de·vo·tion | dəˈvōSH(ə)n/
. . . love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause. 

Musings on music, art, writing, sewing, cooking, life, design, and good vibes.

I have been a creative person my entire life. I love learning new things, to the detriment of old things sometimes! I hope to share my experiences, knowledge, and creativity with the world! I’ve also had some amazing mentors in my life, from artists to chefs. I’ve become a mentor myself, through my professional life working with kids, families, students, and teachers.

My mixed media work includes bookmaking, fiber arts, and mixed media collage. In high school I loved writing, painting, and making mixed-media sculptures and mobiles from found objects, collage, and recycled materials. My inspirations reflect diverse interests in culture, spirituality, history, and the handmade object.

I received a B.F.A at Purchase School of Art + Design in Purchase, New York (and a member of the Purchase Mafia). As an “X-Lab” student (short for Experimental Lab), I gravitated towards the giant vast industrial space at the end of the Visual Arts Buildling. I created mixed media sculptures and installations with paper, light, and found materials (scavenging was a necessity as an art student – the dumpster behind the Performing Arts Center always yielded amazing finds).

An internship with Leni Schwendinger / Light Projects influenced me to pursue history-based art projects. At the time, Leni was awarded a competitive project to design light installations in the underground trams at the Denver International Airport. I took the train New York City and helped her with research at the NY Public Library and developing funding proposals for public art projects.

I was also fortunate to work with cutting edge visiting artists arranged by Donna Dennis, Professor of Sculpture. Donna was instrumental in bringing well-known and renowned Visiting Artists to the Sculpture program. She arranged for us to travel to the “top-secret” Brooklyn  location of artist Petah Coyne. I was honored to work with Petah. She is unbelievably smart and amazing. Her artwork combines various materials and facets that continue to astound me. She is a genius.

She was creating wearable sculpture art for a multi-media dance performance which premiered at the Neuberger Museum of Art. Dancers from the Dance Conservatory wore her sculptures. It was an extremely demanding and delicate process; dressing dancers with giant structures made from chicken wire, wax, and found objects. The chicken-wire sculptures were held together with wax dripped from candles. Amazingly, the sculptures did not break on the trip in a box truck from her “secret studio” to Purchase, NY.

“Honey!” Petah Coyne says in her delightful Southern accent, “I bought those candles from the Vatican! They’re blessed by the Pope!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I designed an independent study M.A. in Social Policy and the Arts at Empire State College, New York. Since I did not study abroad for my undergraduate degree, I knew that I had to take this opportunity. The Visual Arts department out of the SUNY-Ithaca had a month-long summer program at at Venice International University in Venice, Italy. I attempted to study federal art policy in a foreign country, however the lure of Venezia drew me to San Marco everyday. I explored the streets, sights, and smells of this beautiful, amazing, and historic city.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also studied fiber arts at prominent craft schools, many where I received a scholarship or Studio Assistant position. At Haystack Mountain in Maine I studied fiber arts; at Penland in North Carolina I was an assistant to Carol Shinn. I also learned learned silkscreening with fiber art dyes on fabric at Arrowmont in Tennesee. In recent years, my work has been shown at the Washington Art Association, Artwell Gallery, Mattatuck Museum, the Fairfield Public Library, Westchester Art Workshop, The Schoolhouse in Croton Falls, and at City Wide Open Studios/Alternative Space Weekend in New Haven, CT.

Professionally, I worked as a dedicated and innovative museum professional for over 20 years, developing and promoting programs in the arts, education, history, and culture. I held positions at the Mattatuck Museum and most recently at the Fairfield Museum and History Center. I led and developed projects that supported diverse expressions of the arts, history and culture, including student exhibitions and developing educational programs that reinforced museum learning and critical thinking for students and educators. I’ve presented workshops on youth development, emerging technologies, Visual Thinking Strategies, and community collaborations at conferences for the Library of Congress, National Endowment for the Arts, U.S. Department of Education, New England Museum Association and the Connecticut After School Network.

Currently I am teaching and I am also the coordinator for the Ancient Burying Ground Association in Hartford, CT.