About Me:

​ I am an artist, a humanitarian, a traveler, a learner, and above all, a human being.  I have a passion and compassion for people, for their stories, their lives, and their experiences. Immense amounts of inspiration are gained for me from those who dedicate their life to following their heart and beating the odds. Jane Goodall and Jerry Garcia are two fascinating individuals who have and are continuing to build a community and culture of kindness and coexistence. My admiration for these humans is a driving force in both my subject matter and life. Performance painting for live music is the icing on the cake and came naturally once the courage was mustered. Music heals, art heals, together they make my soul dance and the creativity flow. Born and raised as a Pennsylvania mountain mama, this self-taught artist is currently laying roots in Nashville and embracing the growing city and it’s unique opportunities. Using paint covered fingers, the strokes of a paintbrush, and a deep infatuation for this complicated, strange, and beautiful world, my goal is to bring unity and happiness through color and, in return, create a legacy of love. Jane, Jerry, Jerika…… anything’s possible, right? 

Artistic Experience and Education

​Art Receptions:

• Mayday Brewery Featured Artist, Feb/Mar 2019. 
• Nashville September Art Crawl, "O" Gallery artist. The Arcade. 
• Tailgate Brewery Featured Artist, March 2018.
• "Mere Existence." Jerika Renee Art Reception, September 30, 2016 and Artist of the Month, October 2016. MetroMikee's Creative Salon and Gallery, Harrisburg, PA. 
• "Inner Circles." Ragged Edge Coffee Shop. September 2015. Gettysburg, PA. 

Specialties:

• Teaching: Instruction on acrylic painting, both still life and performance painting. 
• Live Demonstrations and Painting. 
• Commissioned Pet portraits.
• Upcycled Art  (original art on old bowling pins, vinyl records, instruments, furniture, and much more.)

Proudest Moment: 

• Jane Goodall has one of my original chimpanzee paintings hanging in her office in Arlington, Virginia. 

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Education:

• Masters:                                                                        Drexel University of Pennsylvania                     Global, International, and Comparative Education                                                             Concentration: Peace Education and Conflict Resolution                  

             GPA: 3.82​
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• Bachelors:                                                                        Lock Haven University                               Concentration:  Health and Physical Education        Minors:  Studio Art and Spanish                                                   GPA: 3.9

Cultural Exchanges:
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• 2 weeks, 2019        Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera study          Mexico City, Mexico
• 1 month,  2015       Self-exploration:​     Eastern Europe   Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia, Greece
• 1 month,  2009      Graduate Course:    Univ.  of  Mayaguez  Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
• 5 months,  2007    Teaching Abroad:     Granada College  Granada, Spain
• 1 month,  2003      Language Study:      Family Homestay  Guadalajara, Mexico ​

Murals:

• Aretha Franklin tribute
• Nashville Skyline and Slogan for 400 degree Hot Chicken. Nashville, TN
• A multicultural rendition of Norman Rockwell's barbershop quartet for Hat's Off Classic barbershop. Nashville, TN.
• Basketball, movie, game themed rooms and more. ​

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Festivals and Events (Live Painting and Vending) : 

• Currently painting and vending every month in East Nashville for Joy Circle Records  and the band Cosmic Shift for their Jam night at The East Room.
• CraftTrap Nashville Hot Chicken and Art show. March 2, 2019. 
• Occasionally performance painting and vending for regional Grateful Dead cover band, The Stolen Faces. (most recently, Feb 1 & 2, 2019.) 
• Hillberry Music Festival: Live art gallery. October 11-14, 2018. Eureka Springs, AR. 
• Tomato Arts Festival, August 2018, East Nashville, TN. 
• Summer Camp Music Festival: Soulshine Live Art Gallery. May  24-27, 2018. Chillicothe, IL. 
• Gaia Getdown.  Concert for water conservation. March 16, 2018. The High Watt. Nashville, TN.  
• Live painter/featured artist/vendor in partnership with S.A.W. Family Creations. My hand-painted art on pieces of their recycled Christmas trees.  I have traveled every summer with them for 7 years, with my own inventory of painted pieces and also live-painting and taking on commissions while at the festival. With them, I have sold over 1,000 mini pieces of my original art  at over 40 large music festivals including Susquehanna Breakdown, Peach, Gathering of the Vibes, Mountain Jam, Philadelphia Folk Festival, Taste of Country, Camp Bisco, and Lockn' consecutively.  S.A.W. Family Creations . ​
• 2 Years at the American Heart Association, Go Red for Women Luncheon, at the Hotel Hershey in Hershey, PA (2014-2016.)

Art Receptions:

• Mayday Brewery Featured Artist, Feb/Mar 2019. 
• Nashville September Art Crawl, "O" Gallery artist. The Arcade. 
• Tailgate Brewery Featured Artist, March 2018.
• "Mere Existence." Jerika Renee Art Reception, September 30, 2016 and Artist of the Month, October 2016. MetroMikee's Creative Salon and Gallery, Harrisburg, PA. 
• "Inner Circles." Ragged Edge Coffee Shop. September 2015. Gettysburg, PA. 

Specialties:

• Teaching: Instruction on acrylic painting, both still life and performance painting. 
• Live Demonstrations and Painting. 
• Commissioned Pet portraits.
• Upcycled Art  (original art on old bowling pins, vinyl records, instruments, furniture, and much more.)

​
Proudest Moment: 

• Jane Goodall has one of my original chimpanzee paintings hanging in her office in Arlington, Virginia.