Artist Spotlight: Jim Jeffries
“My son Ian and my daughter Claire performed with me in juggling shows and at the Renaissance Festival as the Jugglenauts. All of my children performed in our plays. They tell me it gave them a very rich childhood. We didn’t have the money to go on vacation most years, but we had art.”
Playwright, director, actor, teacher, writer, and yes—juggler—Jim Jeffries is an all-around Renaissance artist who lives in Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley. Jim is also co-founder of Wisconsin History Theater, which brought local stories to life on the airwaves, as well as a writer for the radio drama Oddly Enough. Scroll on to read more about his beginnings, his inspirations, and the power of collaboration to brighten the world.
1.) Tell us a bit about your “art origin story”? When did you first fall in love with your art?
For me, it was the first time I made an audience laugh. In Kindergarten, I was Papa bear in Goldie Locks and the Three Bears. We performed in front of a large crowd, since this was the fall band/choir show. I didn’t have any lines, but I added a finger wag when I noticed someone had slept in my bed. I mean, come on, someone sleeping in your bed? That is majorly uncool. So I acted like a grizzly bear in high umbrage, even though the script called for a slightly irritated black bear. The audience loved it.
2.) What role have teachers played in your development as an artist? Any one stand out?
It happened in 4th grade. My teacher, Mrs. Johnson, started a writer’s club. I wrote a play based on the Little Rascals. It made very little sense and it had a considerable amount of slapstick violence. Nevertheless, my teacher let us rehearse the play and then perform it for the Kindergarteners. Mrs. Johnson was an incredible, incredible teacher. I owe her so much.
3.) What advice would you give to young folks thinking about pursuing an education or career in the arts?
I like the idea of writing and I like it when I have written something. I just don’t like the actual writing itself. It has a startlingly close resemblance to work. When a friend of mine asked me how my current play was going, I told him I was suffering from writer’s block. “Huh,” he said. “My dad’s a truck driver. I never heard him say he was suffering from truck driver’s block.” His point is that you have to do the work and the work is not glamorous or romantic.
4.) Describe how you use art and creativity in your craft as well as your everyday life.
Art is the biggest source of inspiration for your work. I listened to a song by Peter Gabriel (Solsbury Hill) and the refrain, “Grab your things I’ve come to take you home” really struck a chord with me. I created a character based on that song. I’ve written scenes based on paintings or poetry. In everyday life, we included our children in our plays and performances. My son Ian and my daughter Claire performed with me in juggling shows and at the Renaissance Festival as the Jugglenauts. All of my children performed in our plays. They tell me it gave them a very rich childhood. We didn't have the money to go on vacation most years, but we had art.
5.) How can art make the world a better place? Can you share a personal example?
C.S. Lewis wrote that art is not necessary for life, but art is what makes life worth living. My artist friends are having a very hard time right now, because their work is not seen as necessary in the time of COVID 19. But personally, my life is much darker without the music, art, and drama that I experience with a group of people. These experiences bind us together. We need art.