Jen Miller
Jennifer "Jen" Miller (also known as Saint Reverend Jen and Reverend Jen — born Jennifer Miller on July 24, 1972 in Silver Spring, Maryland) is an American performer, actress, writer, painter, director, preacher, and poet from Manhattan, New York City.[1][2][3] In 2002 Miller was named the Village Voice's "Best D.I.Y. Go-Girl" in the category of "Over 21".[4]
Jen Miller | |
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Born | Jennifer Miller July 24, 1972 Silver Spring, Maryland, United States |
Other names | Rev Jen, Reverend Jen, Saint Reverend Jen |
Activities
Miller formerly wrote the I Did It for Science column for nerve.com and writes a column entitled Diary of an Art Star for Artnet. She is also associated with several movements and projects that were launched as a response to various popular concepts. Some examples include the Anti-Slam open mike movement and the Mr. Lower East Side Pageant, with was founded to "counteract the objectification of the female body in art".[5] Miller has written multiple books such as Reverend Jen's Really Cool Neighborhood and has written for other projects such as The Adventures of Electra Elf and Fluffer, a low budget Public-access television show produced by Nick Zedd.[6]
Miller helped create the "Art Star" movement of performers, artists, poets, and other individuals centered around the Lower East Side of Manhattan.[7] She has also acted as the founder for several projects, such as the magazine Art Star Scene and with her former boyfriend Courtney Fathom Sell, co-founded ASS Studios.[8] Miller is the curator of the Troll Museum, which collects history, toys, and memorabilia associated with the Troll doll.[9] The museum closed in 2016, after she was evicted from her rent-controlled apartment.[10]
In 2018, she did an art show called Rev Jen's Mid-Career Survey, which opened at MF Gallery on January 13 and closed on February 13. One one occasion, she showed two of her films, Creature Double Feature and Satan, Hold my Hand.[11]
Anti-Slam
Miller began the Anti-Slam movement at Collective: Unconscious in 1995 as a reaction to the Poetry Slam movement on the Lower East Side.[12] At a traditional poetry slam, performers are given a score of 1–10 by a panel of five judges, whereas at an Anti-Slam event performers are given a perfect score regardless of the content or quality of their performance.
On October 17, 2007, Miller announced that this performance would be the final anti-slam.[13] The following year, Miller revived the movement as a monthly event.
Filmography
- Satan Hold My Hand (2013)
- Blood Possession (short 2013)
- The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players: Off & On Broadway (2006)
- Electra Elf: The Beginning Parts One & Two (2005) – directed by Nick Zedd
- I Was a Quality of Life Violation (2004) – directed by Nick Zedd
- Lord of the Cockrings (2002) – directed by Nick Zedd
- Thus Spake Zarathustra (2001) – directed by Nick Zedd
- Elf Panties: The Movie (2001) – – directed by Nick Zedd edited by Andreas Troeger
- Terror Firmer (1999)
Stage performances
- Housatrash (2000, as Joanie)[14]
Bibliography
- June (2015)[15]
- Reverend Jen's Really Cool Neighborhood (2003)
- Live Nude Elf: The Sexperiments of Reverend Jen (2008)
- Elf Girl (2011)[16]
- BDSM 101 (2013)
- Sex Symbol for the Insane
- Cliff Notes for Sex Symbol for the Insane
- Diary of an Art Star
- Magical Elf Panties : A Coloring Book
- Elf Panties: Audio-Visual Fun!
- Reverend Jen's Really Cool Neighborhood/Les Misrahi
- Treasuries of the Troll Museum
- Being a Supermodel is Cool
- Being Different is Cool
- Be Careful What You Wish For: A Coloring Book
- Beer is Magic
- Don't Call Me Rat-Dog!
- People Who Don't Like My Work Are Bad People: A Memoir
- Reverend Jen's Trip to the Hospital
- Reverend Jen Junior Groovee Paper Dolls
- Reverend Jen Paper Doll Fun
Other releases
- Rev Jen's Greatest Hits – Spoken word album (audio cassette)
- "Don't Call Me Rat Dog" on the compilation album, Rachel Trachtenburg's Homemade World
References
- Vadukul, Alex (2019-01-18). "Big Hair and Bad Luck: The Hard Times of the Troll Museum". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
- Zimmer, Amy. "Reverend Jen: Art Star for the Masses". Portfolio (NYU). Retrieved 8 November 2013.
- Evans, Lauren. "Tenement Museum Fires Longtime Employee And Would Not Say Why". Gothamist. Archived from the original on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
- "Best D.I.Y. Go-Girl, Over 21 – 2002". Village Voice. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
- "For Mr. L.E.S. 2006, a crown of Buds". Downtown Express. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
- Carr, C. (August 5, 2003), "On The Cusp", Village Voice
- "The Show Goes Downtown". New York Magazine. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
- "COURTNEY FATHOM SELL: SO YOU WANNA BE AN UNDERGROUND FILMMAKER?". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
- "Best of: Unusual art exhibits". Columbia Spectator. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
- "'The Wackiest Eviction of All Time': The Last Days of Manhattan's Troll Museum - Broadly". Broadly.vice.com. 2016-07-20. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
- Miller, Jennifer (January 18, 2018). "Retro perspective: Rev. Jen forges ahead by looking back". The Villager. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
- O'Keefe Aptowicz, Cristin (2007). Words in Your Face. Counterpoint Press. pp. 163, 280. ISBN 1933368829.
- Hecker, Raquel. "An open mic night ends, and an audience braces for change". Downtown Express. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
- "Housatrash: Review". Theater Mania. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
- "June (9781503269996): Reverend Jen: Books". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
- "TROLLING THE LES WITH REV JEN". Vice. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
External links
- Jen Miller on IMDb