Going to art school was incredible. I think sometimes people think of art as being fun and easy, but it has its own challenges and so I think going to college, it made me really challenge myself, think really deeply, work really hard. Art is problem solving, so learning how to work through problems, find solutions, not give up, persevere, but I think overall, it’s made me the person I am today. It’s made me a creative person and a creative thinker and that can be used in all different situations of life, not just college.
Jennifer Swan was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1977 and now currently resides in Barre, Massachusetts. Jennifer, a local artist, attended Rhode Island School of Design in Providence. She has traveled to India, Colorado, California, and New Mexico for her art. She received a Kinnicutt Travel/Study Award from the Worcester Art Museum. In the interview, Jennifer stated she is an art teacher in Worcester, who enjoys teaching all ages from children to adults. Jennifer helps many schools, ranging from elementary to high school aged student, to create wall murals around various social issues. She is involved with Technocopia which is a makerspace and a studio space in downtown Worcester that does a lot with 3D printing and laser cutters and technology-based art. One of her main messages in the interview focused on being an individual. She explains that being unique and following one’s dreams is one of the most important things in life, along with living in the moment and being true to one’s self. Jennifer looks to art as a way to express one’s self and better the understanding of both the problems and the beauty around the world, with the hope of inspiring people today.