Jessica Feldheim
Artist- educator
Jessica grew up in a vibrant family home on Long Island, permeated by music and art. She played several instruments in grade school; her secret fantasy was to become a musical conductor. As she matured, her interests veered to the Visual Arts.
Her first degree, from New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), was in Fashion Design. She then journeyed to Sonoma State University, in California’s Napa Valley, to study Expressive Arts. It was there that she discovered her love for Ceramics and Teaching. The next logical step was to complete the Masters program in Fine Arts – Ceramics -- at Syracuse University.
Settling in Massachusetts’ arts-rich Northampton-Amherst region, she set up a studio focused on tile making and mosaics. Periodic trips to the Mediterranean region added profound inspiration, and her discovery of Venetian Plaster. What first drew her to the material was its sensual surface, which is similar to burnished clay before firing. It also affords the artist full reign to hand-dye the Plaster to any desired color. This new work was born of a series of life changes, which enabled Jessica to combine her spiritual practice with her art-making process.
Her first degree, from New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), was in Fashion Design. She then journeyed to Sonoma State University, in California’s Napa Valley, to study Expressive Arts. It was there that she discovered her love for Ceramics and Teaching. The next logical step was to complete the Masters program in Fine Arts – Ceramics -- at Syracuse University.
Settling in Massachusetts’ arts-rich Northampton-Amherst region, she set up a studio focused on tile making and mosaics. Periodic trips to the Mediterranean region added profound inspiration, and her discovery of Venetian Plaster. What first drew her to the material was its sensual surface, which is similar to burnished clay before firing. It also affords the artist full reign to hand-dye the Plaster to any desired color. This new work was born of a series of life changes, which enabled Jessica to combine her spiritual practice with her art-making process.