Member Spotlight: Jean Mueller

Jean Mueller is one of the new board members of the RAA and lives outside of Winona on a farm setting.

Her lifelong love and practice of the arts began as an art student in high school and at Winona State University. The texture element of fiber brought contemporary fiber pieces to the center of her work. Throughout the years, Jean has gained knowledge from fiber artists across the nation and internationally. She has exhibited her work in Minnesota and Iowa. Fine Arts juried Exhibit of Arts in Harmony Elk River, MN, also selected for their traveling show, Vesterheim juried exhibit, Decorah, Iowa and other exhibits throughout the state. Jean has taught fiber arts to all ages for organizations and groups.

Her love of the arts and the land formed into a number of efforts to promote the arts and the inspiring landscape the farm and the region provides. She received a National Endowments for the Arts grant for Art Workshops on her farm, grants from SEMAC for MN Book Award author Catherine Friend’s presentation, and international known felt artist Janice Arnold’s workshop and lecture on her felt work at the Smithsonian’s Cooper Hewitt Museum, NY. A senior fellowship at the UM allowed Jean to continue her work on MN fiber which was completed in August 2019.

The land on the farm and the surrounding region provides continuous inspiration for her fiber art and a renewal of Jean’s past interests of drawing and watercolor. The opportunities that are made either possible by RAA or are promoted by RAA have supported Jean’s art pursuit. Her involvement as a board member is in hopes to give back to the community and RAA for their support of her art interests and work.