Jaleria Lisonia Rivera

Born in Cherry Point, NC, U.S.

Resides in Knoxville, TN, U.S.

 

Contact

General@spacecraftknox.com

Instagram @ jaleria.rivera

Spacecraftknox.com

Jaleria.com

 

Profile

A multi-hyphenated storyteller, who incites meaningful change through creative and purpose-driven design. With a B.A. in Communications and Creative Writing, plus a near decade of experience in Sales Marketing and Creative Strategy, Jaleria pushes convention through art practices such as Transnational Fusion Belly Dance, ceramic wearable art, and co-leading grassroots art advocacy organizations.

 

Education

B.A. Communications & Creative Writing, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

2024

The Next Economy MBA, Lift Economy

2023

Business Design, d.MBA

 

Workshops & Intensives

2024

The 8 Elements, Phase 2 Cultivation, Rachel Brice, Portland, OR

2023

Rasa Vil Jewelry, Headpiece Embroidery

 

Born to Whine, Royal Gale

 

Symbol Dance, Kristy Exo

2022

Ceramics Residency, The Bottom, Knoxville, TN

 

The 8 Elements, Phase 1 Initiation, Rachel Brice, Portland, OR

 

Professional Experience

2023

Council Member, Mayor’s Maker Council, Maker City, Knoxville, TN

 

Member, Knox Community Street Dance, Knoxville, TN | Street dance collective that celebrates black joy and culture

 

Ambassador, Cattywampus Puppet Council, Big Ears Music Festival, Knoxville, TN

2022

Multi-Location Sales Planner, Yelp, Remote

 

Administrative Member, Open Arts Knoxville, Knoxville, TN | Grassroots arts advocacy coalition

 

Leadership Chair, The Birdhouse, Knoxville, TN | Neighborhood events center

 

Programs & Activities Director, The Birdhouse, Knoxville, TN | Neighborhood events center

 

Founder, SpaceCraft, Knoxville, TN | Art Studio Cooperative

2021

Associate Multi-Location Sales Planner, Yelp, Remote

2020

Account Executive, Comcast (Effectv), Chattanooga, TN, USA

2019

Associate Account Executive, Comcast (Effectv), Chattanooga, TN, USA

 

Selected Commissions

2023

Bone, Hugs & Harmony, The Birdhouse, Knoxville, TN | Executive Producer

 

Bailey Grant Recipients Showcase, Emporium, Knoxville, TN | Dancer

 

Collective Effervescence: Decolonizing Black Imagination, Ironwood Studios, Knoxville, TN | Executive Producer

 

Rhinestone Fest, Knoxville, TN | Emcee

 

Vibe: Textile Thread Color, Lilienthal Gallery, Knoxville, TN | Dancer

 

Performance, In the Next Room by Sarah Ruhl, River & Rail Theatre Company, Knoxville, TN | Assistant Director

2022

Performance, PASS OVER by Antoinette Nwandu, River & Rail Theatre Company, Knoxville, TN | Stagehand

 

Selected Productions

2023

Raising & Rising Company Showcase, Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, Knoxville, TN | Pitch

 

Grassroots Artist Fair, The Birdhouse, Knoxville, TN | Produced by Open Arts Knoxville

 

Pride Jam: Celebrating Black Queer Culture, The Bottom, Knoxville, TN | Produced by SpaceCraft, Knox Community Street Dance, and Sadie Pearl Records

 

Our Common Nature: An Appalachian Celebration with Yo-Yo Ma & Friends, Knoxville, TN | Produced by Cattywampus Puppet Council

 

Deciphering the Cypher, The Bottom, Knoxville, TN |Produced by SpaceCraft, Knox Community Street Dance, and Sadie Pearl Records

 

Knoxville Artists for the Tennessee Three, Pretentious Beer, Knoxville, TN | Produced by Free Women Waltzing Club

 

Sadie Pearl Records: Record Store Day Celebration, The Bottom, Knoxville, TN | Produced by SpaceCraft, Knox Community Street Dance, and Sadie Pearl Records

 

Exhibition, Resist Repair Reclaim, Mighty Mud, Knoxville, TN | Produced by The Bottom

2022

Listening Space, Pretentious Beer, Knoxville, TN | Hosted by SpaceCraft and Free Women Waltzing Club

 

Emerging Artists’ Talk & Exhibition, Playful Practice, The Birdhouse, Knoxville, TN | Produced by Open Arts Knoxville

 

Selected Publications

2023

Canvas Rebel, Meet Jaleria Rivera

 

Knox News, Knoxville Mayor’s Maker Council welcomes four new artists

 

Big Ideas Welcome, Jaleria Rivera's Big Idea: Collective Imagination Has The Power To Transform Reality

 

CleanEnergy.org, Driving on Sunshine: Visiting ‘The Bottom’ Bookstore to Get Ready for Pride

 

Knox News, Black women empower each other through entrepreneurship in Knoxville's Crown Pitch Contest

 

ABC WVLT Channel 8, Rhinestone Fest returns to Knoxville

 

Inside of Knoxville, Rhinestone Fest 2023 sparkles up the Old City

 

Inside of Knoxville, A Weekend in the City

 

Teknovation, Creating a community space for Knoxville artists

 

Let Her Speak, The Found project

 

Knox News, Missed Big Ears Festival? See downtown’s most memorable moments

 

Knox News, KEC's 2023 What's the Big Idea Pitch competition

 

WBIR, What's the Big Idea? Public voting almost over

2022

Knox News, Open Arts Knoxville: ‘low-stakes,’ supportive and welcoming

 

Knox News, Open Arts Knox hosts first meeting inside The Birdhouse

 

Awards

2024

Arrowmont, Windgate Fellowship, Pattern Play, Jen Hewett, Gatlinburg, TN

2023

Let Her Lead Aspiring Leader, Let Her Speak, Knoxville, TN

 

The Crown Pitch Competition, The Women & Shora Foundation, Knoxville, TN | Shortlist

 

Individual Bailey Grant, Arts & Culture Alliance, Knoxville, TN

 

What’s the Big Idea? Pitch Competition, Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, Knoxville, TN | Shortlist