Meet Jeanne Kipke | President of the Boulder Art Association

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeanne Kipke and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeanne, how does your business help the community?
The Boulder Art Association is a local, nonprofit organization. We’re a community of artists in support of the visual arts offering free events to our community and beyond. The BAA welcomes all levels of artists – from emerging artists to professionals who have been creating and selling art for years. We have twice yearly member shows, providing artist members the opportunity to showcase their art in R Gallery, located in downtown Boulde and other venues. We have monthly meetings where all are welcome, free to the public, where we offer mini hands-on workshops, presentations and demonstrations. Recent meetings have included AI as an artists’ tool, hands-on abstract painting with poetry, sketchbook journals, promoting your art with social media and more. We also offer a weekly art critique on zoom where art is shared and discussed, which is also free and open to all. The Saturday critique was started during covid, and continues each Saturday. We’ve had artists from all over the U.S. join us as well as a few from other countries. Titled “5@11”, the idea is to feature 5 pieces from 11:00 am to 12:15 pm. Critiques are positive and thoughtful, in support of the artist sharing their work. We are actually in the process of renaming the group as an “Artist Roundtable” because our conversations go beyond critique into inspiration, technique and mediums – where questions are explored and artists are supported.
These critiques and meetings are a fantastic way for artists and art lovers to connect and learn from each other.
(Links and more information about upcoming meetings and events can be found on our website, https://boulderartassociation.org as well as our social media.)

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a retired elementary school teacher (now subbing part-time) who always had a passion for art, but just didn’t ever allow myself to dive in. As a single mother, I pursued my career and mostly expressed my creativity with my students. When I first discovered the Boulder Art Association (BAA), I was quite isolated and ignorant as an artist. I rarely completed any actual paintings although I was always sketching. During staff meetings, I’d draw all over my notes – mostly feet, hands and anything in sight where I didn’t have to worry about eye contact with another teacher. I forced myself to start attending BAA member meetings even though I felt shy and somewhat out of place. I just knew I had to get out of my own head. I wanted support as an artist, but I also craved connection with other like-minded people and eventually started volunteering for the organization. This is now my 6th year of being President of the BAA. It didn’t occur to me that I’d ever step into the President position. The previous president (another shout out – Jo Richardson!) saw something in me and asked me to take over, saying I’d make a good president. I believe my years of teaching helped but ultimately I had to reach into myself and replace any insecurities with a growing confidence. And truly, the more I used my voice and personality (I love being playful), the more confident I became with not only interacting with members and others, but also speaking before gatherings and leading meetings in-person and online. And then there’s the artist side that also flourished. I was so excited and proud of myself when I first saw my art displayed in a gallery. I finally felt that I was honoring myself and my love for art. I started feeling more and more worthy of the title, “artist”. Not a professional artist, but an artist – a person who does art – creates, shares, explores and celebrates art.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love taking walks along Boulder Creek and so after a delicious homemade lunch, we’d go for a walk. Cell phones must be charged and ready to take photos of critters we may encounter, trees with bending branches and bold trunks, reflections in water, the brilliant expanse of sky and of course our magnificent mountain views. Such walks will occur daily, any time but must include several sunsets. Then there’s the Pearl St. Mall. I like to park at the main library, then walk to Pearl street. We’d people watch and window shop as we made our way to the Boulder Alley Gallery where I have art displayed on two alley doors. We’d admire them all and have fun checking out every piece of public art before stopping at R Gallery for a kombucha on tap or a glass of wine and sit and chat a while before exploring the gallery.
We’d choose a restaurant on the mall for dinner (there are so many wonderful options).
In the evenings, we’d go to hear and dance to live music – maybe at The Trident, St. Julien’s or R Gallery. I like smaller, less loud and less crowded venues. I’d also check out presentations and talks at CU, the library and such. We’ll definitely attend the monthly BAA meeting! (We’d have to arrange for the visit to be the second week of the month so we don’t miss it.)
One day we’ll join a few woman friends with whom I meet regularly to work on something creative together – bring your own supplies, a snack to share and dive in! It’s sort of like a knitting or quilting circle but with art supplies. We’ll do something that doesn’t require someone to “be” an artist, such as collage, pour-painting or making a mask.
And of course, we’d drive up to the mountains and simply enjoy the day – a hike, a meal and a beautiful drive.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout is to the Boulder Art Association! The Boulder Art Association (BAA) is a 501 c (3) non-profit organization for beginning, emerging, and professional artists, as well as individuals and businesses contributing to the growth of visual arts in and around Boulder. This is the BAA’s 100th year! 100 years ago, Jean Shearwood, patron of the arts, and FBR Hellems, dean of Arts and Sciences founded the Boulder Artist Guild, which evolved into the Boulder Art Association, still active and in support of bringing art into the community. The BAAs purpose is to promote the growth of visual artists both in the creation of art and the business practices that are essential to marketing and sharing art. The BAA welcomes all people who explore and celebrate the rich diversity and expansiveness of creativity within the visual arts. The BAA is a passionate community of artists and lovers of art offering free monthly meetings featuring presentations, demos and hands-on art opportunities and weekly online art critiques. Members’ art can be featured on the BAA Wall at R Gallery in downtown Boulder, part of one of our member exhibits plus have their own gallery page on our website. We recently sponsored the amazing Natalie Featherston for a weeklong Tromp L’oeil (“Fool the Eye”) workshop, which was so successful, we’re excited to offer more intensive workshops with a variety of master artists each year.

Website: https://boulderartassociation.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boulder.art.association/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Boulder.Art.Association

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUO3_px1Ngetm6Gx6hKpONg

Other: https://www.pinterest.com/boulderartassoc/

Image Credits
Sam Hauser Amber Winston-Squires
Jeanne Kipke