ARISTS RESUME - TARA JON MANNING

Gallery Representation
2024-25  pARTiculars Gallery, Lafayette, CO

Group Exhibitions

2025 Fiber Arts Colorado 2025, Depot Gallery, Littleton,CO

2025 Togetherness, Particulars Gallery Summer Members Show, Lafayette, CO

2024 Art with rePurpose, Particulars Gallery Fall Members Show, Lafayette, CO

2023 Louisville Art Association Spring Members Show, Center for the Arts, Louisville, CO

2022 Louisville Art Association Winter Members Show, Center for the Arts, Louisville, CO

2021 Louisville Art Association Spring Members Show, Center for the Arts, Louisville, CO

2020 Emergence, Louisville Art Association Summer Members Show, Lafayette, CO

Selected Art Experience & Training

2025  “Creative Sparks” felt making intensive with Fiona Duthie

2024-25  Member Artist, pARTiculars Gallery, Lafayette, CO

1995-2012  Acrylic painting techniques with Joan Anderson and Robert Spellman

Videos and Appearances

2024-Present  @tarajonmakes, Content Creator, art tutorials and lifestyle content on YouTube

2004 WGN2 Denver, Morning Show, Local Author Spotlight, Denver, CO

Lectures & Events

2020-22 Lecturer and Fiber Arts Instructor, Louisville Public Library, Louisville, CO

2010  Mindful Knitting, Contemplative Craft & Meditation, Boulder Handweaver’s Guild, Boulder, CO

2007 Trends in Organic & Natural Materials for Knitters, The National Needle Arts Association

2004  How to Knit Sweaters for Men, Denver Handknitter’s Guild, Denver, CO

2005  Mindful Knitting, Contemplative Craft & Meditation, Stitches East Atlantic City, NJ

Awards & Acknowledgments

1999 Crafts Yarn Council of America Certified Knitting Instructor

1995 Nomination - Outstanding Thesis, Health & Human Sciences, Colorado State University

1994 Graduate Scholarship Recipient, Fashion Group, Inc. Denver Chapter

1989-92  Dean’s Scholar Award & Honor Roll, University of Colorado-Boulder

Education

1997 Master of Arts, Design, Merchandising & Consumer Sciences and Fiber Arts, Colorado

State University, Fort Collins

1993 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Studio Arts Practice in Drawing & Painting and Art Education,

University of Colorado at Boulder

Teaching & Workshop Experience

2024-2025 Fiber Arts Instructor, Member Artist, pARTiculars Gallery, Lafayette, CO

2005-2012  Workshop Developer, Instructor, and Lecturer, Mindful Knitting Retreat, Greensboro, VT

1998-2002  Instructor, Owner, Over the Moon Cafe & Mercantile, Longmont, CO

Memberships

2023-2025   Mountain Plains Fibershed

2020-2025   Craft Industry Association

2018-2025   Denver Art Museum

2020-2024   Louisville Art Association (CO)

Publications as Author - Books

2006 Nature Babies: Natural knits and organic crafts. Potter Craft Random House

2006 Compassionate Knitting. Tuttle Publishing
2005 Men in Knits. Interweave Press
2005 Mindful Knitting: Inviting contemplative practice to the craft. Tuttle Publishing
2004 The Gift Knitter. Penguin Berkley Books

Publications as Author - Periodicals

2010 Red Vines Child’s Aran Cardigan. Living Crafts Magazine. (Winter 2010)
2009 Unique Handwork and Knitting Retreats. Living Craft Magazine. (Summer 2009)
2001 Double Crossing Diamonds Duet. Interweave Knits Magazine. (Spring 2001)
2001 Book Review - The Knitting Goddess. Spin Off Magazine. (Fall/Winter 2001)
1998 Computer Resources for Knitters. Interweave Knits Magazine. (Fall 1998)
1998 A Brief History of Sweater Fashion. Interweave Knits Magazine. (Summer 1998)
1998 Software for Knitwear Design. Interweave Knits, (Spring 1998)
1997 Poudre River Pullover. Interweave Knits Magazine. (Fall 1997)
1997 Folklore and Mythology of the Aran Sweater. Interweave Knits Magazine. (Fall 1997)
1997 Hollow Oak Pullover. Interweave Knits Magazine. (Spring 1997)

Publications- Contributor

2007 Kandis, M. Folk Style. Interweave Press
2007 Durant, J. 101 One Skien Designer Wonders. Storey Publishing
2002 Roghaar, L. Knit Lit. Harmony Random House
2001 Albright, B. Knitters Stash: favorite patterns from America’s yarn shops. Interweave Press.
2001 Campbell, J. Christmas Stockings: 18 holiday treasures to knit. Interweave Press
1997 Gibson Roberts, P. Knitting in the Old Way. Interweave Press

Computer Proficiency

Apple Macintosh Ecosystem resident programs including:

  • Pages - graphics layout and word-processing

  • Mail - organization and use of multiple addresses, servers and mailboxes

  • Safari - advanced web searching

  • Preview - manipulation and development of PDFs

  • iPhotos - editing, organization and use of folders and groupings

  • iMovie - video editing in iMovie

  • Notes - text file editing and insertion of various media

  • Garage Band - multi-track inputs, recording and sound manipulation

  • Numbers - spreadsheet design, data entry and manipulation

  • FaceTime - video conferencing

Canva - design and graphics for advertising, website development and social media campaigns including image manipulation, editing and export to multiple graphics file types

Microsoft Office Windows Ecosystem including Word, Excel and Access

Squarespace web design, online sales and email marketing

Teaching Philosophy

My goal as an instructor is for each of my students to see themselves not only as a maker, but as part of a living lineage of artists throughout history. I strive to provide opportunities for connection, community, and personal growth through making. I believe that true learning happens when students feel safe, are actively engaged, curious, feel a personal connection to their work. I support students to access their own creative potential by providing them with the tools, context, and encouragement they need to become confident, expressive, and independent makers regardless of experience or skill level.