Artist/Educator
Doing painting demos at a student exhibition, circa 1995.
The Beginning:
I grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Encouraged and supported by some great teachers, I achieved recognition as a high school senior as a national scholastic portfolio winner, and was presented the award in Washington DC. Art provided me with an escape, an outlet, and a source of pride and accomplishment, and was an invaluable part of my education.
Pictured with some undergraduate collaborators/co-conspirators
As an undergrad, I attended the College of Lake County, the University of Illinois-Chicago, and Barat College of DePaul in Lake Forest, IL. I graduated in 2001 with a BFA in Studio Arts, holding a double concentration in painting and ceramics, with an Art History minor.
After graduating, I worked for two years as a teachers aide in a special education classroom in Winnetka while I continued my education at North Park University. There I completed certification coursework for a K-12 Art Education licensure, an LBS-1 licensure, and a Masters Degree in Teaching.
For 13 years I taught studio arts and special education at a therapeutic day school before finding my way back to Winnetka, where I currently teach Art to 5th and 6th graders at The Skokie School.
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I have spent the last 20 years teaching art to students of all ages and all abilities. My philosophy has always been student-centered and progressive. I believe Art is a universal language that anyone can speak.
My Goals as a Teacher:
Going over the game plan with student docents before the opening of our annual exhibition, "Exploring Europe".
1. To create a classroom environment where students feel safe and are encouraged to express their ideas and feelings through art.
2. To encourage students to appreciate the cultural and historic significance of the arts.
3. To expose students to a wide variety of art media, styles, techniques and processes.
4. To develop and fine tune the expressive and technical skills of each student.
5. To expand students' art vocabulary and facilitate growth in their ability to discuss art critically.
6. To improve students' ability to be effective communicators and active listeners.
7. To engage students in conversation and activities that help develop self and social awareness through arts education.
8. To engage students in conversation and activities that help develop self and social responsibility through arts education.
9. To promote an understanding and appreciation of art that includes the following ideas:
*All art occurs within a cultural context; discovering and discussing that context is an integral part of art appreciation and education.
*Art is a language and can be used to understand the perspectives of others as well as a means to illustrate our own ideas.
*Art does not always need to be public, or even shared for that matter; art can be a very private, introspective and a therapeutic experience.
*All individuals, regardless of age or ability, are viable artists; everyone is capable of creating art worthy of appreciation.
*Like anything in life, art reciprocates the artist -the more you give, the more you get.
Visitors enjoying our student exhibition, "Exploring Europe"