Dec 21 2013
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Art, Jenna Rodriguez, Letterpress printing, spudnik press, Teaching

Students at work…

This was my last week of teaching intro to letterpress at Spudnik Press. I loved teaching in an art community environment. It is very different from teaching at a college. It definitely took a little time to adjust and realize there are no grades. These artists are here because they want to learn. What a fabulous experience. I can’t wait to teach my other classes in the near future! The next session of classes will begin January 11th. If you are interested in learning how to letterpress print you should enroll into my class there is still space. If you already know how to print but want to learn the process of polymer plate making then you can take my class in March. If you have any interest or questions please feel free to contact me or Spudnik Press. Here are some pictures of my last class hard at work. Thank you Angelika Piwowarcyk for taking beautiful pictures during class.

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Dec 15 2013
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Art, Jenna Rodriguez, Letterpress printing

Work in Fort Worth, Texas!!

In or near Forth Worth, Texas? Go to WOCA gallery to see “Running Thoughts” a multimedia piece I created for my thesis. It is part of a group exhibition called “A Seat At The Table on display till January 17th.

“A Seat At The Table: An Exploration Through Artists’ Books is a conceptually-driven, juried exhibition of artists’ books, which gives voice to concepts, ideas, behaviors, beliefs, and experiences that relate or speak to everyday social life. The artists’ books in this exhibition open dialogue about the human experience through multiple interpretations of the artists’ book medium, including traditional book-binded forms and works that use books as a reference or metaphor to create other conceptual forms. ”

A Seat At the Table

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Nov 30 2013
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Jenna Rodriguez

First sale in my Etsy Shop!

I have been working on building an Etsy shop for the past month. I am still working on adding more of my artwork to the shop but right now I have bracelets and prints. Please visit the site, tell your friends about it and maybe even make some purchases! The holidays are around the corner and I have lots of holiday cards for sale. Bracelets also might be a lovely gift for someone special. Everything in my shop is designed and handmade by me! Check out my etsy shop JennaMrodriguez

First Etsy Sale bundled up and ready to be shipped!!!!

First easy sale!

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Nov 24 2013
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Art, Letterpress printing, Uncategorized, Wood type

New Print Shop in Town called Tandem Felix!

Husband and wife Jamiel Dado & Liz Isakson-Dado recently started Tandem Felix Letterpress Print Shop located in the Lacuna Lofts in Pilsen. Liz was a colleague of mine from grad school. They are super excited about this new edition to their family. The Lacuna Lofts and print shop are gorgeous. They have acquired a C&P Platen Press, Sign Press, and a good size collection of wood and metal type. They are offering a variety of workshops for anyone who is looking to get their hands inky! They are also starting to produce work to sell in their etsy shop. So far they have a variety of posters using wood type and coasters. If you have any interested in learning letterpress printing I would definitely give them a holler.  Check out some pictures from my last visit.  Photos are not the best and do not represent how beautiful the shop is. I guess that means you just have to go check it out for yourself!

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Oct 27 2013
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Teaching at Spudnik!

I will be teaching letterpress classes at Spudnik Press starting next week! Spudnik Press is a community print shop that allows artist to come and use their facilities. They offer open studio times to work on your own work or classes to learn new printing processes.  The letterpress I class is full but there are still spaces available for the card workshops that will take place in November.  Perfect for making your very own business cards, christmas cards, or anytime cards. Add a personal touch to your cards by making them. If interested go to their website Spudnik Letterpress Classes. I am super excited to be able to teach letterpress printing again.  Here are pictures of their shop.  I only have photos of their letterpress/offset equipment but they also have screen print, litho,  & intaglio. Come take classes with me!!!!

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Sep 29 2013
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Work Around The World!

Busy, Busy, Busy… The past couples months out of graduate school and into the real world have been a roller coaster. Trying to create a balance to make your own work, stay involved in the arts, submit work to shows, write grants, make money, work a full time job, and a could part time jobs, and teach workshops can be crazy but sounds pretty normal for artist. The last month I have committed to applying for shows and grants and I think it paid off. The next couple of months I am honored and super excited to have my work displayed in multiple locations. If you are in the vicinity of any you should stop by to check out my work along with all the other work!

China: Exhibition of Miniatures in Jiujang University
New York: New York Bound: International Book Art Biennial at Islip Art Museum
Alabama: Juried 918 Letterpress Printed Ephemera Show at Samford University Art Gallery
Chicago: At the Arcade, 618 South Michigan Ave. I received a grant last year and this is a show for all the grant recipients. It is on display now check it out!

Utah: In January I will be presenting my Thesis Project at the College Book Art Association (CBAA) in Salt Lake City

Sometimes I feel like applying to shows and grants can be a full time job in itself. There will be lots of rejections but there will also be times of excitement. I think all artist should make a personal commitment to apply for so many grants and shows every couple months. In the end you should never give up this is an integral part of an artist’s life.

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Aug 28 2013
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Lookout for my Art at North Coast Music Festival

Plan on attending North Coast Music Festival in Union Park, Chicago? If so, keep an eye out for my screen prints. They will be posted all over the festival. All around the theme of thought provoking statements. There are even a few interactive posters where you can fill in the blank with your own statement and some glow in the dark! If you see any takes pictures with them and send them to me! Here is a little preview… enjoy! Happy printing.

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Aug 20 2013
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Uncategorized Video

Sonder…

This is amazing. I really connect with this statement and my artwork reflects what he is saying especially my thesis project “Running Thoughts.” This is written so poetic and hopefully makes you stop and reflect on your life… enjoy.

Thinking, Dwelling, Reflecting, Reminiscing, Inspiring.

Sonder: n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.

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May 14 2013
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Art, Columbia College, Jenna Rodriguez, Letterpress printing, Uncategorized

The End Is Here!!!!!

This weekend I will be walking and officially receive my MFA in Interdisciplinary Book and Paper Arts. It was a long and fast three years. (if that makes sense)  Looking back I feel the time has flown by but during these three years I remember feeling the end of the tunnel was soooo far away. Now I am trying to figure out the question everyone in the past couple months has been asking me… “What is next?” As of now I am hoping and praying for a job in the near future!!! The search mission is beginning. I currently have THREE part-time jobs (I produce the Journal of Artists Books (JAB), teach art at two public schools in Chicago, and the not so fun job of waiting tables). My goal is to find ONE full time job. Oh how lovely that would be. Well that is it for now. Enjoy some pics from my thesis show!

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Apr 16 2013
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Thesis Opening Reception!!!!!!!

The time has come…

I have ALMOST survived my three years of graduate school.  This friday is install day for my thesis show and the opening reception is April 26th from 5-7pm.  If you are in the Chicago area please join it is at 1104 South Wabash Ave. 2nd floor.

My installation Running Thoughts has three components: soundscape, projection, and handmade book. I finished printing the book this past weekend and dropped it off to a binding company today so they can score the folds.  One last edit left in my video footage and sound scape is complete.

I remember when I first entered grad school thinking three years is a long time and now I cant believe how fast things have gone by.

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