Jenifer K. Wofford

Jenifer K Wofford is an American contemporary artist and art educator based in San Francisco, California, United States. Known for her contributions to Filipino-American visual art,^[1][2] Wofford's work often addresses hybridity, authenticity and global culture, frequently from an ironic, humorous perspective.^[3] Wofford collaborates with artists Reanne Estrada and Eliza Barrios as the artist group Mail Order Brides/M.O.B. She is also the curator of Galleon Trade, an international art exchange between California, Mexico and the Philippines.^[4]

Background

Wofford was born in San Francisco, and raised in Hong Kong, Dubai, and Kuala Lumpur. Her family returned to California when she was a teenager. With the exception of 2 years in the Czech Republic, Wofford has lived and worked in San Francisco and Oakland for most of her professional life.^[5]

While receiving her BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute, Wofford studied with Carlos Villa, whose "Worlds In Collision" project was of significant influence on her development as an artist and educator.^[6] While completing her MFA at UC Berkeley, Wofford worked with Catherine Ceniza Choy, whose book "Empire of Care" influenced the creation of Wofford's Filipina nurse- related art projects.^[7]

Art

Wofford's art, performance and curatorial projects have been presented in the United States, the Philippines, Malaysia, Turkey and Hong Kong. She has also been awarded artist-in-residence stays in France, the Philippines, Italy, Denmark and Norway.^[8]

Significant projects include:

• Motel Cucaracha (2004-5): installation and performance at aov gallery, San Francisco
• Always A Bridesmaid Never A Bride (as Mail Order Brides/M.O.B.) (2005): installation at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco
• Point of Departure (2006): painting series presented at Berkeley Art Museum, Berkeley and di Rosa, Napa
• Galleon Trade (2007–08): international curatorial project in San Francisco and Metro Manila^[9]
• Flor 1973-78 (alternate title: Flor de Manila y San Francisco, 2008): public art project in San Francisco ^[10]
• Manananggoogle (as Mail Order Brides/M.O.B.) (2013-ongoing): installation and performance at San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, Southern Exposure and Somarts Cultural Center, San Francisco^[11]
• Earthquake Weather (2014): web project ^[12]
• Collapse (2015): painting series at Silverlens Galleries, Makati^[13]

Teaching

Wofford specializes in Global Perspectives in Contemporary Art at University of California, Berkeley^[14] and Filipino American Arts at the University of San Francisco.^[15] She has also led numerous studio courses and/or advised graduate students at UC Berkeley, University of San Francisco, California College of the Arts, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco State University, Diablo Valley College and Vermont College of Fine Arts since 2007.^[16]

Her career as an educator began in work with youth programs at Southern Exposure in 1994. In 1999, Wofford established the art program at Leadership High School, and was the school's art teacher from 1999-2002 and 2003-2004. Wofford was also Program Director for Out of Site (now Youth Art Exchange) and Lead Arts Teacher at City Arts and Technology High School from 2004-2005.

References