JENNIFER HARTLEY ILLANES
  • Home
  • About
    • Artist Bio
    • Artist Statement
    • Curriculum Vitae
  • Portfolio
    • Sculpture & Wearable Art
    • Fibre Art
    • Performance Art
    • Digital Media
    • Leatherwork
    • Metalwork and Jewelry
  • Shop Designs
  • Contact

Of Muses and Opportunities

7/5/2014

1 Comment

 
On June 28th 2014, Muse Restaurant and Lounge retired.  Under the watchful eyes of Heather Wighton and JP Pedhirney, Muse saw growth and inspiration that I had the opportunity to witness firsthand over the course of over a year and a half.
I started working there the first week of October 2012 after I had to quit my previous job due to health complications and a week in the hospital. While I was a bit nervous about running back into the working world I needed the money to pay for my education, and I am so happy that I did. I found an ever-changing family at Muse that was bright, passionate, sassy and caring. While washing dishes there for a number of months, I learned about how the kitchen ran smoothly, adopted the chef lingo and started making Vines, Instagraming, and Tweeting a lot more that I had planned!
A few months in I began helping out MacKenzie on the garde manger station, plating salads, charcuterie, hamachi, tartar and shucking oysters, I even learned how to prepare Foie Gras!
Picture
Picture

Fast-forward a bit and JP asked me to join the kitchen staff, so I grabbed my apron, they hired a new dishwasher and behold I became a cook! I was learning more on that station then I thought possible; it involved a LOT of memorization and muscle memory and I spent a long time trying not to take my mistakes too personally. Mac was patient with me but pushed me hard, which I will be forever grateful for. Life on the Line led to my numerous haircuts (the latest is the closest I will get to the customary fade, promise), and an appreciation for the hard work involved in making a restaurant work.
Working for so long at Muse gave me a pool of inspiration to draw from, and my first piece that entered the restaurant was a pencil crayon drawing I made of JP.
My ability to "Art" in the professional sense soon turned kitchen famous and I was pulled in to do a photo-shoot of the November Truffle Festival tasting menu. I did two sets of photos In total and I was so excited to practice my photography in a comfortable environment.

For Christmas 2013, I had a bunch of extra bowls from a throwing class, so I bought some candy, poured some in each one, wrapped them up and gave them to the kitchen staff. They all loved their bowls so much, that 4 of them were commandeered for the kitchen and they started serving special orders out of them (which I didn't know until much later). The echos of the handmade bowls lingered in the air...
It started with hints and questions, then a sit-down meeting with JP and Heather. A budget was given and I started researching. Lots of hours and a stress-induced IBS flare later and Muse restaurant had 22 custom plates to serve their food on. Plate making continued and I got some studio space at the Northmount Pleasant Art Center as a result.
I was almost finished 2 sets of dishes that Garrett Martin had asked me to make when I got the news that the restaurant was closing.
Needless to say, I was a little heartbroken that our family was going to be split up, however I know that this change is for the best and it will open new doors and opportunities. I can only speak for me, but I am looking forward to what lies ahead.
So what's next?
I am currently dishwashing at The Chicago Chophouse where the plates that I have made are being safely kept until Starbelly opens in the south. I am making a set of 50 dishes for Starbelly at the moment, and I plan to have a ceramic sale in a few weeks at the Triwood Community Center (updates will follow).

Being part of the Muse family has been a blast and I love everyone there to death. The inspirations I gleaned from the atmosphere will influence my future fine art in ways that I can and cannot predict, and I am happy for the friends I have made. You all have been a huge support to me, a thousand thank-you's.
Picture
Picture
1 Comment

Welcome + Updates with Muse Restaurant

3/9/2014

1 Comment

 
My name is Jennifer Hartley and this is my new website. It is still under construction so please bare with me as I make it more sleek day by day.
March 1st I went to Muse Restaurant and Lounge for my second photo-shoot with them; It went well and I was very happy to help out our team. The photos are up in my photography portfolio.
This Wednesday, JP and Heather from Muse are giving a speech at SAIT to the culinary arts students, and I am going to sit in on the talk, as they will have my photos in the slideshow. I am excited to hear the talk, as it will be wonderful I am sure!
In addition, I will be making new plates for the kitchen to use for the upcoming tasting menu.
Picture
1 Comment

    Author

    Multimedia artist. Nerd. Mormon.

    Archives

    March 2018
    February 2016
    September 2015
    July 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    Categories

    All
    Ceramics
    Fine Art
    Fine Dining
    Food Photography
    Sale
    Wearable Art

    Tweets by @TPatthemalfoys

    RSS Feed

All artworks are the property of Jennifer Hartley Illanes.  Do not remove watermarks or logos.
Copyright © 2025 Jennifer Hartley Illanes
  • Home
  • About
    • Artist Bio
    • Artist Statement
    • Curriculum Vitae
  • Portfolio
    • Sculpture & Wearable Art
    • Fibre Art
    • Performance Art
    • Digital Media
    • Leatherwork
    • Metalwork and Jewelry
  • Shop Designs
  • Contact