Experienced Art Educator
ESKFF’s Sol Studio
Sol Studio’s mission is to provide art students with resources to encourage them to fully explore their individualities and cultures in the development of their portfolios. During Sol Studio’s annual summer residency at ESKFF, students are provided materials, workspace, and college-level and graduate mentors. Students and mentors work closely together in a shared studio space, giving each the opportunity to collaborate and evolve their individual practices.
The idea of creating Sol Studio grew from the need that many of my high school art students, who were pursuing a serious interest in fine art, did not have the home support, the studio space or the community identity necessary to create a scholarship ready portfolio at a competitive level. With this need in mind, in the spring of 2014, I approached ESKFF (The Eileen S. Kaminsky Family Foundation) of the Mana Contemporary with a proposal to launch a high school summer residency program for my students....and Sol Studio was born.
To learn more about the program or to donate to Sol Studio please visit ESKFF!
Jersey City Arts HS Program
I was an art specialist for Jersey City Public Schools system for 22 years at the Jersey City Arts High School Program (JCArts), a conservatory arts model for students advanced in the visual arts. I specialized in helping art students to develop competitive portfolios, of both depth and breadth, for applications to colleges and art competitions. Through constructive portfolio critiques, I encouraged them to write and speak about their artworks and ideas. Through small group instruction, I guided them in developing strong observational drawing and painting skills, experimenting with old master and contemporary techniques, and in finding their own aesthetic approaches to new media.
For more information about JCArts follow us on Instagram @jcartsprogram
Books and Beyond USA
I worked with this non profit organization and young artists to create two volumes of English alphabet picture books for the children of Rwanda.