Tell us a little bit about you and your background.

I’m a multimedia artist with a background in painting but an interest in all kinds of materials and methods of art making! I received a Fine Arts Degree from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2020 and have been making art my whole life. Much of my inspiration is taken from my obsession with film and horror movies, general nostalgia and childhood ephemera, and my personal interactions with different spaces – the city I live in, the environment I come from, new places I venture to, etc. I like to work from a place of simply loving to create – my art is typically unplanned, sometimes entirely happenstance, and always evolving in form.

What attracted you to work at One River School?

I was interested in working at One River first and foremost because I love working with kids – they’re truthfully the most interesting, exciting people to be around! I was hoping to gain experience with art teaching and engaging with different age levels and medium interests. Since starting here last summer, the things I’ve learned and the experiences I’ve had with classes has been overwhelmingly positive, and immeasurably valuable to me. My students constantly blow me away with their skills and their deeply inquisitive minds. It’s a joy to work here!

How would you describe what it is like to teach here?

I would describe teaching at One River as equally challenging and rewarding. When I started teaching I was initially daunted by the gravity of such important work. It was imperative to me to offer up my skill set in a helpful manner, and to do everything I possibly could to create an environment of inspired learning and creation. There have certainly been learning curves and challenges in getting comfortable with the various age and interest levels, but that’s where the rewarding part comes in! The things I’ve learned through trial and error, through implementing ideas and extracurricular/student engagement activities and paying attention to the reactions and interactions of my students, it’s given me such a stronger sense of what’s important to them, and what makes for a healthy and fruitful art classroom. It’s also rewarding in that I’m constantly inspired by the things these kiddos create! Their unfiltered thoughts and view on the world is refreshing and often breathtaking. I feel deeply honored to share the classroom with them all.

What makes attending classes at One River fun and compelling?

One River‘s classes are a blast because they offer up such a great variety of medium and interest levels! I teach studio courses – primarily Art Shuffle classes, and these are my favorite because they allow for material flexibility and offer students the chance to engage with both flat and sculptural work! I also appreciate that a lot of the projects allow the students some autonomy and really encourage individuality!

Is there a special One River moment that stands out for you?

The most special moments I’ve had at One River were the unscripted ones – often when we’re playing creative games at the end of class that are less project-based and moreso just encouraging creativity and student interactions (I.e. Telestrations, “exquisite corpse” character drawings, Pictionary, etc.) These are the best times because they feel so genuine, really strengthen the sense of community in the classroom, and provide a lot of laughter!

What do you enjoy outside of One River?

I enjoy thrifting, going for neighborhood walks, making playlists and researching music, watching lots of movies (especially horror!), experimenting with new baking and cooking recipes, among so many other things!