Jennifer Risk is a multi-faceted creative with experience in costume design, draping, pattern drafting, garment assembly and figure drawing. She began her artistic journey as a small child in her grandmothers sewing room before going on to work as a Dresser and Stitcher and Opera Santa Barbara as a teenager, then as a First Hand at Portland Opera for 4 years. She has designed productions for Santa Barbara Revels and Santa Barbara City College.

In 2014 she wandered out of the green room and into the classroom. She completed an MA in Geography (social science) from University of Georgia in 2016 and a PhD in Geography (social science) from The Ohio State University in 2021.

She has also developed curriculum and taught workshops on a range of topics from time management to imposter syndrome to the role of grief in the creative process. A fibre nerd to her core, Jennifer spends her free time knitting, quilting, and reading about fashion history.

Credits

Design

  • Bob Rauschenberg America, Portland Playhouse, 2009
  • Rumors, Santa Barbara City College, 2008
  • All In the Timing, Santa Barbara City College, 2008
  • A Winter Solstice Celebration, Santa Barbara Revels, 2007

Rented Productions

  • Turandot, Portland Opera, 2011
  • Hansel and Gretel, Portland Opera, 2010
  • La Bohème, Portland Opera, 2009
  • Rigoletto, Portland Opera, 2008
  • Fidelio, Portland Opera, 2008

Relevant Work History

  • Department Head, Fashion Design, Pacific Design Academy, 2024-current
  • Graduate Student Success Coach for Graduate Fashion students, Academy of Art University, 2012-2014
  • First Hand, Portland Opera, 2008-2012
  • Costume Designer, Portland Playhouse, 2009
  • Costume Designer, Santa Barbara City College, 2007-2008
  • Costume Designer, Santa Barbara Revels, 2007
  • Student Worker, UC Santa Cruz Costume Shop, 2005-2007
  • Dresser and Stitcher, Opera Santa Barbara, 2001-2003
Full Builds

  • Galileo Galilei, Portland Opera, 2012
  • Elixir of Love, Portland Opera to Go, 2010
  • L’Heure Espagnole, Portland Opera Studio Artists’ Program, 2011
  • L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, Portland Opera Studio Artists’ Program, 2011
  • Trouble in Tahiti, Portland Opera Studio Artists’ Program, 2010
  • Il Ballo Delle Ingrate, Portland Opera Studio Artists’ Program, 2010
  • Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda, Portland Opera Studio Artists’ Program, 2010
  • La Calisto, Portland Opera Studio Artists’ Program, 2009

Partial Builds

  • Pagliacci, Portland Opera, 2010
  • Carmina Burana, Portland Opera, 2010
  • Turn of the Screw, Portland Opera, 2009

Selected Works

Filter

La Calisto

October 18, 2021

The Turn of the Screw

September 23, 2021

Trouble in Tahiti

May 29, 2021