JEN SAUNDERS
Background
Jen Saunders was born in Mittagong,NSW in 1962. She moved to Wagga Wagga in 1981 where she completed a Diploma in Applied Arts majoring in silversmithing. In 1984 she set up a jewellery-making workshop and exhibited at the Old Brewery Gallery in Wagga Wagga. In 1985 she completed her Graduate Diploma of Education.
Since 1987 Jen has regularly exhibited paintings, drawings and collages in mixed shows in Sydney, Melbourne, the Southern Highlands and the Shoalhaven where she now lives. Since 1995 she has been holding successful solo shows once a year. She is also involved in curating art shows including LETS Show (Berry Community Centre, 1994) and Smalls on the Walls (Tea Club Cafe, Nowra, 2000).
In 1992 Jen began performing her poetry at writer's nights in the Shoalhaven and Illawarra. She is a regular on the local circuit - most recently performing at the Shoalhaven Poetry Festival in Nowra and the Tabula Rasa Arts Festival in Milton.
In 1999 she published her first book of poetry Translations (Passionfruit Press) and in May 2002 launched In a Night House (PressPress). In 2001 Jen was runner-up in the prestigious national short story competition - the Budawang Circle of Excellence Awards - with her story 'Raoul Forth'. She is editor of the arts magazine Squidink.
Jen is also a songwriter/musician performing in a variety of bands but most usually in The Captive Good.