Years ago I was asked to describe myself in three words. My response? Inspired by ideas. As an educator, I see my role as a facilitator of experiences through which participants encounter new ideas, connect disciplines, and wonder at the world around them.

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In my art-making workshops (inspired by Bruno Munari), I provide materials with a variety of tactile/visual qualities and which are different from what a child might encounter at school. I like to model for parents and educators ways to use readily available low-cost materials to encourage creative exploration. Rather than start with plain white paper, I prefer to start with materials that give suggestions (such as a paper with holes in it). This gives immediate direction to the exploration and eliminates the fear of the blank page.

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Gianni Rodari's The Grammar of Fantasy has been an aha! book for me. His insights have affected how I play, teach, and write with and for children.

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As a visual artist, dancer, musician, and writer, I bring a variety of art forms into my teaching--but children's books are always at the core. And my mentor Paul Bolin has inspired me to look to daily life and material culture for further fruitful areas of investigation in art education.

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I offer art and writing workshops for all ages and curriculum resources and professional development for educators. Read more about my K-12 artist residency programs through Lane Arts Council.