Open Studio Hours
Exclusive Workshops
Artist Lectures
The Susan Cooley-Gilliom Artist in Residence and Teaching (SCG ART) Program is a remarkable gift to our community's artists, arts educators, students, and arts enthusiasts. This program embodies Susan’s enduring legacy as a cherished local artist and passionate environmental advocate. The SCG ART program is dedicated to nurturing and elevating the visual arts through inspiring short-term residencies and workshops led by nationally acclaimed artists working in diverse media. Since 2023, we have expanded the program to provide artists with two annual opportunities to apply: one for Local Artists residing in Placer and surrounding counties, and another for National Artists across the United States.
In 2010, the Cooley-Gilliom Artist in Residence and Teaching (ART) The program was established at Placer Community Foundation through an endowed gift made in memory of Susan by her family and the Sky View Foundation. The ART program represents a lasting legacy to the beloved local artist and environmental advocate. Short-term residencies and workshops taught Susan by established and highly reputable artists are offered to develop and enhance the visual arts in Placer County. To learn more about Susan and this lasting gift to the community, visit placercf.org.
Meet Jori Jori
Stop by to meet Jori Jori, our SCG Local Artist in Residence for 2026. Learn about their process and "the immense power and joy in creating".
You're also invited to participate in hands-on workshops and artist lecture led by Jori! Details coming soon!
Jori Jori2026 Local SCG Resident & Teaching Artist
Jori is an award winning visual storyteller working with found objects and textiles, creating wearable and sculptural art.
As a personal mission to make the practice sustainable, the artist works with entirely secondhand, donated and found objects. Finding materials that have more life in them, and keeping them out of landfills. The works explore mythology, the representations of gender, body and self, and how we are connected and disconnected from the natural world. There is an additional focus on the creation of “worship objects” and our relationship to these objects.
Jori’s artistic background includes an education in acting for film, as well as over 10 years of film credits, both in front of and behind the camera. As a live performer, Jori has been on stage since childhood, performing in a circus, theatrically and as a standup comedian. She has performed internationally, and in all 50 states, as part of the “U.S. They” comedy tour. Jori has costumed for film and theatre, as well as working in set decoration and props.
This dual focus of performance and visual art informs the artist's creative choices, and there is an ongoing engagement with the idea of visual storytelling, and the ideal of “self culture.”
"One of the most powerful things we can do, especially in times of turmoil, is to choose to create, choose to tell stories, and choose radical acts of whimsy."
~Jori Jori
SCG ART Program Events
Blue Line Arts offers activities as a special opportunity for our community to meet with the artist and learn about their craft first hand. Additional details coming soon!
Need Financial Assistance? Attend an SCG ART Workshop for FREE
Stipends for free workshop registrations are available for Local Artists (residing in Placer and surrounding counties: Yolo, Sacramento, El Dorado, Nevada County ) and are generously provided by the Placer Community Foundation.
Applications are due by 11:59pm on Thursday, April 2nd, 2026
Award Notification by: Friday, April 10th, 2026
SCG Workshop l with Jori Jori : 3D Paper Dolls from Recycled Materials
This workshop will focus on building a 3-dimensional doll or figure from the provided tools, using the medium of paper/cardboard. This workshop is an invitation for adult students to return…
SCG Open Studio with Jori Jori
During the Open Studio Hours, you will have the privilege of witnessing Jori Jori in action as she demonstrates her artistic techniques and shares insights into her creative process. This…
SCG Artist Lecture with Jori Jori
Join us for a whimsical evening with Jori Jori! Our latest local SCG artist for 2026! Hear about her past residencies, travel, and all her “Larger than Life” projects that…
SCG Workshop ll with Jori Jori : Mixed Media – Wearable Art Masks
This workshop will focus on building or embellishing on a paper mask to create a wearable art piece. Students will be provided with a full form paper mask base to…
How It All Started
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.
Since 2023, this program has been expanded as a twice annual opportunity for artists to apply. One for Local Artists (residing in Placer and surrounding counties) and the other for a National Artist residing anywhere in the United States. To apply, please check out our upcoming Calls to Artists.
Past visiting artists include:
- 2026 Jori Jori - Local - Coming Soon!
- 2025 Jane Ingram Allen - National
- 2025 Ray Gonzales - Local
- 2024 Ruth Ellen Hoag - National
- 2024 Marsha Godoy Schindler - Local
- 2023 Kevin Snipes - National
- 2023 Jennifer Rugge - Local
- 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.
In 2010 the Susan Cooley-Gilliom Artist in Residence and Teaching (ART)
Program was established at Placer Community Foundation through an
endowed gift made in memory of Susan by her family and the Sky View
Foundation. The ART program represents a lasting legacy to the beloved
local artist and environmental advocate. Short-term residencies and
workshops taught by established and highly-reputable artists are offered to
develop and enhance the visual arts in Placer County. To learn more about
Susan and this lasting gift to community, visit placercf.org.