Jennifer Argo
Visual Artist - Arts Educator - Project Coordinator
Glasgow, Scotland
[email protected]
AWARDS
- Saltire Society: 40 Under 40, 2023
- Travel Award - JD Fergusson Arts Award Trust, 2016
- Glasgow Institute of Architects (GIA) - Commendation Award for Sanctuary I, 2015
- Pick Me Up Selects, Somerset House, 2015
- Deutsche Bank Award for Creative Enterprise, 2012
FEATURES
Saltire Society: 40 Under 40
The Scotsman: 40 Under 40: New Saltire Society list recognising 'outstanding' Scottish actors, writers, singers, musicians and campaigners revealed
Archdaily:
http://www.archdaily.com/776805/hello-wood-2015-it-takes-a-village-to-raise-outstanding-architecture
A10 Magazine:
http://www.architectures.nl/news/2015/11/24/article-about-hello-wood-in-a10-magazine
Future Positive:
https://www.thefuturepositive.com/blog/jennifer-argo/
The Courier: Artist plans to head Down Under thanks to Fergusson Award
Inky Goodness:
http://inkygoodness.com/news/review-pick-2015/
Grafik Magazine:
http://www.grafik.net/category/talent/jennifer-argo
MEMBERSHIPS:
SEDA (Scottish Ecological Design Association)
2020-Present
Trig Point Collective
2020-Present
An organisation for collaboration between artists, engineers, designers and scientists.
Creative Carbon Scotland - Green Tease
2018-Present
The Green Tease network for people working in the arts, and sustainability practitioners, who wish to collaborate.
RESEARCH TRIPS
30 September – 20 November 2016, New Zealand
I visited and documented sites of special geological, glaciological, ecological and botanical interest, funded by the J D Fergusson Arts Award Trust - Travel Fund.
RESIDENCIES
11 – 19 July 2015 Hello Wood, Budapest, Hungary
LINKS
Website: www.jenniferargo.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferaargo/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenniferargoart
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JenniferArgoIllustration/
EXHIBITIONS
Mapping Ocean Change, North Berwick Seabird Centre,
Scotland, February - March 2023
Mapping Ocean Change, New Glasgow Society,
Glasgow, Scotland, October 2022
Basin Bathhouse (Architectural Installation), Common Ground, Glasgow Canal
Glasgow, Scotland, May 2019
Negotiations on Form, Minus Gallery, Instrmnt,
Glasgow, Scotland, November 2019
Recoat: This Will Ruin Everything, The Lighthouse, Centre of Architecture and Design Scotland,
Glasgow, July 2017
Southside Salon, Studio Pavilion, House for an Art Lover, Southside Festival,
Glasgow, 12 – 28 May 2017
Morpho_metries, Solo Exhibition, Dear Green, The Briggait,
Glasgow, 19 August - 28 September 2016
Polyphonia (Architectural Installation), ArchiFringe Festival,
Glennan Burn, Helensburgh woodland, Scotland, Glasgow, January 2016 to July 2016
Pop-Up + Solo Exhibition + Workshops, ForFIKASake,
Glasgow, April - May 2016
Glad Cafe, Solo Exhibition,
Glasgow, 31 May - 30 June 2016
Fault Lines, Solo Exhibition, McCune Smith's,
Glasgow, 06 November 2015 - 06 January 2016
Inter Alia, Solo Exhibition, Patriothall Gallery,
Edinburgh, 17 August - 2 September 2015
Sanctuary II (Architectural Installation), Hello Wood,
Hungary, July 2015
Pick Me Up Selects, Somerset House,
London, 23 April - 4 May 2015
Sanctuary I (Architectural Installation), Stalled Spaces,
Caledonia Road Church, Glasgow, August 2014 to May 2015
- Commendation Award winner for Small Builds from the Glasgow Institute of Architects (GIA).
Remarket, Recoat x Saltmarket Design,
Edinburgh, 11 - 20 December 2014
Remarket, Recoat x Saltmarket Design, RBS, Gordon Street,
Glasgow, 28 November - 20 December 2014
Saltmarket Design + RBS Collections (For the Edinburgh Horticultural Society),
Edinburgh, 26 September 2014
Art in the Clay Pits, Clay Pits Nature Reserve,
Possil, North Glasgow, 20 September 2014
Saltmarket Design, Royal Bank of Scotland, Edinburgh Festival,
Edinburgh, August 2014
Draw-In, 2|1|4|1 Collective,
St Margarets House, Edinburgh, 11 - 27 July 2014
Pond Life Laser Lamp Launch, in collaboration with David Ross Design, The Lighthouse,
Glasgow, April 2014
Saltmarket Design,
Argyle Street, Glasgow, 09 - 23 December 2013
Many Presents, Virginia Gallery,
Glasgow, 06 - 23 December 2013
NEOS: Bennachie in the Landscape, Scottish Sculpture Workshop,
Aberdeenshire, 14 - 22 September 2013
Repographic Exhibition and Zine Release, The Old Hairdressers,
Glasgow, 23 August 2013
RE: Sustain Exhibition, Skillshare Dundee,
Dundee, 16 August 2013
COAST Festival,
Banff Castle, 22 - 26 May 2013
Open Studio Exhibition at Scottish Sculpture Workshop, North East Open Studios (NEOS), Aberdeenshire, 16 - 23 Sept 2012
Void, The Mutual Collective, Glasgow International,
Site-specific installation along the River Kelvin, Glasgow, 17 April - 07 May 2012
Between Two Worlds, Glasgow International, The Lighthouse,
Glasgow, 17 April - 07 May 2012
Grampian Hospitals Trust Art Exhibition,
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, 23 Sept 2011 - 10 Jan 2012
The Mutual Vault Art Glasgow, The Briggait,
Glasgow, 08 - 11 Sept 2011
The Mutual Collective, The Glue Factory,
Glasgow, 03 Dec 2010
Creative Mobile Village, Peacock and The Worm,
Public Installation / Mobile Workshop Facilities, led by Craig Barrowman, Aberdeen, July 2010
Sidetracked, Limousine Bull,
Aberdeen, November 2009
By The Horns, Limousine Bull,
Aberdeen, Autumn 2008
EDUCATION
BSc Environmental Science
Open University
2018 - Present
BA (Hons) in Fine Art Photographic Electronic Media
Gray's School of Art
Aberdeen
2005 to 2010
WORK EXPERIENCE
Artist / Workshop Host
-
Scotland, August 2016 to Present
I have a cross-disciplinary practice of sculpture, illustration, and installation. I have produced installations for events, and hosted public workshops with arts and environmental organisations, charities and community groups such as Cove Park, Scottish Oceans Institute, New Glasgow Society, OnFife, Lyth Arts, Sea Watch Foundation, Glasgow Sculpture Studios, Hello Wood, Saltmarket Design, The Concrete Garden, Depot Arts, The Imaginarium, The Back Garden, Peacock and The Worm, Young People’s Futures, Scottish Sculpture Workshop, and local schools and student groups.
As an independent artist, my work involves design, project coordination and delivery, events programming, marketing, organising events, workshops, exhibitions and installations, delivering workshops to groups of all ages, skill sets and learning needs, sourcing funding for projects, research and materials, administration, and working with local and international organisations, technicians, artists, scientists, curators, schools and community groups.
Lead Artist / Project Coordinator
MOCA, Mapping Ocean Change through Art
Supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC / UKRI)
In partnership with Strathclyde University, and Creative Carbon Scotland
-
Scotland, November 2021 - September 2023
I coordinated a nationwide project with arts and environmental organisations around Scotland, in collaboration with marine biologists and data scientists from Strathclyde university, to share their research with the public. We brought attention to changes to marine environments between Scotland and the Arctic due to climate change, including changes to migration routes and food chain dynamics of marine and coastal species, and knock-on societal effects on a local and international basis.
I organised and delivered public workshops and facilitated discussions at arts venues and environmental organisations around the Scottish coast, bridging scientific knowledge with the lived experience of communities and people who work in marine coastal environments.
I organised interviews with 70+ oceanography, marine biology researchers, nature reserve rangers, skippers, boat crew, and people who work in and around marine environments around the Scottish Coast, to share their insights into how shifts in marine and coastal habitats, ocean circulation, acidification, warming, and species dynamics are affecting ecosystems and communities between Scotland and the Arctic, and on an international basis.
I organised exhibitions to bring the research and interviews to the public, and produced artwork bridging the information from the marine biology data models and research, with the lived-experience insights on climate change from the coastal community members, at Creative Carbon Scotland Climate Beacon venues and other arts / natural science venues and organisations around Scotland.
Workshop Host
Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH)
-
September 2019
I led secondary school students and students from a local college construction course in the build of a wooden sanctuary space in the middle of their school courtyard, to develop skills in construction, collaboration, skill-sharing, and to boost feelings of happiness and confidence.
Artist - Community Installation
Basin Bathhouse, coordinated by Common Ground
-
Glasgow, Scotland, May 2019
I designed and led the build of a temporary sanctuary space / shelter beside Glasgow Canal to facilitate a sauna installation by Common Ground x WARMTH Sauna.
Documentation and Marketing
Baltic Street Adventure Playground
-
Glasgow, February - May 2018 (I had to leave the post due to an accident (outwith the organisation), sepsis, coma, reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation.)
I worked on-site providing photographic documentation of play and build activities at the adventure playground, created marketing materials and helped out as a play worker.
Baltic Street Adventure Playground was established in Glasgow as a charity for children and young people, a safe place for facilitated, supervised play and creativity, which also provided a variety of freshly prepared meals for children on a daily basis.
The children were facilitated by play workers to design, build and develop their own safe adventure play space, giving them a sense of autonomy and skills in design, art and installation, and the confidence to communicate and execute their ideas individually and as a group.
Artist (Research and Documentation)
JD Fergusson Arts Award Trust / JD Fergusson Gallery,
-
September 2016 to December 2016
I undertook a period of research and documentation across New Zealand, funded by the JD Fergusson Arts Award Trust, exploring sites of special geological and botanical interest to forward my practice and future collaborations with designers and architects in sustainable design. During my trip I visited Longbush Ecosanctuary, and met with architects, designers, anthropologists, and a tour looking at sustainable resource management.
Artist / Designer and Project Coordinator
Polyphonia, ArchiFringe
-
Glasgow, January 2016 to July 2016
I provided design, conceptual and artistic input towards the collaborative design of a sanctuary installation as part of ArchiFringe 2016, funded by Creative Scotland, alongside a group of architects, tacticians and musicians. The project also involved co-coordination and of the installation, structural consideration, construction of the installation on site as part of a group, and organisation / facilitation of the de-stall process.
Visual Art Assistant
Park Gallery, Callendar House
-
Falkirk, March 2014 to January 2015
The casual hours position involved assisting in the development and implementation of the on-going contemporary art programme at Park Gallery, including facilitation of artists, the installation and invigilation of exhibitions, marketing, managing the public art programme of talks, regular workshops and events, and the production of press releases and promotional materials as well as undertaking general administrative duties.
Designer / Live-Build Facilitator
Baxendale Studio
-
Glasgow, May 2014 to August 2015
I provided design consultancy, and build facilitation for various ongoing community-based projects run by Baxendale Studio.
Project Leader / Workshop Host
Sanctuary - Jennifer Argo + Lee Ivett, Hello Wood Project Village
Hello Wood
-
Budapest, June - July 2015
I designed a large-scale installation / shelter and led a group of 10 architecture and design students in the build of a temporary architectural outdoor installation as part of the Hello Wood 2015 Project Village programme. The week-long live-build project developed participants skills and various aspects involved in design and build processes, including developing and presenting conceptual ideas and designing strong physical outcomes, construction and installation skills, time management, durable structural consideration, and working collaboratively as a team.
Artist / Designer
Stalled Spaces
Baxendale Studio / Wave Particle
-
Glasgow, August 2014 to May 2015
I designed an architectural bamboo installation / shelter in collaborated with architect Lee Ivett (Baxendale Studio), a temporary sanctuary space, which won a Commendation Award for Small Builds from the Glasgow Institute of Architects (GIA). The sanctuary space was located in a church ruin on Caledonia Road in Glasgow, as a place for peaceful relaxation and community activities. The site was run by arts organisation Wave Particle, and is one of a series of Stalled Spaces sites, offered to local community initiatives for creative and community-led activity by Glasgow City Council.
Artist / Live-Build Assistant
Saltmarket Design / Recoat
-
Edinburgh, November 2014 to December 2014
I assisted Baxendale Design Co. in the installation of two temporary pop-up exhibitions and shop spaces in Glasgow and Edinburgh, as part of Saltmarket Design and Recoat’s Remarket exhibition and pop-up showcase. The installation involved aiding Baxendale Studio (Lee Ivett) in the design and build process, coordinating a team of architecture students and volunteers to assist with the installation, providing artistic direction throughout the process, and assisting with the subsequent de-stall and removal of the installation following the event.
Front of House / Sales and Invigilation
Remarket
Saltmarket Design / Recoat
-
Glasgow, December 2014
The position involved invigilating a pop-up space curated and run by Recoat and Saltmarket Design. The role involved sales responsibilities, replenishing stock, marketing duties via online social media platforms, word of mouth, and distribution of fliers around key cultural and creative galleries, restaurants, arts facilities and public spaces, reconciling sales at the beginning and end of the day, and providing in-depth information on artists’ work featured in the pop-up exhibition.
Workshop Host (Artist)
Creative Cargo
Glasgow Sculpture Studios
-
Glasgow, June 2014 to December 2014
The Creative Cargo programme involved a series of workshops, taking place across local community groups in north Glasgow, as part of an ongoing programme of public events coordinated by Glasgow Sculpture Studios. Following the initial launch, workshops were held on the Creative Cargo barge, on the Glasgow Canal, hosted by a core group of GSS artist members including myself. The initial workshops developed concepts for creating a sculptural structure and outdoor workshop/exhibition space on the Creative Cargo barge, with a group from The Imaginarium in north Glasgow. We have since hosted workshops at Hamilton Hill Nursery, Lambhill Stables, The Clay Pits Nature Reserve and the GSS Community Garden with a young group from Maryhill Community Centre. The workshops explored themes presented in the GSS gallery exhibition programme, as well as the rich historical and natural heritage that surrounds the canal, through sculptural and artistic processes.
Creative Cargo Blog: http://creativecargo.org
Front of House Assistant
The Whisky Bond / Architecture and Design Scotland
-
Glasgow, September 2014
The role involved serving drinks and pre-made dishes throughout a Pecha Kucha event, Pecha Kucha Night 21: Pretty Vacant, Architecture and Design Scotland, as well as providing information on the event and speakers in a front-of-house capacity.
Coordinator and Administrator
Baxendale Studio / Depot Arts on behalf of Glasgow Life
-
Glasgow, June 2014 to August 2014
As part of the Commonwealth Games, Glasgow 2014 programme, architect, artist and urban designer Baxendale and artist Pearl Kinnear were commissioned to design and build signage installations for the Commonwealth festival event in Glasgow Green. I organised public workshops with different schools and community groups around North Glasgow, coordinated different technical teams involved in the build of installations, assisted in sourcing project materials, and facilitated the project in general administrative duties, assisted in the building process, and coordinated volunteers who assisted during the building and installation of the signage.
The workshops were held at local primary schools, youth hub Young People's Futures and Depot Arts. Local groups who wished to develop skills in art, design, sculpture, architecture and installation were also invited to take part in the installation process.
The final pieces encouraged play and interaction, and were donated to local charity groups, Beith Community Trust, Depot Arts, and arts festival Doune The Rabbit Hole following the Commonwealth Games public events programme.
Images from the signage workshops and building process can be seen at the following address: http://www.jenniferargo.com/workshops.html
Workshop Host (Artist)
Baxendale Studio, Depot Arts
-
Glasgow, March 2014 to June 2014
The workshop series, led by architect Lee Ivett and I, involved working with young people from arts charity Depot Arts to develop a series of ideas for a sculptural entrance feature for the Claypits Nature Reserve in North Glasgow.
The workshop series was based at the workshops and studios of Glasgow Sculpture Studios, outdoors at the Claypits Nature Reserve and at Depot Arts. Working with the group, we looked at new ways to use natural resources, and different means of recycling materials already on site. We worked to develop skills in model-making and design processes, the processes involved in wood and metalwork, and provided an understanding of the way artists work within the sculpture studios, and tested ideas on-site. We guided the group through the processes involved in physically developing ideas, using creative techniques to experiment with materials and produce artistic responses to the project. The workshop series culminated in the development of two 1:1 scale prototypes to test on-site at the nature reserve.
Artist / Volunteer
Saltmarket Design
-
Glasgow, November - December 2013
I created a public artwork for Saltmarket Design's Christmas pop-up shop/gallery, as part of a live drawing event which took place over the duration of the exhibition/pop-up shop. I also facilitated the Saltmarket team in the installation of the pop-up shop, and in the implementation of subsequent events.
Programme Assistant
Edinburgh Printmakers
-
Edinburgh, June - July 2013
The internship position involved assisting the Head of Sales and Development in implementing the programme of exhibitions, public workshops and events at Edinburgh Printmakers.
The role included events coordination, co-hosting public workshops with artists, facilitating artists in the development of exhibitions, talks and public workshops, commissions, researching international and nationally-based artists for the EP exhibition programme, providing online and in-house marketing content, developing funding databases, booking accommodation and travel for artists, sourcing materials and resources for artists and events, working as a sales representative at art fairs, working in a front of house capacity in the gallery when required, day-to-day administrative duties, and in-house artist and marketing team facilitation.
Fundraising Consultancy
Philanthrobeats
-
Glasgow, June 2013
Researching possible funding strands for the Philanthrobeats team to apply to for both their long-term and short-term programme of charitable events and community-focused projects.
Fundraiser
Scottish Sculpture Workshop
-
Glasgow, February 2001 to April 2013
The temporary position involved preparing and submitting funding applications to various grant-giving bodies on a freelance basis, on behalf of Scottish Sculpture Workshop for the delivery of an artist-led eco-workshop series, When The Future Was Now.
Workshop Assistant
Impact Arts (In conjunction with Market Gallery)
-
Glasgow, February 2013 to March 2013
I assisted artist Roos Marie Dijkhuizen in hosting an inflatable sculpture Eco Design Workshop with young people, as part of Creative Pathways, an employability project run by Impact Arts to develop new skills, encourage problem solving, recycling, learning to use initiative, presenting ideas, working as a team and harnessing productivity and creativity.
Arts Development and Administrative Assistant
Scottish Sculpture Workshop
-
Aberdeenshire, June 2012 to February 2013
The position involved assisting the Curator of Facilities and Programming at Scottish Sculpture Workshop in the coordination of the programme of artist residencies, symposiums, talks, public workshops, exhibitions and events at SSW, as well as fundraising and administrative responsibilities.
I submitted funding applications for future exhibitions, workshops and community project programming, coordinated event and exhibition programmes, facilitated artists on a day-to-day basis, sourced materials for events, workshops and artist-led projects, produced marketing materials and press releases, general administrative duties including filing and website administration, created newsletters, liaised with artists prior to their residency and ordered their materials, organised travel and accommodation, hosted public workshops as an in-house artist, hosted artist talks and symposium events, documented all on-going projects, exhibitions and events for social media.
After the post was completed I was hired on a freelance basis to source funding for SSW project When the Future was Now.
Front of House
SWG3
-
Glasgow, August 2010 to February 2011
The responsibilities of the position included providing friendly customer service, and information on the events, performances and exhibitions at SWG3.
Front of House / Information Assistant / Guide
IETM Glasgow: Voices, Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA)
-
Glasgow, November 2010 to December 2010
Based at the CCA, IETM Glasgow: Voices, was a networking event for international performance artists, encompassing talks and performances by Scottish artists at the Kelvingrove Museum, Tron Theatre, The Templeton Building, Stereo, The Arches, and a host of other venues.
The volunteer position involved providing front of house information assistance to the guests at the networking events, guiding delegates to and from various venues, as well as providing artist facilitation, sourcing materials, implementing the smooth running of delegate's timetables, ensuring availability of fundamental information materials, and information on the city to international guests.
Workshop Host / Facilitator
Peacock and The Worm
Aberdeen, October 2010
I hosted a week of workshops alongside artist Fraser Denholm at Peacock and the Worm, with a group of teens, developing skills in photography, film and animation, which culminated in an exhibition for their work in the gallery space.
Artist / Workshop Host / Design and Build Facilitator
Creative Mobile Village, Peacock and The Worm
Aberdeen, July 2010
Led by artist Craig Barrowman, in partnership with Peacock and The Worm, myself and a group of artists built Creative Mobile Village, an installation comprised of a series of mobile workshop facilities, and a skateboarding half-pipe, housed within outdoor shelters built using recycled wood.
We then hosted a festival of workshops over different dates and locations around Aberdeen City, hosting print, photography, animation and sculpture workshops alongside the mobile skating half-pipe.
TRAINING COURSES
CPD Training: Teaching and the Learning Characteristics
Sarah Neville via childcare.co.uk, March 2024
Learning to to teach adaptively to suit different learning styles and sensory needs, to make sure that every child and young person gets the most out of learning activities when I deliver arts workshops.
Training: Safeguarding Children and Young People: Recognising and Reporting Abuse
Baltic Street Adventure Playground, April 2018
Training: SMHFA (Scottish Mental Health First Aid): Young People
Trongate 103, Glasgow, June 2016
Delivered by Health Improvement Team, North West Locality, Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership, the course delivered information on how to support young dealing people with mental health issues during workshop sessions and through creative practice.
Training: Youth Smart Training
Trongate 103, Glasgow, June 2016
Delivered by START (Strength Through ART) at Glasgow Youth Arts Hub, Trongate 103, the training course focused how to utilise different creative approaches to help tackle community issues and to overcome what could be tricky situations during youth workshops, as well as ongoing issues.
Training: Paediatric First Aid Training
Glasgow, September 2015
Run by SafeAid Training, I attended a full day course in how to practice first aid on young people, infants and adults.
Training: The PASS Programme (Personal and Social Skills for adults): Dealing with challenging behaviour and managing the risks of confrontation.
Glasgow Sculpture Studios, Glasgow, June 2014
Delivered by Glasgow Sculpture Studios, we looked at how best to counter challenging behavior and recognise warning signs leading up to it during workshops and events with young people and adults.
Training: CVS: How To Prepare Successful Funding Bids
November 2012
The training session provided practical insights on how best to make a strong case for funding, legal structures and maximising profit.
Training: Cultural Enterprise Office: Starting-Up
October 2012
Delivered by Cultural Enterprise Office, the course expanded on how to start up a creative enterprise, including making a business plan, budgeting, registering as a company, forecasting expenditures and profits, submitting tax returns, marketing and how to plan for growth.
Training: CVS: Using Free Online Marketing Tools
September 2012
The one-day workshop enhanced existing skills in areas such as: how to build an effective Facebook strategy to reach new people and make existing members more loyal, using Twitter to build a network to help promote your organisation, suggestions for using online video for showcasing what your organisation does, understanding your market, an introduction to search engine optimisation (SEO) and how you can use it to improve how your website performs, a guide to setting up a Google Places page to reach people searching for your organisation, measuring the success of all the above using Google Analytics, and ideas for how to apply the above specifically to your organisation.
Training: CVS: Critical Skills for Critical Times
June 2012
The one-day workshop involved development and understanding in the following professional skill-sets: building effective relationships; exploring the characteristics of effective teams; effective and compelling communication; exploring solutions to problems; improving services through engagement, action planning and utilising networks.
REFERENCES
Available on request: [email protected]
