About
Rachel McKenna
Education
2013 - 2015 Pacific Northwest College of Art
Master of Fine Arts, Applied Craft + Design
Specialization in sculpture
Portland, Oregon
2011 - 2012 University of Hawai’i at Manoa
Post-Baccalaureate Study
Specialization in furniture design
Honolulu, Hawai’i
2006 - 2010 Brown University
Bachelor of Arts, Visual Art and Design
Minor in Anthropology
Providence, Rhode Island
2007-2010 Rhode Island School of Design
Cross Registration with Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island
2009 University of Hawai’i at Manoa
Study Away Exchange Program, studio art
Honolulu, Hawai’i
2004-2005 Tulane University
Study in neuroscience and studio art
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Residencies
2021 Golden Spot Residency, Ceramics
East Creek Ceramics and the Hallie Ford Foundation
2016 Emerging Artist Residency
Collect Young 2020
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Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
2016 Window Project, PDX Contemporary
Portland, Oregon
2016 I’ll Introduce Myself
Collect Young 2020, Portland, Oregon
2012 Beginnings
First Friday Art Walk
Honolulu, Hawai’i
2010 Woodworks: Explorations in Sculptural Furniture Design
Brown University List Gallery
Providence, Rhode Island
Group Exhibitions
2018 Celebration
Gather:Make:Shelter
Portland, Oregon
2018 Garrington Health Center Opening Gala
Cascade Behavioral Health
Portland, Oregon
2017 Dislocation
PDX Contemporary
Portland, Oregon
2016 PDX Holiday Box
PDX Contemporary
Portland, Oregon
2015 Address
Zoiglhaus Brewery
Portland, Oregon
2015 Several Steps Removed
Pacific Northwest College of Art, Bison Gallery
Portland, Oregon
2015 Body of Evidence
Pacific Northwest College of Art, Bison Gallery
Portland, Oregon
2014 This Could Fail
Pacific Northwest College of Art, Bison Gallery
Portland, Oregon
2014 Process, Material, and Inquiry
Pacific Northwest College of Art, Bison Gallery
Portland, Oregon
2013 Makers
Pacific Northwest College of Art, Bison Gallery
Portland, Oregon
2013 Memorial Union Showcase
Memorial Union Gallery
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon
2011 Center Stage
Honolulu Design Center
Honolulu, Hawai’i
2009 Art Mania
University of Hawai’i at Manoa, Art Center Gallery
Honolulu, Hawai’i
2009 Contrariwise
Rhode Island School of Design and Brown University, List Gallery
Providence, Rhode Island
2009 Benches Ala Moana
Design Within Reach at Ala Manoa
Honolulu, Hawai’i
2009 Benches Ala Moana
University of Hawai’i at Manoa, Art Center Gallery
Honolulu, Hawai’i
2009 Benches Ala Moana
Kirsch Gallery
Honolulu, Hawai’i
Collections
2019 - 2023 Haphazard Art
Springfield, Oregon
2010 - 2023 Custom Made
Online custom makers community
2013 - 2015 Memorial Union Craft Center
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon
2010 - 2011 Gallery 17 Peck
Providence, Rhode Island
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Teaching Experience
2022 3D Studio Specialist
Department of Art
Lewis and Clark College
Portland, Oregon
2019 - 2021 Shop Technician, Instructional Staff
Departments of Interior Architecture, Architecture, and Product Design
University of Oregon College of Design
Eugene, Oregon
2018 - 2019 Director of Community Education, Instructor
Woodcraft Eugene
Springfield, OR
2016 - 2018 Director of Community Education, Lead Instructor
Chisel Creative Studio School
Portland, Oregon
2014 STEAM Art Instructor
Northwest Noggins Neuroscience Outreach Group
Department of Psychology, Portland State University
Department of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Pacific Northwest College of Art
Portland, Oregon
2013 Furniture Design Instructor
Memorial Union Craft Center
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon
2013 Ceramics Instructor
Memorial Union Craft Center
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon
2008 Peer Instructor
Brown Clay Ceramics Studio
Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island
2007 - 2008 Lead Curriculum Developer, Art Instructor
East Providence Boys and Girls Club
Riverside, Rhode Island
2004 Co-Director, Instructor
Tulane STEAM education outreach
Tulane University
New Orleans, Louisiana
2003 - 2004 Ceramics Instructor
Memorial Union Craft Center
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon
2003 - 2004 Ceramics Instructor
Corvallis Art Center ESL Family Outreach Arts
Corvallis, Oregon
2002 Ceramics Instructor
Corvallis Art Center STARS Arts
Corvallis, Oregon
2001- 2004 Science and Engineering Instructor
Spirited Kids in Engineering and Science
Department of Chemical Engineering
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon
2000 - 2004 Bioengineering Instructor
Summer Experience in Science and Engineering for Youth
Department of Bioengineering
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR
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Guest Lectures and Critiques
2022 Guest Lecturer, Design and Fabrication with Physics
Department of Chemistry and Physics
Lewis and Clark College
Portland, Oregon
2021 Guest Lecturer, Design and Fabrication in Timber Tectonics
Department of Architecture
University of Oregon College of Design
Eugene, Oregon
2021 Guest Critic, First Year Design/Build Intensive
Master of Fine Arts in Applied Craft + Design
Pacific Northwest College of Art
Portland, Oregon
2018 Featured Guest Critic, Advanced Design Seminar
Department of Engineering
Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island
2016 Guest Lecturer, Professional Practices and Applied Creativity in Careers in Art
Master of Fine Arts in Applied Craft + Design
Pacific Northwest College of Art
Portland, Oregon
2015 Guest Critic, MFA Candidate Thesis Review
Master of Fine Arts in Applied Craft + Design
Pacific Northwest College of Art
Portland, Oregon
2014 Guest Lecturer, Throw Like a Girl: A Conversation on Women in Sports
Rock Creek Council Diversity Outreach Lecture Series
Portland Community College at Rock Creek
Portland, Oregon
2009 Guest Lecturer, Ceramics in the Ancient World: Process and Material Joukowsky Institute Graduate Program in Archaeology and the Ancient World
Department of Anthropology
Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island
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Professional Experience
2015- 2018 Founder, Design/Build Lead
Chisel Creative Studio School
Portland, Oregon
2013 - 2014 Furniture Designer, in-house custom design/build
Memorial Union Craft Center
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon
2010-2012 Interior Design Consultant
Honolulu Design Center
Honolulu, Hawai’i
2008-2009 Founder, Co-Studio Manager
Brown Clay Ceramics Studio
Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island
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Professional Affiliations
2015 - 2023 League of Women Designers
Portland, Oregon
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Honors and Awards
2017 Grant Recipient
Individual Development Account for small businesses
Mercy Corps Northwest
Portland, Oregon
2013 - 2015 Artistic Merit Scholarship Recipient
Pacific Northwest College of Art
Portland, Oregon
2009 3rd place entry
Benches Ala Moana
Design Within Reach at Ala Moana
Honolulu, Hawai’i