Jade Osborne
Artist Profile No. 4
Artist / Activist / Activator
Spring 2011
Words by Michelle Tyrene Johnson
Cover Photo by Jennifer Wetzel
Jade Osborne has made all the right moves since taking one of the first Artist INC classes.
And it’s not just because she’s a dancer.
I had no concept of the business side of art before I did that program.
When Osborne took one of the first Artist INC sessions about ten years ago, she realized that it was the start of a different way of looking at her artistry.
“I had no concept of the business side of art before I did that program,” Osborne says.
She says that the class helped her to better conceptualize how to build and shape her work as a working artist and of learning how to pass that on to others.
I loved those exercises about getting really clear on who I am as an artist.
“I loved those exercises about getting really clear on who I am as an artist, what my medium is,” Osborne says. Osborne says that it helps her to talk with others better about her vision as an artist.
Activist Dancer Director Choreographer Instructor Performer Producer
In addition to being a classically trained dancer, Osborne is a performance artist, an instructor, and an activist. She is also an embodiment coach and facilitator who helps clients deal with emotional trauma and shame.
Osborne says that her work has expanded beyond just being a performer. She’s now a choreographer and a director and the producer.
Artist Gallery
Her art has taken her around the world to perform and to teach, such as
Mexico
Nepal
Bali
Among her honors since taking Artist INC have been receiving the Inspiration grant from ArtsKC and being a featured performer at an ArtsKC award luncheon. Her art has taken her around the world to perform and to teach, such as to Mexico, Nepal, and Bali.
“I was able to feel more secure in my knowledge of having an arts business background so that I can push and mentor the young people that I was working with,” Osborne said. The important overarching lesson that she took away from Artist INC that she has been able to pass on to young people is that art is more than just skill—that it’s about making a living and doing fulfilling aspects of it like applying for and receiving grants and being able to attend residencies to work on your art.
what the social impact of the pieces are
The Good It Can Do
But what she’s learned from working on her art—inspired even further by Artist INC—was the good it can do.
“We actually were able to explore why we were making the pieces, what the social impact of the pieces are, how to reach out and find people who are interested in supporting our work,” Osborne says.
Pass it
on to
others
In addition to being about the art, it’s clear that Osborne’s work is about service. And it’s fitting that she finds that her time with Artist INC served her well to pass it on to others.