Jennifer Hambrick
Poetry
A poet hailed for her “brilliant” imagery, “masterful” craftsmanship, and “uniquely musical voice,” Jennifer Hambrick brings to her work as an Ohio Arts Council Teaching Artist a broad range of teaching experiences with learners of all ages and from all backgrounds and a genuine love of inspiring others to share their stories in the written word. Joining her work as a writer of free verse and prose poetry, haiku, haibun, and non-fiction prose, Jennifer joyfully shares the beauty of poetry with writers of all ages in learning experiences that honor every writer’s unique voice and empower individual expression.…
Dara Harper
Multimedia and Visual Arts
Dara Harper M.Ed., a passionate, creative entrepreneur, artist, and educator, is a true testament to the power of art and education. Her academic journey at the University of Akron, where she earned a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction, a Bachelor’s in Studio Art with a focus on Painting and a Minor in Art History, has significantly shaped her artistic prowess. This is evident in her public installations at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Downtown Cuyahoga Falls, Morgan Park, North Hill, Firestone Park, Kenmore and the West Side of Akron. When Dara Harper says, “Engaging the community and spaces through art is part of my purpose as an artist,” she is not just making a statement, but revealing her artistic philosophy and her approach to community engagement.…
Jessica Held
Visual Arts: Painting & Photography
Jessica Held is an artist, teaching artist, small business owner, and festival coordinator based in Athens, Ohio. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting and photography from Ohio University. Jessica has exhibited nationally and internationally, including her debut exhibition in Prague, Czech Republic during her study abroad. She continues to create, exhibit, and publish her paintings, photographs, and collaborative works.
Recently, Jessica’s artwork was published in Native Fruit: Poetry and Fine Art Inspired by the Pawpaw, and her piece was included in the Stories in the Park: Native Fruit public installation in Athens, Ohio.…
