Jan Descartes

737 Exeter Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15217

412.335.1133

Email: jandescartes@gmail.com

Website: www.jandescartes.com

              www.beastieland.com

 

 

 

Education       

Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

                        College of Fine Arts

                        Masters of Fine Arts, anticipated graduation December 2007

 

Syracuse University, School of Visual and Performing Arts

College of Arts and Sciences

Dual Bachelors of Arts in Illustration and English & Textual Studies, 2001

Graduated cum laude following four years on DeanÕs List

 

Exhibitions

30 Below, Three Rivers Art Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA, December 2007

Vertical Hold, Ellensburg Film Festival, Ellensburg, WA, group screening, October 2007

Random Acts of Video (take 3), Rosendale, NY, group screening, June 2007

Findings, Regina Gouger Miller Gallery, Carnegie Mellon University, MFA Thesis show, April 2007

8 Hour Drawings, Allegheny College Art Gallery, Allegheny College, Meadville, PA, 8 Hour Drawings Exhibition, January 2007

Ellis Gallery, Carnegie Mellon University, group show, November 2007

Away From There, UC Gallery, Carnegie Mellon University, group show, October 2007

Git ÔEr Done, Tai + Lee Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA, solo show, July 2006

Outside Project, Belgrade, Serbia, group show, May 2006

Artspace 303, Art in Transit gallery group show, May 2006

Art in Transit, Pittsburgh Port Authority Bus project, artist bus cards traveling on Pittsburgh Port Authority buses. Pittsburgh, PA, April 2006

Future Tenant, Pittsburgh, PA, group show, April 2006

Future Tenant, Pittsburgh, PA, group show, May 2005

Nassau Bar, New York, NY, group show, March 2003

Nassau Bar, New York, NY, group show, February 2003

Nassau Bar, New York, NY, group show, January 2003

Society of Illustrators Professional Editorial Show, New York, NY, group show, 2002

Society of Illustrators Student Show, New York, NY, group show, 2001

Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, group show, 2001

           

Scenic Art

The Consul, Carnegie Mellon University Music Department, scenic painting assistant, December 2007

Ghosts, Carnegie Mellon University Drama Department, scenic charge, November 2007

Guys and Dolls, Carnegie Mellon University Drama Department, scenic painting assistant, November 2007

 

 

Publications/ Commissions

                        City Paper, January 2008

Beastieland.com, ongoing community comic website, self published

                                    Wine Enthusiast magazine, February 2007

The Bear magazine, November 2004

                        NY Press, cover of supplemental insert, August 2003

                                    NY Press, July 2003

                                    Spark Lights the Friction [Trustkill Records], t-shirt design, 2002

                                    Jason Stewart, commission for cover of screenplay, If 6 Was 9

                                    Financial Analysis of Stocks and Commodities Magazine, November

2001

                                    NY Times Book Review, October 2001

                                    NY Times Op-Ed Page, September 2001

                                    Nylon Magazine, July 2001

                        Daily Orange, bi-weekly comic in Syracuse University paper, 2000-2001

                                    Le Pense Savage, co-editor of Syracuse University literary magazine,

2000-2001

                                    Beaver Dam Farms, Landscape commission, Winter 1999

 

            Awards

Carnegie Mellon University School of Art award, 2007

Grant for thesis project

Graduate Student Association, 2007

Small projects grant for thesis project

Carnegie Mellon University School of Art financial aid award, 2006

Travel award to attend the Outside Project in Belgrade, Serbia

Carnegie Mellon University School of Art financial aid award, 2005

Award to support public art project at the Pennsylvania Organization for Women in Early Recovery

Albert Dorne Award, Society of Illustrators, 2001

 

Teaching

 

SUMMIT Program, 2007, Portrait drawing class

The SUMMIT Program is a three-day program for students, faculty, and staff at Carnegie Mellon University. The program includes courses, seminars, and workshops on topics participants have an interest in, but perhaps not the opportunity, to explore during the regular academic year

Graduate Assistantships at Carnegie Mellon University, 2004 to 2007:

                                                Kim Beck, Drawing I

                                                Lowry Burgess, Concepts II

                                                Mary Weidner, Drawing I

                                                Patricia Bellan-Gillen, Mixed Mediums

                                                Christopher Sperandio, Sequential Art

                                                Clayton Merrell, Painting I

 

Rosie and HarryÕs Shelter with the Association to Benefit Children, 2001, After-school arts and crafts teacher