Biography

Born to Amy Jaffe [the goddaughter of Jane Adams] and Mordecai Jaffe  [a world renowned Plant Physiologist], I attended fifteen schools before completing my education. Because of the demand for my father’s research, my family lived like a band of gypsy’s, moving regularly, following the cutting edge of scientific study. From a young age I experienced a life most people only read about. At age nine I watched Israeli Phantom Jets dog fight with Mig fighters over the Negev desert in the holy land. The following year while walking home from school in Strasbourg France, I witnessed a bank robbery and identified the gun-wielding antagonist in a police line up straight out of a 40's Film Noir. Later on a cold and windy winter night in Chicago I came to the aid of a stabbing victim, chasing off the would be rapist with a framing hammer, and administering first aid on the spot to the bleeding woman with 6 puncture wounds in her body while awaiting an ambulance. These early experiences created an unusual background along with a thirst for extreme adventure. Along with my brother, uncle, and cousins, I took up Mountaineering and I have turned the outdoors into a way of life. I currently live on the South Side of Chicago in the historic neighborhood of Bronzeville, between Muddy Water's Way and the former home of Louis Armstrong. I have exhibited my artwork in Museums and Galleries throughout the United States, in group and one man shows. my work has been published and won awards including the Kodak Medallion of Excellence. Two years ago I was honored by distinguished Chicago Art Critic Paul Klein with a one man show at the Mushroom Gallery in the historic Flatiron Arts Building in Wicker Park. He reviewed my work in his Art Letter.

As an instructor at Gallery 37 I  was instrumental in redefining the technology component of the school and helped create the first Motionography class for Chicago Public Schools. I received an honorarium with the Technology Teacher of the Year awards in 2011. I was amongst the first Art instructors to receive National Board Certification and I worked as a mentor to National Board Candidates. As the Lead Program Support Director for All City Art, I  worked for over a decade to help expand the All City Art Program to include student shows at various museums and galleries including: The Art Institute, The Museum of Contemporary Art, The Hyde Park Art Center, The Marwen Institute, The Museum of Science and Industry, and IIT. I cofounded and worked as the Director of the Senior Portfolio Exhibition for the Illinois HS Art Exhibition. I was one of the founders of Chicago's new Fine and Performing Arts Magnet High School Senn Arts, where I taught and worked as the Director of the Arts which was a position primarily designed as a curriculum management and arts facilitator.  My responsibilities included; envisioning the school, overseeing course planning, curriculum development, program development, after school programming for the arts, student guidance,  and general operational support. Currently I work at the University of Chicago Laboratory School where I am developing a state of the art Film and Photography program as part of the newly built Gordon Parks Art Hall. I continue to be honored to teach the digital arts and draw inspiration from my talented students.



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