Jacqui Rosenbush
When to Push and When to Pull
Name: Jacqui Rosenbush
City/State: Bloomington/MN
Email: jacquirosenbush@gmail.com
Website: jacquirosenbush.com
MNartist.org profile: Jacquilyn Rosenbush
Jacqui Rosenbush is a multimedia sculptor and painter. Her childlike wonder of creation drives the aesthetic of her work, producing pieces that are both grounded in earthy forms and spirited with expressive spunk. During her years at the University of Minnesota, she traveled to Mexico and Venezuela to study visual art and culture and earned a BA in Studio Art with a minor in Spanish Studies in 2009. She currently runs a business providing handmade and eclectic décor for special events and engages communities in the arts as a teaching artist, a live painter, and is training as a mural-maker. Her sculptures and paintings take shape in her Bloomington Studio, where she can be found singing and dancing while simultaneously, and quite spontaneously, creating something out of nothing. In addition to living a life that creatively brings forth life in others, her dream for the future is to open a Center for the Arts.
Tell me about your work? What are you currently working on? How is this different from past projects?
I like to consider my work as visual poetry that provokes emotive reactions that are felt before they are understood. I believe its best appreciated when approached with an openness to be affected. It is often presented in a raw state, not perfectly crafted, but honest. I typically work with wood, but love to incorporate materials like lace, wool, rocks, and other found objects. I like working with loose canvas when painting, for the sculptural, off-the-wall effect, or on plywood for the heft and texture. I'm currently working on a commission for three paintings of aerial views of fields and I'm having a lot of fun with it. It's very detailed and I have to work slowly, which is not something I'm used to, but it's really worth the challenge.
How did you decide to become an artist?
I pursed a degree in Nutrition Science in college in an attempt to combat the starving artist career, only to discover that investing in my talents as an artist would be the most satisfying and rewarding choice for me after all. It was as if I needed to try something else so that I would be confident in my choice to pursue what I wanted all along.
What was the best advice given to you as an artist?
A poetry teacher of mine, in reference to editing a poem, stated, "Where is it hot? Follow that." And I have found that simple concept to be a gentle and effective tool through the nuances of creating art and pursing this career.
Many artists struggle to find ways to sell their art. How do you sell your work? How do you market yourself?
My family is my biggest support and is always offerings to buy my work. Friends and community members have been a great support as I'm starting out too. I enjoy trading my art with other creatives who are interested in an equal value swap. I created an Etsy shop for smaller handmade accessories as a starting point to eventually sell fine art, but have yet to enter that transition. [etsy.com/shop/buttonsandbottletops]. Having a profile on MNartists is highly suggested since many people search that site to find artists in Minnesota. And also being connected with organizations like RAWartists and the East Side Arts Council that do a great job at promoting their artists is like catching a free marketing ride to success! I often remind myself to not despise the day of small beginnings, because we all have to start somewhere and we are all trying to figure out the best way to do it. Luckily, Minnesota is a GREAT place to learn.
Who are some of the Minnesota artists you enjoy?
I love the work of Kate Casanova. Just last year she was featured as one of City Pages' Artists of the Year. I think we should keep an eye on her… she's off to big places! http://www.katecasanova.com
If I were to follow you around to see art in Minnesota, which places would we go? What would we see?
I'm a solid fan of the M.I.A. So, we would stop there and be sure to visit the MAEP (Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program) Gallery [artsmia.org]. And since I love sculpture and road trips, we would go to Franconia Sculpture Park to romp around under over and through big and awesome sculptures [franconia.org]. We would also go to the Walker for good measure and to stay current [walkerart.org] And then to Art-A-Whirl, for exposure to an overwhelming amount of amazing and entertaining stuff [nemaa.org/art-a-whirl].
In addition to www.Local-Artist-Interviews.com, where do you go online for good art resources, whether to find a new artist, or to see what is going on in the art world locally and otherwise?
mnartists.org, and springboardforthearts.org are great resources.
Do you have any exhibits to promote in the near future?
I will have two pieces in the Knot What it Seams Exhibition at Altered Esthetics in NE, Thursday, December 5th through Saturday, December 21st. Opening night is Friday, December 6th from 7pm-10pm.
Jacqui Rosenbush
Altered Esthetics Featured Artist
Image List:
1. When to Push and When to Pull
2. Among Wolves
3. Not One Falls
4. The Bride
5. for[the]sake
6. Apathy