ranch Gallery Mineral Paints and gold leaf workshop, Art exhibition, Talk in Santa Fe New Mexico
2019 October: Nisenan Heritage Days Art Exhibition “Art through Visibility” Nevada City CA
2019 October: Open Studios Tour Nevada County West CA
2019 July: Nevada City Winery Art Exhibition, One Woman Show
2019 June: “Natural Earth Paints” Interview and Featured Artist
2019 May: Hiking the Out Back, Australian Cave Art
2019 January-March: Two Day Workshops, Natural Mineral Paints Nevada City CA
2019 January: Wild and Scenic Film Festival Art Exhibition, Grass Valley/Nevada City
2019 January: Nevada County Arts Council Featured Artist
2018 Year “Belonging” Art Exhibition, 1 year project, Nevada City CA
2018 October: Nisenan Art Exhibition “Art through Visibility”, Nevada City CA
2018 October: Open Studios Tour Nevada County West CA
2018 January: Wild and Scenic Film Festival Art Exhibition, Grass Valley/Nevada City
2018 January: WSFF Co-taught “Earth Works” Belonging Project with Ruth Chase Boudreau, Nevada City CA
2012 Private Instructor and small group instruction in Mineral Paint Processes and creating an eco-friendly Studio, Virginia
2011 Galerie Violeta, A Three Women Art Exhibition, Vienna Austria
2010 US Embassy Art Exhibition, Vienna Austria
2009-2011 Private and small group instruction for adults and preschool, Vienna Austria
2007 – 2008: Art School Instructor, DOD Schools, Mannheim, Germany Elementary K – 5
2004-05 Elementary School Teacher K-5, Pilot Program for Spanish Language, VA.
2002-2004 Adjunct Professor at George Mason University, Virginia
1994-2002 Elementary School Teacher 3-4, Pr. William County Public Schools, VA
2000 & 2001 Summer Art Camp, Warrenton, VA – Fauquier County Public Schools
1976 Second Place San Diego Schools all County Art Competition celebrating 1776
1966 Clay Sculpture demonstration San Diego Schools
1965 School Art Show and Sale San Diego Schools
1962 Museum of Contemporary Art of San Diego Young Artists Show
Jennifer Rugge 