Open Studio Hours
Exclusive Workshops
Artist Lectures
SCG ART Program Events
Blue Line Arts offers the following activities as a special opportunity for our community to meet with Jennifer Rugge and learn about her craft first hand in 2023
SCG Workshop 1 with Jennifer Rugge: Painting
Become an Earth Artist! Welcome to participants of all levels and abilities! Mix and apply natural earth minerals into paints onto wood. Learn how to use non-toxic and earth friendly…
SCG Workshop 2 with Jennifer Rugge: Ceramics
Welcome to participants of all levels and abilities! Mix and apply natural earth minerals onto clay surfaces. Learn how to use non-toxic and earth friendly processes to create a safe…
SCG – Art Open Studio with Jennifer Rugge
Come watch, learn and experience an artist at work in our gallery, featuring our resident artist Jennifer Rugge! For two weeks, you will be able to visit the gallery and…
SCG – Art Open Studio with Jennifer Rugge
Come watch, learn and experience an artist at work in our gallery, featuring our resident artist Jennifer Rugge! For two weeks, you will be able to visit the gallery and…
SCG – Art Open Studio with Jennifer Rugge
Come watch, learn and experience an artist at work in our gallery, featuring our resident artist Jennifer Rugge! For two weeks, you will be able to visit the gallery and…
SCG – Art Open Studio with Jennifer Rugge
Come watch, learn and experience an artist at work in our gallery, featuring our resident artist Jennifer Rugge! For two weeks, you will be able to visit the gallery and…
SCG – Art Open Studio with Jennifer Rugge
Come watch, learn and experience an artist at work in our gallery, featuring our resident artist Jennifer Rugge! For two weeks, you will be able to visit the gallery and…
SCG – Art Open Studio with Jennifer Rugge
Come watch, learn and experience an artist at work in our gallery, featuring our resident artist Jennifer Rugge! For two weeks, you will be able to visit the gallery and…
SCG – Art Open Studio with Jennifer Rugge
Come watch, learn and experience an artist at work in our gallery, featuring our resident artist Jennifer Rugge! For two weeks, you will be able to visit the gallery and…
SCG – Art Open Studio with Jennifer Rugge
Come watch, learn and experience an artist at work in our gallery, featuring our resident artist Jennifer Rugge! For two weeks, you will be able to visit the gallery and…
Jennifer Rugge2023 Local SCG Resident & Teaching Artist
I am an earth artist. I create art using organic materials and mixing paints and clay slips from
minerals. My work engages a presence of life from the land of our ancient ancestral roots in
color and composition along with signs and symbols from early languages. These elements speak
to the mystery that shadows the radiance of the inner voice and my journey with Art.
The paintings reflect the processes used by ancient and early artists, the cave painters and the
Masters of Italy and Europe, along with symbols, signs and pictographic writing from early as
well as extinct languages. These are integrated into the paintings as well as into the clay
sculptures and artifacts that evolve from my Art approach.
The collection of minerals and ochre clays are just the beginning of the entire process to create
environmentally safe Art. From here these ochres are broken up, ground and finely pulverized
into pigments. Adding organic binders or adding water to raw clays introduces a method to
make your own paints and slips ready to employ onto the canvas or clay surfaces. This process
also engages the self into the oneness with the earth and to the Art itself. Art takes on a
significant connection with the land and its creator while promoting earth-friendly practices
which can be applied to transforming a studio space and creating less waste.
While living in Germany and then in Vienna Austria, I had the opportunity to take Art classes at
the Archeology School of CESMA in northern Italy. Our group travelled the countryside visiting
chapels, churches and monasteries where we studied and witnessed first-hand the early practices
of pigment mixtures on frescoes, illuminated writing with symbols and wood panels with gold
leaf. Each of these applications were not only studied but we also practiced in our own pieces of
Art just like the early Masters. Little did I realize how much an impact this time in Italy would
have on my own Art.
In Vienna I joined the Albertina Art Museum, visited the Jugendstil haunts and took in the
villages of such artists as Monet, Klimt, and Hundertwasser. I organized an art group and
exhibited my evolving Art work along with teaching aspects of Art. Upon returning to the States,
I was determined to find ways to continue working, but in deeper earth-friendly means. This
determination led to a closer look at studies of cave art, their possible practices and the cave
artists themselves. And in May 2019 I found myself hiking the outback of northwestern Australia
exploring the aboriginal cave and rock art, seeking conversations surrounding their art and
history.
Today I live and work in my studio in Nevada City, CA. I still collect minerals and ochres, but
have discovered businesses that make and promote eco-friendly products and powdered
pigments that I like to use, such as binders, glues, thinners, etc. I am able over time to create a
more environmentally safe studio and Art works.
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 School of Archeology and Art Restoration, Cuorgne', Italy
Study of gold leaf application, fresco painting, and illuminated writing and symbolism
Artworks in Public Places
Hat Ranch Gallery, 27 San Marcos Rd. "The Turquoise Trail", Santa Fe, New Mexico
Silver Peak Gallery, 786 Main St. Cambria, CA 93428 (Bronze, Silver & Gold Gallery)
Art Experience:
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
2022 July-September: "Off Center" Ceramic Art, Blue Line Arts
2022 June: Crocker Art Museum Auction, Big Names, Small Works
2022 March: NCECA-Ceramic Exhibition, Sierra Foothills Clay Arts at Blue Line Arts
2022 March: Sun City Artists Group talk and Demonstration: Earth Artist Processes
2022 March: Blue Line Arts Talk on Mineral Paints in Painting and on Sculpture
2022 January: Wild and Scenic Film Festival Art Exhibition, Grass Valley/Nevada City, Jurors
Award
2021 November-December: ASIF Small Works Show
2021 September-October: Center for the Arts Exhibition, Grass Valley CA
2021 October: Open Studios Tour Nevada County West
2021 October: Nisenan Heritage Days Art Exhibition "Art through Visibility" & Commission
2021 August: Workshop for Nisenan tribe, Natural Mineral Paints
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
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
2020 October: Nisenan Heritage Days Art Exhibition "Art through Visibility
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 Demonstration
2020 January-February: Two Day Workshops, Natural Mineral Paints
2019 "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
2019 September: Hat Ranch Gallery Mineral Paints and gold leaf workshop, Art exhibition, Talk
2019 October: Nisenan Heritage Days Art Exhibition "Art through Visibility"
2019 October: Open Studios Tour Nevada County West
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" Australia Cave Art Excursion
2019 January-March: Two Day Workshops, Natural Mineral Paints and gold leaf
2019 January: Wild and Scenic Film Festival Art Exhibition, Grass Valley/Nevada City
2019 January: Nevada County Arts Council Featured Artist
2018 "Belonging" Art Exhibition, 1 year project
2018 October: Nisenan Art Exhibition "Art through Visibility"
2018 October: Open Studios Tour Nevada County West
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
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 all County Art Competition celebrating 1776
1966 Clay Sculpture demonstration San Diego Schools
1964 School Art Show and Sale San Diego Schools
1961 Museum of Contemporary Art of San Diego Young Artists Show
The Artist in Residence & Teaching (ART) Program
The Susan Cooley-Gilliom Artist in Residence and Teaching (SCG ART) Program is a lasting gift to the many artists, arts educators and students, and arts enthusiasts we are fortunate to have in our community. The program represents a significant part of Susan’s lasting legacy–as a beloved local artist and environmental advocate.
The ART program works to develop and enhance the visual arts through short-term residencies and workshops taught by nationally-established and highly reputable artists who create in a range of media. Past visiting artists include:
- 2022: Mark Abildgaard
- 2021: Jason Walker
- 2019: Ana Lisa Hedstrom
- 2018: Michelle Gregor
- 2017: Karen Willenbrink-Johnson
- 2016: Phoebe Toland
- 2015: Sergei Isupov
- 2014: Tip Toland
- 2013: Laura Ross Paul
- 2012: Katherine Ace
- 2011: Richard Notkin
To learn more about Susan Cooley-Gilliom and this lasting gift to the community, visit The Placer Community Foundation.
Attend an SCG ART Workshop for FREE
Stipends for free workshop registrations are available for Local Artists (residing in Placer and surrounding counties) and are generously provided by the Placer Community Foundation.
Applications are due by 12pm on Tuesday, February 28th 2023