FLYING CLOUD: The mission of Flying Cloud Institute is to inspire young people and educators through dynamic science and art experiences that ignite creativity. I was selected to participate in Flying Cloud’s S•M•Art Schools Residency and got to develop and implement specialty, programming, teaching children principles of science, through art. Together we explored the properties of light, transformed materials, and built really cool forts. One of the reasons I love Flying Cloud is because they create supplementary programs to enrich the required curriculum in local public schools. I also love that their programs happen over several weeks, giving students, artists and teachers the opportunity to dive deep into the subjects being explored.
MODERN STITCHERY: As a folk artist, I like using traditional practices to express myself in a modern way. For this semester long class, I shared handwork techniques with students at Berkshire Country Day School. Students were invited to design and stitch their own original pieces.
MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF THE BERKSHIRES: Here is an excerpt from my residency in the elementary classroom at the Montessori School of the Berkshires. For six months we came together to make art, explore identity, and design a character which became our collaborative butterfly sculpture. The experience was enriching and it was an honor to get to spend so much time with these 45 students.
BARD ACADEMY: For eight weeks in the fall of 2016 I had the honor of teaching the students of Bard Academy at Simon's Rock. We navigated through the course I designed, exploring Identity and Empathy while we collaborated on a 4ft tall butterfly sculpture. The process was experimental, pushed me outside my comfort zone, and enriched my desire to mentor.
