About me
I am a painter, assemblage artist, object maker, muralist, and educator. I have worked in a variety of art-related positions, including set painter, prototype designer, artist in residence, gallery owner, project coordinator, outreach artist, and art instructor. I attended the University of Lethbridge and the University of Regina to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in visual art. I began teaching visual art to all ages in community centers and art venues over 20 years ago. As the Artist in Residence for a Saskatchewan school division, I developed and delivered programming for over 2000 K-12 students, working with 30+ teachers. More recently I worked as an outreach artist for the Esplanade Gallery’s Artist in the Classroom program, and currently as the Education Coordinator at Medalta Potteries, an industrial museum, former pottery factory in Medicine Hat’s historical clay district. The Community Classroom is Medalta’s primary education program; integrated, interactive, inquiry and place based. Teachers work alongside me to customize a schedule of exploratory and interactive museum activities which address learning outcomes and goals for their grade level. More than a field trip, this is extended learning in a community venue, typically 2-5 days. Recently I have obtained a Professional Master of Education degree from Queen’s University. I was especially interested in courses about cultivating creativity and innovation, arts integration, cross curricular teaching, curriculum development, and creating connection. Teaching and learning benefit from embracing creativity and its ability to strengthen critical, independent thinking that looks beyond the familiar and is often unconventional. Creativity supports learning because it requires the practices of observation, imagination, curiosity, and flexibility. My philosophy of practice relies on innovation to build on prior knowledge and implement novel ideas for interdisciplinary instruction. It is required for consistent revitalization and rejuvenation of teaching and learning methods.
