JESS WEITZ
Jess Weitz is a multi-disciplinary visual artist living and working in Marlboro, Vermont. Her mediums, over 30 years of practice, have included photography, painting, found object sculpture, writing, and ceramics, often used in combination.
Jess' ceramics and paintings are made in collaboration with the local landscape, incorporating found plant and soil materials to create paint pigments, slip and glaze, working in earth tones, and emphasizing organic forms. She makes both wheel thrown and hand built functional pieces and sculptures. Her process, driven by topophilia, conflates the visual and written poetics of place and memory.
In addition to being a working artist, Jess has taught classes in expressive art and meditation since 2012, creating in-person and online courses for adults and organizations, with a primary objective of sharing intuitive approaches to art practices and insight to help others rediscover their innate creative selves and heal from trauma.
Jess' teaching style emphasizes deep listening, authenticity, inquiry, fierce compassion, warmth, and humor.
2023 Article in VT Digger about my art practice and classes
https://vtdigger.org/press_release/teaching-artist-jess-weitz/
Credentials
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30 years’ experience as a working artist
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20+ years experience teaching art workshops and classes, including photography, writing, painting and sculpture
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10 years experience running community art programs
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7 years work as a reference librarian providing confidential research and support on a range of personal topics
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BA in Art and MLIS degrees
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Member of Brattleboro-West Arts, Vermont Craft Council, and New England Foundation of the Arts Creative Ground
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Creative Aging trained teacher
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Certification in: Vipassana Meditation; Mindfulness Stress Reduction; Art therapy practices, including Guided Drawing; ; Qigong; and Reiki II
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Extended experience in trauma informed practices supporting individuals with anxiety, depression, and abuse histories.