Awesome Art! began as an Austin arts enrichment program for elementary aged students after school at Brentwood Elementary and during the summer at The Corner School at The Texas Association of School Boards. Now, I've had amazing opportunities to provide free workshops and art residencies providing creative spaces where participants are free to experiment, explore and build self-confidence in artmaking. I encourage my students to reflect thoughtfully, develop compassion and respect, learn from mistakes, advise others, and become open minded.
I've earned my BFA from The University at Buffalo, NY; MFA from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, NJ; and my visual arts teaching certification through an accelerated program at Studio in a School with the Pratt Institute, NYC. Studio in a School’s philosophy includes teaching artists modeling the artist’s way of thinking and working inspired by the pedagogy of Reggio Emilia. Thinking like an artist includes careful observation, critical thinking and thinking outside of the box.
While a New York State certified visual arts educator (K-12th grade), I worked with children of all ages, levels and skills, working with students (including Special Education and English Language Learning students), families and staff in visual arts (and Advisory) at public schools throughout New York City. At the Department of Education in NYC, I was an Arts Education Liaison at two different schools working with administration to ensure that all students were engaged in arts education. Additionally, I taught darkroom and non-silver photography and art making at the college level as an adjunct instructor at Rutgers University, NJ; The County College of Morris, NJ; and at William Paterson University, NJ.
I've received awards from The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., The Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, NY; and from Rutgers University, NJ. I've also earned teaching grants from The Equity Office and The Cultural Funding division of The City of Austin, Studio in a School, The Young Women's Leadership Foundation, Fund for Teachers, Queens Council on the Arts, The Plank Fellowship, and the Lincoln Center Institute/Dana Foundation.
I'm an interdisciplinary artist, educator, photographer, and mother. I'm a lifelong learner, and am passionate about sharing my love for exploring art materials and techniques with people of all ages. Additionally, I aspire to teach others about cultural traditions through artmaking. I've collaborated with Austin Independent School District, Round Rock Independent School District, Austin Public Library, the City of Austin, the Asian American Resource Center, The Corner School at TASB, the Rosewood-Zaragosa Neighborhood Center, National Instruments, CASA of Travis County, other local Austin organizations and businesses. I lead artmaking classes, workshops and team building activities.