About Artist in Residence Programs
I design Artist in Residence programs with an interdisciplinary approach. As a New Jersey certified art and elementary educator, I have formal training and experience working in the classroom with all grades and with students of varied ability levels and developmental stages.
My lesson plans can be adapted to a range of subjects, from social studies and language arts to foreign language and science. Specific projects can be cross-curricular, incorporating historical references, poetry, literature, storytelling and culture. Lengths of residences are flexible, spanning from one day to several weeks. In all projects, I seek for students to develop a sense of pride and accomplishment with the materials and subject matter. I encourage them to take artistic risks and think in new ways.
Using every day materials, I show the students that office supplies and recycled materials, taken out of context, are completely valid for art — you don't need fancy art supplies. By working with a combination of familiar, unusual and repurposed materials students can authentically engage in high level artistic creation. I can also work in conjunction with teachers and provide staff training.
Recent residencies include
“Poetry in Your Pocket”
Gillette School, Long Hill Township, NJ – April 2010
A program designed for middle school students. Each student produced a handmade accordion-style book with sewn pamphlet pages featuring pockets in which personal poems were placed.
“Tell Your Love Story”
Westfield Memorial Library, Westfield, NJ – Feb. 2010
A program designed for adults and teens. Participants created a pamphlet-style sewn book. Content of pages described a personal journey.
“Show your Heart”
Westfield Memorial Library, Westfield, NJ – Feb. 2010
A program designed for middle school students. Utilized collage within handmade accordion-style books, in which pockets held objects which gave clues to likes, interests and passions.
“Recalling Mockingbird”
Westfield Senior High School, Westfield, NJ – Oct. 2009
The program was a collaboration with teachers to have students produce a visual response to the novel “To Kill A Mockingbird,” based on pre-selected themes, images and student specific historical research. The ultimate product was a collective paper quilt that encompassed an 8x8 collage on a cardboard substrate with text and images intertwined.
“Alters to Ancestors”
Westfield Senior High School, Westfield, NJ – Nov. 2009
Created lesson plan about the Mexican traditions of Dia de los Muertos, “Day of the Dead.” Then students constructed personalized 3D paper alters decorated to honor the dearly departed.
“Romance Repurposed”
The Union County Teen Arts Festival, UCC College, Cranford, NJ – April 2010
A two hour workshop intended for high school students. Participants created a mixed media, accordion-style book with sewn, pamphlet pages. Students cut out words and phrases from vintage romance novels, then placed the snippets into a new context to write humorous and often surprisingly enlightening poems on the books pages.
Examples of Student Work
