I have taught Art in one room schoolhouses, nursing homes and community centers in rural Vermont, as well as in public schools, independent schools, hospitals and community centers in Rhode Island. My goal is always to engage everyone I teach in their own creative process.

As a RISCA (Rhode Island State Council on the Arts) Teaching Artist I developed an Art Program for children and adults at the Martin Luther King jr. Community Center. Over the years children and adults worked together to create installations of TapeArt Murals, Tile Installations and Community Quilts around the Center. Monthly exhibits of art work from weekly classes is always displayed around the Center. In 2020 when Covid came, the Center closed down. That summer members of the Deblois Gallery painted tiles outside and installed the completed Tile Mural at the MLK jr. Community Center.

In 2023 to coincide with Aquidneck Island Earth Week I created an “EcoArt Camp” at the Portsmouth Arts Guild. Students drew, painted, collaged and then filled the Guild Hall room with a Tape Art Mural for Earth Day.

At the Newport Art Museum I have run classes for Homeschoolers and Adults and initiated a Children’s Wet Paint Camp. My classes always visit the current Museum exhibitions and walk to local galleries for inspiration. We also walk to Truro Park to draw and to First Beach to collect shells and sand for projects.

As the Middle School Art Teacher at the Pennfield School my curriculum always included projects in multi-cultural art, developing foundation skills and exploring a wide variety of materials: drawing, painting, collage, ceramics, printmaking, sculpture etc. I worked closely with classroom teachers and integrated the arts with Science, Literature, World Cultures or a special program such as a Focus Unit or Special Assembly.

In 2001 we began the Wall of Respect to honor the Mission of the school. Tiles are still added to it every year by graduating 8th Grade students. Students also made Tiles to decorate the door at the Portsmouth Veterinary Clinic.

I developed a Theater Tech. Crew with artist Chris Silvia. Students painted huge sets, and built props and masks for many Disney Musicals and other yearly productions. These included “Cinderella”, “Alice in Wonderland”, “Little Mermaid”, “Elf”, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, “Peter Pan” and “Lion King”.

I currently work with the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Task Force at Pennfield where I curate monthly exhibits in the D.E.J Gallery. In 2024 the Task Force received a RISCA Project Grant in Education for the Gallery work as well as for Classroom Art Activities in Diversity Classes for Grades 5-8.

Recent community workshops have included Relief Printing at the Portsmouth Free Public Library, Sailor’s Valentines and Relief Printing at the International Yacht Restoration and Technical School, and Painting with Acrylics at the South County Art Association.

Contact me about Workshops, or a Site Specific Installation. Thank you!