Resume

EDUCATION                        

2014                  Art Teacher Certification, Central Connecticut State University, Connecticut.
2012-2013         Ceramic Artist-in-Residence, Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, Massachusetts.
2007-2012         BFA, Ceramics, Hartford Art School, West Hartford, CT 06117

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2014               South Windsor Juried Art Show, Community Center, South Windsor, Connecticut.
                       Open Studio Hartford, Arbor Arts Center, Hartford, Connecticut.
                       Ellan And Dougan Framing Gallery, Manchester, Connecticut.
                       Copper and Birch Gallery and Shop, South Windsor, Connecticut.
                       South Windsor Farmer’s Market, Community Center, South Windsor, Connecticut.
                       South Windsor Winter Farmer’s Market, Community Center, South Windsor, Connecticut.
                       Ceramics Holiday Sale, Silpe Gallery, Hartford Art School, West Hartford, Connecticut.
2013               South Windsor Juried Art Show, Community Center, South Windsor, Connecticut.
                       Ellan And Dougan Framing Gallery, Manchester, Connecticut.
                       Copper and Birch Gallery and Shop, South Windsor, Connecticut.
                       Ceramics Holiday Sale, Silpe Gallery, Hartford Art School, West Hartford, Connecticut.
                       Opposing Directions, Krikorian Gallery, Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, Massachusetts.
                       Hartford Art School 2013 Juried Alumni Exhibition, West Hartford, Connecticut.
2012               Gallery Store, Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, Massachusetts.
                       Annual Cup Show, Krikorian Gallery, Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, Massachusetts.
2011               Crazed, Ceramics BFA Thesis Show, Silpe Gallery, Hartford Art School, West Hartford, Connecticut.
                       Ceramics Holiday Sale. Group Exhibition, Silpe Gallery, Hartford Art School, West Hartford, Connecticut.
2011               Art Competition & Exhibition, Manchester Community College, Great Path, Manchester, Connecticut.
2010               Ceramics Holiday Sale. Group Exhibition, Silpe Gallery, Hartford Art School, West Hartford, Connecticut.
                       Alexander A. Goldfarb Student Exhibition, Silpe Gallery, Hartford Art School, West Hartford, Connecticut.
2009              Ceramics Holiday Sale. Group Exhibition, Silpe Gallery, Hartford Art School, West Hartford, Connecticut.
                      Alexander A. Goldfarb Student Exhibition, Silpe Gallery, Hartford Art School, West Hartford, Connecticut.
2007              Freshman Foundations Art Show. Group Exhibition, Silpe Gallery, Hartford Art School, West Hartford, Connecticut.

RESIDENCIES

2014                Assistant in Ceramics, Greenleaf Pottery, South Windsor, Connecticut.
2012-2013       Artist-in-Residence in ceramics, Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, Massachusetts.

EMPLOYMENT

2013- Present   Substitute Teacher, South Windsor Public Schools, South Windsor, Connecticut.
2012-2013         Director’s Assistant and Manager to Advertisement and Social Media, Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, Massachusetts.
                          Ceramic Teacher, Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, Massachusetts.
2012                  Assistant to Ceramic Studio Technician at the Hartford Art School, Bloomfield, Connecticut.
2011                 Teacher’s Assistant for Mold Making, Hartford Art School, Bloomfield, Connecticut.
                         Ceramic teacher for children’s camp, Incarnation Camp, Deep River, Connecticut.
2007                 Front Desk for Hartford Art School, University of Hartford, Bloomfield, Connecticut.
2003-2010       Teacher for children’s quilting classes, Pieces and  Possibilities, South Windsor, Connecticut.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/ORGANIZATIONS

2012                Teacher for Intro to Wheel throwing, Worcester Center for Crafts.
                       Teacher for Intro to Mold Making, Worcester Center for Crafts.
2011               Teacher’s Assistant, Intro to Mold Making, Hartford Art School.
                       Teacher’s Assistant, Freshman Foundation 3-D, Hartford Art School.
                       Teacher’s Assistant, Introduction to Ceramics, Hartford Art School.
2010-2011      Clay Club Secretary, Hartford Art School.
2010               Preceptor, Freshman Foundation 3-D, Hartford Art School.
                       Teacher’s Assistant, Intro to Mold Making, Hartford Art School.

Recent Posts

Two Potters Walk Into A Bar

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I have been reflecting a lot lately on why I have chosen the path of becoming an art teacher. The spring semester started last week for me, and I thought I would share this story and its enormity of how I feel it has affected us in our society. I began an Art Education course with a professor asking the class “What was the inspiring moment that made you decide to become a teacher?” Well, I can say for sure that it didn’t happen in a classroom, but rather a night out in a bar.

A friend and I were out for good drinks and good food when a group of young gentlemen started talking to us. We were talking about art, as we were both potters, when these young men starting chatting with us. Somewhere along the conversation one asked what we do, and we responded of course saying we were artists, in particular, potters. Immediately it was asked if we had ever reenacted the scene from the movie “Ghost” ( if I had a dollar every time that happened…). Their laughter prevailed to then again ask us what we really did for work. I went home that night irritated at their gall, and angry at their jokes and insults.

Self Portrait, Charcoal, 18″ by 11″. It takes all kinds of art to teach.

Now, it took a while for this experience to sink in, and honestly, I still think of this incident and simmer. I get upset that those men did not take the Arts seriously, that they don’t appreciate it for its possibilities. More so I feel that this is the general view in America, that the Arts are not valued and have no place of importance. People stereotype artists as people who don’t want to hold a job, that they must be the classical “starving artist”.

Vase, soda fired stoneware. There is no such thing as “good” or “bad” art, only the illusion of politically correct.

This brings me back to those young men I met that fateful night. I realized later that their views were not just in poor taste, but rather that it is a perfect example of our school system’s poor education in art! If they had been taught to appreciate art more at the primary level they would have more respect for its creators.

Art education isn’t about pumping out parent pleasing artwork in the classroom. It is about changing children’s perspectives and opening their minds to the world of art. In a world focused on fast thrills and better upgrades people don’t slow down and appreciate beauty. I feel that we can change this beginning in an art room that focuses on experiences not who is “good” or “bad” at making art.

Self Portrait #1, Intaglio, 8″ by 10″. Being unable to see the eyes in a portrait makes it more haunting, but what is more frightening are those who look but do not see.

I want to change people’s perspectives. I want to be that teacher that blows your mind with artwork. I want to teach children appreciation for the arts so that there is more draw for local artists and their wares. I want the arts to flourish, and that means teaching the love for it. Imagine changing the local economy by just changing our views about art.

  1. A New Beginning Leave a reply