Curriculum Vitae
Rachel G. McKenna, MFA
Education
2015 MFA, Applied Craft + Design
Pacific Northwest College of Art and Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR
2011 Post-Baccalaureate Study, Furniture Design
University of Honolulu at Manoa, Honolulu, HI
2010 BA, Visual Arts
Brown University, Providence, RI
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
2016 Window Project, PDX Contemporary
Portland, OR
2016 Allow me to Introduce Myself
Collect Young 2020, Portland, OR
2012 Beginnings
First Friday Art Walk, Honolulu, HI
2010 Woodworks: Explorations in Sculptural Furniture Design
Brown University List Gallery, Providence, RI
Group Exhibitions
2018 Celebration
Gather:Make:Shelter, Portland, OR
2018 Garrington Health Center Opening Gala
Cascade Behavioral Health, Portland, OR
2017 Dislocation
PDX Contemporary, Portland, OR
2016 PDX Holiday Box
PDX Contemporary, Portland, OR
2015 Address
Zoiglhaus Brewery, Portland, OR
2015 Several Steps Removed
Pacific Northwest College of Art and Oregon College of Art and Craft
Bison Gallery, Portland, OR
2015 Body of Evidence
Pacific Northwest College of Art and Oregon College of Art and Craft Bison Gallery
Portland, OR
2014 This Could Fail
Pacific Northwest College of Art and Oregon College of Art and Craft Bison Gallery
Portland, OR
2014 Process, Material, and Inquiry
Pacific Northwest College of Art and Oregon College of Art and Craft Bison Gallery
Portland, OR
2013 Makers
Bison Gallery
Pacific Northwest College of Art and Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR
2013 Memorial Union Showcase
Memorial Union Gallery
Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
2011 Center Stage
Cupola Gallery
Honolulu Design Center, Honolulu, HI
2009 Art Mania
Art Center Gallery
University of Hawai’i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI
2009 Contrariwise
List Gallery
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
2009 Benches Ala Moana
Design Within Reach, Honolulu, HI
2009 Benches Ala Moana
University of Hawai’i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI
2009 Benches Ala Moana
Kirsch Gallery, Honolulu, HI
Collections
2019 - Haphazard Art, Springfield, OR
2010 - Custom Made
2013-2015 University of Oregon Craft Center, Corvallis, OR
2010 Gallery 17 Peck, Providence, RI
Teaching Experience
2019- Studio Technician and Studio Instructor, Furniture Design and Product Design
Multimedia Furniture Design, Product Design
School of Architecture and Allied Art Departments of Architecture and Interior Architecture,
School of Art and Design Department of Product Design
University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
2018-2019 Director of Curriculum Development, Instructor
Furniture Design
Woodcraft Eugene, Springfield, OR
2015-2018 Director of Creative Education , Lead Instructor
Furniture design, woodworking, craft theory, art thinking, and design thinking
Chisel Creative Studio School, Portland, OR
2015-2018 Director of Work-Trade Apprenticeship Program, Lead Instructor
Furniture design, woodworking, craft theory, art thinking, and design thinking
Chisel Creative Design/Build, Portland Or
2014 Director of STEAM Education, Art Instructor
Northwest Noggins Neuroscience Outreach Group
Portland State University Department of Psychology, Portland, OR
Pacific Northwest College of Art Department of Liberal Arts, Portland, OR
2013 Furniture Design Instructor, Curriculum Developer
Oregon State University Memorial Union Craft Center, Corvallis, OR
2008 Peer Instructor
Brown University Brown Clay Ceramics Studio, Providence, RI
2007-2008 Art Instructor, Lead Curriculum Developer
East Providence Boys and Girls Club, Riverside, RI
2004 Instructor, Program Co-Developer
Tulane STEAM education outreach
Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
2003-2004 Ceramics Instructor
Oregon State University Memorial Union Craft Center, Corvallis, OR
2003-2004 Ceramics Instructor, Program Developer
ESL Family Outreach Arts
City of Corvallis, Corvallis, OR
2002 Ceramics Instructor, Program Developer
Corvallis Art Center STARS Arts, Corvallis, OR
2001-2004 Science and Engineering Instructor, Curriculum Co--Developer
Spirited Kids in Engineering and Science
Oregon State University Department of Chemical Engineering, Corvallis, OR
2000-2004 Instructor
Applied molecular biology and experimental scientific research
Summer Experience in Science and Engineering for Youth
Oregon State University Department of Bioengineering, Corvallis, OR
Academic Lectures and Guest Critiques
2021 Guest Critic
First Year Design/Build Intensive
Pacific Northwest College of Art MFA in Applied Craft + Design, Portland, OR
2018 Featured Guest Critic
Advanced Design Seminar
Brown University Department of Engineering, Providence, RI
2016 Guest Lecturer
“Professional Practices and Applied Creativity in Careers in Art, Craft and Design”
Pacific Northwest College of Art MFA in Applied Craft + Design, Portland, OR
2014 Guest lecturer
“Throw Like a Girl: A Conversation on Women in Sports”
Rock Creek Council Diversity Outreach on Campus lecture series
Portland Community College at Rock Creek, Portland, OR
Professional Experience
2021 Golden Spot Residency
East Creek Ceramics Studio, Willamina, OR
2018 Product Specialist
Woodcraft Eugene, Springfield, OR
2015- 2018 Founder, Director, Lead Custom Design/Builder
Chisel Creative Studios, Portland, OR
2013-2014 Furniture Designer
In-house custom design/build
Oregon State University Memorial Union Craft Center, Corvallis, OR
2010-2012 Interior Design Consultant
Honolulu Design Center, Honolulu, Hi
2008-2009 Founder, Co-Studio Manager
Brown University Brown Clay Ceramics Studio, Providence, RI
Honors and Awards
2017 Grant Recipient
Individual Development Account for small businesses
Mercy Corps Northwest, Portland, OR
2013-2015 Artistic Merit Scholarship Recipient
Pacific Northwest College of Art and Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR
2009 3rd place entry
Benches Ala Moana
Design Within Reach, Honolulu, HI
Professional Affiliations
2015- League of Women Designers
Portland, OR