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Anna Fidler (JumpstART Director)

Anna is an artist and instructor in Corvallis, Oregon. Fidler moved from Traverse City, Michigan where she attended Interlochen Arts Academy and Western Michigan University (B.F.A. Painting) to the Pacific Northwest where she received her M.F.A. in Studio Art from Portland State University.

Fidler’s large-scale works on paper are composed of glittery mica-enriched acrylic washes and colored pencils. Her work depicts invented landscapes, mythical happenings, and unseen energy in the universe involving such diverse subject matter as Victorian feminists, vampires and rock stars. Her work has been exhibited worldwide in New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Washington D.C and has been shown in The Portland Art Museum’s APEX series, The Boise Art Museum, The Everhart Museum of Natural History, Science, and Art, The University of Southern California, and The Japan Society in New York. Her exhibitions have been reviewed in Art in America, The Washington Post and The San Francisco Chronicle.

Fidler has received numerous grants and awards, including an Oregon Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship, a Regional Arts and Culture Council Project Grant, and Residencies at Painting’s Edge in Idyllwild, California. Fidler is represented by Charles A. Hartman Fine Art in Portland, Oregon and Johansson Projects in Oakland, California.

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Comet Robinson (Assistant to the Director)

Originally from Arizona, Comet Robinson came to Oregon to pursue graphic design at OSU. Set to graduate in Spring 2025, Robinson will graduate with a B.F.A in Graphic Design and minors in Spanish and Studio Art. He currently works as the graphic designer for the OSU Division of Finance and Administration IT, namely supporting OSU Transportation Services and efforts with the City of Corvallis. He specializes in brand identity and typography, seeking to generate creative system solutions. His work has also been displayed in the Praxis Gallery and this is his second year working with JumpstART.

Johnny Beaver

Johnny beaver is an artist and arts instructor living in Corvallis, Ore. He received his B.F.A. at Oregon State University with a concentration in painting and his M.F.A. at Portland State University, focusing on contemporary studio practice. His creative work is research focused, highlighting painting and sound design, but branching out into many multidisciplinary areas. Beaver is especially focused on supporting young artists and regional arts, having exhibited and curated in Oregon over fifty times throughout the last decade.

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Rick Febre

Rick Febre is a designer, educator and Graphic Design Program Coordinator at OSU. He has previously worked in publication design, print, web, advertising and advertising photography. His works in publication design have been recognized by Graphic Design USA magazine.

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Brook Ferris, Photography Instructor

Born in Alaska's rugged beauty, Brook has been immersed in photography for over half of her life. Her upbringing in this inspiring setting fostered an early appreciation for the storytelling power inherent in a single image. Now based in Oregon, her work challenges societal norms by focusing on systemic violence and gender equity, particularly in male-dominated professions. Brook’s photography blends personal narrative with broader social commentary, exploring themes of identity, resilience, and justice. Whether capturing Alaska's landscapes or documenting human experiences, her work invites reflection on the ties between place, memory, and the forces that shape our shared histories.

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Amanda Hunt, Photography Instructor

Originally from Portland, Oregon, Amanda is a photographer and artist whose work is highly influenced by her familial experiences and aims to capture memories both true to her and of those around her. She will graduate with a BA in photography and digital studio in the spring of 2025. Her work has been exhibited in the Praxis Gallery in Fairbanks Hall, as well as in Oregon State’s Memorial Union.

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Eva Israelsen, Drawing Instructor

Eva Israelsen is a multimedia artist focusing on sculpture and painting. Her work combines soft and hard sculpture to explore themes of girlhood, personal experience, and memory. Alongside her sculptural work, she does mural painting, jewelry metalsmithing, sewing, and various other art and crafts. Her work has been shown in the Praxis Gallery at OSU and The Joan Truckenbrod Gallery in Corvallis. Eva plans to graduate in 2025 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a minor in Art History from Oregon State University.

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Avery McDowell, Drawing Instructor

Avery McDowell is a multidisciplinary artist based out of Portland, Oregon. Her work draws on personal experiences with gender and disability and navigating the modern social landscape as a person it wasn’t designed for. After graduating in Spring 2025 with her BFA in Studio Art with a focus in painting and sculpture and a minor in art history, Avery plans to pursue her MFA and teach art full-time. Her work has been shown in Oregon State University’s Praxis Gallery, the Valley Library, and sold in local art shows across the state. In her free time, Avery loves reading, cooking, and taking her puppy on outdoor adventures.

Monday, June 23: Nate Orton

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Born and raised in North Central Idaho, Nate Orton now lives in Milwaukie, Oregon and is best known for his self-published book series, MY DAY, established in 2005 with writers Chris Ashby and James Yeary. MY DAY explores the people and landscapes of the Pacific Northwest through drawing, painting, printmaking and writing. Nate regularly walks his city with sketchbook in tow, documenting the common yet sometimes surreal scenes and situations he stumbles upon. Nate’s work lives in collections as small as Portland’s local independent book shops and as large as the Metropolitan Museum of Art Library in New York City.

Tuesday, June 24: Kate Bingaman-Burt

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Kate Bingaman-Burt mostly draws, letters, documents, and collects, but she also does a lot of other things that involve energy, conversation, and exchange. Kate is a full-time educator and makes illustrations for all sorts of clients all around the world. Since 2008, she has worked at Portland State University and now holds the rank of Professor of Graphic Design. She opened Outlet in 2017, which hosts workshops, pop-up events and a fully operational risograph print studio. She also sits on the board of Design Portland and has been scheming with them since 2012.

Wednesday, June 25: Kristen Diederich and Kaitlyn Carr (combined talk)

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Kristen Diederich (b.1994) is an American painter based in Portland, Oregon. After completing a degree in literature at Portland State University, Diederich’s characteristic abstract painting style emerged during periods of time spent in coastal Maine, Oregon and France. She expresses her empathy for the natural world using varied textures, bold compositions and evocative palettes. Diederich’s paintings greet you chiefly as abstractions –– but you may come to know them as abstract landscapes imbued with real and imaginary symbols that form their visual language, a language of repetition and cinematic depth of field. She has exhibited across Oregon, Maine and Los Angeles, including a solo show last November at Chefas Projects and an upcoming show at Carver Hill Gallery in May.

Kaitlyn Carr is a process-based artist exploring multiplicity and modulation. She earned a BFA at Oregon State University (2016) where she developed a deep fascination with the systematic, replicative, and labor-intensive qualities of printmaking. Carr continues to indulge in the obsessive rituals often associated with a print practice while expanding to other media including installation, textiles, drawings, and other works on paper. She has exhibited in multiple group shows up and down the west coast, including the Portland Biennial (2016) and Tryst Alternative Art Fair (2024), and has collaborated with Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), Soliloquy Fine Arts, Street Soccer PDX, and other community organizations to create temporary site-specific installations in Portland – where she currently resides with her two tuxedo cats, Mouse and Moose.

Thursday, June 26: Ashley Stull-Meyers

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Ashley Stull Meyers (she/her/hers) is a writer and curator of contemporary art. She has served as Northwest Editor for Art Practical and in 2017 was named Director and Curator of The Art Gym and Belluschi Pavilion at Marylhurst University. The following year, she was made co-curator of the 2019 Portland Biennial. Currently, she serves as the Mary Jones and Thomas Hart Horning Chief Curator of Art, Science and Technology at PRAx (Oregon State University). Since 2022 she been a member of the board at Oregon Contemporary. Stull Meyers is based between Portland and Corvallis, Oregon.

Students will select one core class and one focus class.

MORNING CLASSES:

Graphic Design
Rick Febre, Instructor
The class will introduce students to design theory, methodology, and software applications utilized in professional practice. This is an ideal course for those interested in learning more about the fields of graphic design, advertising and motion graphics.

Drawing
Eva Israelsen, Drawing Instructor

In this course, students learn the fundamentals of drawing the figure through line, value, and form. Students will work with different drawing materials such as charcoal, ink and colored pencils. Over the week students will build skills of observation and how to incorporate figure drawing into their daily practice to enhance their art across mediums.

Sculpture
Sculpture is closed. Please select drawing or graphic design.

Eva Israelsen, Instructor
This introductory course examines the spatial organization of 3D design elements, while encouraging students to experiment, problem solve, and collaborate. Throughout the course, we will work hands-on to develop technical skills in a variety of mediums. We will also improve proficiency in discussing creative processes and finished work.

AFTERNOON CLASSES:

Photography
Brook Ferris and Amanda Hunt, Instructors

This introductory digital photography course will focus on the basic operations of using a digital camera and how to utilize these skills in various environments. Students will learn how to use available light, creatively compose their subjects, and enhance their images using in-camera techniques. This course emphasizes collaboration, experimentation, problem solving, and fun in both artistic and commercially applied photography. This course invites any level of experience.

Plein Air Painting
Johnny Beaver, Instructor

Experience art outdoors in jumpstART’s Plein Air painting course, offered by instructor Johnny Beaver. You’ll learn the basics of watercolor application in the field, and will work to capture natural subjects in real time, focusing on techniques that involve color theory, composition, and the use of light -- in addition to some fun opportunities to explore narrative and abstraction. Each session will include instruction, discussion, and plenty of hands-on practice in different locations on the Oregon State University campus.

Sequential Art/Comics(!)
Rick Febre, Instructor

Sequential Arts is the visual medium of telling stories with words and pictures. Students will exercise their creativity by drawing cartoon strips, comic book pages, creating characters and telling stories visually.

What is the time and location of camp check-in for overnight students?
Dorm Check in: Sunday, June 22 at 4-5pm, Bloss Hall, back entrance (2001 SW Western Blvd).
 

What is time and location of check-in and check-out for day camp students?
Dorm Check in:  Each morning between 8:30-9am, day camp students sign in at Bloss Hall, back entrance (2001 SW Western Blvd).; check-out takes place at 5pm in the same location.

Can my day camp student sign themselves out at the end of the day?
Day camp students may sign themselves out only with consent from a parent/guardian. This option can be selected on the registration form. Otherwise, a parent/guardian must sign out the student at the end of classes each day.

When is orientation?
Sunday, June 22 at 5pm, TBD. Camp Orientation and Pizza Party (day and overnight students welcome).

How many students are there per room in the dorms?
There are two students per room; same age/grade/gender. 

Can I share a room with my friend? 
Yes, make sure to note your friend’s name in the registration in the ‘Additional Questions: Special Accommodations Explanation’ section. 

Are there Residential Assistants (RA’s) in the dorms?
Yes. For overnight students, there is an 10:1 student to RA ratio in the dorms. Residential Assistants have cohorts of eight students. RA’s have dorm rooms in close proximity to their cohort. 

Where do students dine?
Meals are taken as a group in Arnold Dining Center on campus (including day camp students who may bring a bag lunch or purchase a meal card during registration). 

I have dietary restrictions. Can you accommodate my needs? 
During registration, make sure to fill out your dietary restrictions and preferences. Marketplace West should be able to accommodate you. 

What do students do in the evening?
Evening activities are led by JumpstART staff between 6-8pm.

 
What is supervision like during JumpstART?
Students will always be in the company of JumpstART staff. JumpstART staff lead students to activities around campus. Students may not depart from the group. There is a 10:1 ratio of students to staff.

When is pick-up and check-out on the last day of camp, June 27?
Family and friends are invited to an exhibition opening reception and awards ceremony promptly at 5pm at PRAx (470 SW a15th Street; park across from PRAx on 15^th; non-permit free parking begins at 5pm). The ceremony will take place at 5:30pm. Sign out takes places immediately following. Students should have belongings packed and ready in the dorms earlier in the day. Day camp students sign out in the back of Snell Hall (see map). Overnight students sign out at Bloss Hall.

Monday: Tape Mural. Work in groups to create large-scale murals made entirely of tape. Snell Mural Wall

Tuesday: TASK Party; The rules are simple: everyone writes a task to be accomplished (such as ‘build a telelporter’) on a piece of paper, those tasks go into pool and then groups draw tasks at random to be completed in creative ways with materials, props, actions and the environment. Once complete, write a new one, toss it into the pool and grab another!

Wednesday: Chintimini Chamber Concert at PRAx

Thursday: Cosmic Bowling, Memorial Union

Friday, 5-7pm: Art exhibition reception and award ceremony at PRAx (470 SW 15^th St, Corvallis). Please join us at 5pm to celebrate the end of a great week with light refreshments and amazing artwork. We will announce scholarship awards promptly at 5:30pm. Please make sure to join us for this exciting conclusion of JumpstART 2026.