Mary Jane Edwards, recently retired Executive Director of the Jentel Foundation in Banner, Wyoming, also served as the former department head and a Professor of Art Emerita at the University of Wyoming in Laramie.
A lifelong lover of the outdoors and an accomplished clay artist, Mary Jane had initially intended to embark on a journey of exploration and adventure upon her first retirement at 55 from the University of Wyoming’s Visual Arts Department. However, her plans took an unexpected turn when she became involved in Neltje’s vision for the Jentel Artist Residency Program.
Despite initially declining Neltje's offer to lead the program, Mary Jane eventually volunteered to assist in its inception. Over the next two decades, she oversaw its growth and development, providing hundreds of artists and writers from around the world with the space and time to create.
As Mary Jane bids adieu to her directorial role, she looks forward to returning to her roots in artmaking and exploration. Her passion for ceramics, nurtured since her college days, remains steadfast, as does her love for Wyoming's natural beauty. A resource for Jentel and an active member of professional organizations such as the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts and the American Craft Council, Edwards continues to champion creativity and artistic expression.
2 окт 2024
