Jennifer Joy Jameson Merchant

Jennifer Joy Jameson Merchant is a Los Angeles-based public folklorist and cultural worker with an interest in documenting the ways that culture shapes creativity. She's served as Associate Program Director + Media Director at Alliance for California Traditional Arts since 2017, and before that directed the Folk and Traditional Arts program at the Mississippi Arts Commission (2014-2017). Jenn also previously worked in digital media with SPACES Archives, and since 2022, has served on the steering committee for the Artist-Built Environment Network. Her research, advocacy, and curatorial areas have included rural arts, artist-built environments, the culture of tourism, personal museums and collections, and more, including projects focused on Cecil and Bet Ison’s Home for Wayward Babydolls (KY), L.V. Hull’s Kosciusko yard show (MS), Rev. Dennis’ Margaret’s Grocery (MS), and Loy Bowlin’s Beautiful Holy Jewel Home (MS). From 2015–2017, Jameson partnered with local people in McComb, Mississippi, for the John Michael Kohler Arts Center’s exhibition of Loy Bowlin’s Beautiful Holy Jewel Home, titled “The Making of a Dream: Loy Bowlin + Jennifer Joy Jameson” (2017–2019).

Photo: Chris Merchant