About Jess
Jess McPherson is a master artisan and arts & culture strategist with twenty years of experience in the arts & culture impact sector. Jess holds a Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice and a Bachelor of Fine Art from Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. She believes in the ability of the arts and the strength of cultural connectedness to build unique, robust, and thriving communities. Her depth of experience as a professional artist, cultural educator, and creative entrepreneur, along with her leadership guiding not for profit cultural organizations through periods of growth and change, shape her perspective and inform her careful approach to social impact. She currently owns and operates Jess McPherson Arts & Consulting in York, PA, co-creating strategies for growth with artists and communities throughout the MidAtlantic.
Master Artisan Made Fine Craft
Jess McPherson has been awarded the title of Master Artisan by the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen for her handwrapped threadwork jewelry mastering the benchmarks of excellence in execution, resolved design, and unique voice.
Artist Statement
My current work focuses on hand-wrapped threadwork jewelry, an amalgam of proficiency in the contemporary craft of threadwork combined with inspiration found in my dad’s garage, my studies in fine art, and my efforts to process the very human experiences of love and grief, holding moments to remember and intentions for strength, balance, and focus through the journey. This work connects the threads of histories past and present, pulling them forward, intertwining and weaving them into new stories carried forward into new futures by each wearer.
Alongside the making of these unique works, I explore things that bring me joy in eastern woodlands aesthetics, pulling together contemporary life and historical influence to create cultural connection points celebrating Susquehanna and Mid-Atlantic Native communities. I hope for each wearer to feel seen and recognized by their audience and community. It gives me great joy to see my customers wear my work at moments when they want look and feel their best selves.
- Jess McPherson, November, 2023
Jess McPherson has been awarded the title of Master Artisan by the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen for her handwrapped threadwork jewelry mastering the benchmarks of excellence in execution, resolved design, and unique voice.
Artist Statement
My current work focuses on hand-wrapped threadwork jewelry, an amalgam of proficiency in the contemporary craft of threadwork combined with inspiration found in my dad’s garage, my studies in fine art, and my efforts to process the very human experiences of love and grief, holding moments to remember and intentions for strength, balance, and focus through the journey. This work connects the threads of histories past and present, pulling them forward, intertwining and weaving them into new stories carried forward into new futures by each wearer.
Alongside the making of these unique works, I explore things that bring me joy in eastern woodlands aesthetics, pulling together contemporary life and historical influence to create cultural connection points celebrating Susquehanna and Mid-Atlantic Native communities. I hope for each wearer to feel seen and recognized by their audience and community. It gives me great joy to see my customers wear my work at moments when they want look and feel their best selves.
- Jess McPherson, November, 2023
Arts & Culture Impact Consulting
Working with individual artists, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions, Jess co-creates strategies for growth that center identity and cultural connectedness as unique strengths.
Since its formation in 2022, Jess McPherson Arts & Consulting has provided leadership and strategy consultation to more than 30 clients seeking help with:
Since its formation in 2022, Jess McPherson Arts & Consulting has provided leadership and strategy consultation to more than 30 clients seeking help with:
- Professional Growth
- business strategies, plans and budgeting for creative entrepreneurs
- grant navigation
- individual professional development
- Community Building
- capacity building and support for Indigenous communities an external resource
- creating supportive post secondary learning environments
- cross cultural collaboration
- meaningful engagement and support of Native communities
- Susquehanna/Susquehannock land acknowledgement & post land acknowledgement strategies
- Nonprofit Leadership/Nonprofit Management
- board development and strategic planning
- government contracting and reporting
- grants management
- hr, payroll and onboarding
- program design and evaluation
- qualitative research and analysis
- Urban Indian Health Program general & financial management
Copyright Jess McPherson, 2024.