Tell us a little bit about you and your background.

I graduated from SUNY Purchase with an Interdisciplinary BFA in Sculpture and Printmaking and I am currently enrolled at Hunter College to receive a MA in Visual Arts Education (K-12). I enjoy working with students of all ages and sharing the endless possibilities in art-making with them. I believe art can be an outlet to creatively discover the beauty within oneself while also encouraging them to become leaders in the classroom.

What attracted you to work at One River School?

During my first semester of my graduate program, a peer of mine who already worked at One River introduced me to the school. They explained to me that it was a place where students created work that focused primarily on contemporary artists while developing their artistic voices through engaging projects. In my personal journey as an art educator, I have noticed that students responded well to artists who are creating work today rather than studying art historicisms before the 1900’s. This aspect of One River’s mission became a deciding factor for my initial application because my goals aligned with theirs. 

How would you describe what it’s like to teach here?

As an art educator, I am always trying my best to be a resource for my students. The structure of the projects are set up to develop the creative voices of the students but also in the technical skills in using the wide variety of media that is offered. There are moments where I am more comfortable teaching specific mediums (e.g clay, printmaking, painting) but I am always learning too and sharing these experiences with the students. When a new project is introduced, I utilize every ounce of my power to investigate the possibilities of the medium and then demonstrate them to the students. Overall, teaching at One River allows for many moments of discovery in the students and teachers alike. It is not only a classroom but a community space for everyone to share ideas and get to know one another.

What has been your favorite project to teach and why?

Although I regularly teach at One River, one of my favorite projects does not happen during the classes. One River schedules camps to occur during the seasonal breaks throughout the school year and the projects that are taught during this are not offered at any other time. One Artwork (or Painting) A Day is my favorite set of lessons to teach because the students enjoy the pace of creating a different work of art every day of the camp. The students also find it exciting because they don’t know which subject and/or material will be used in the next project and they play a game to guess what it will be next time. One Artwork A Day is also a great opportunity for educators to learn how to adapt to a dynamic and changing classroom. I have learned a lot about myself as an educator, artist, and person during my positive experiences teaching this camp.  

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

There is not one particular thing that stands out to me because every moment at One River has been wonderful. Working with the other teachers and students always brings a new experience whether it is learning something new or having fun in the creativity. I feel incredibly grateful to be doing what I am doing and I hope to grow as an educator and artist at One River.

What do you enjoy outside of One River?

Outside of art education and One River, I am an artist. For the past few Summers, I worked for and with a group of artists in Duchess County to build large works of ceramic art and in my own studio practice, I use low fire clay to create animal-like creatures that convey mythic stories to mirror my personal life. Additionally, I produce prints from carving into linoleum and woodcut to depict more realistic images such as photographs or animals. Other than that I also enjoy going on long roadtrips, baking bread, and playing with my dogs.